Influenza Ban Not To Be Lifted At This Time

• There will be no lifting or modification of the closure order at this time• The decision was reached by the Influenza Advisory Committee • Mayor Kiel has been advocating the modification of the closure orders• Starkloff stated that approx. 320 new cases were still appearing daily, and recommended that the closure orders remain in effect• Kiel responded that no one could oppose Starkloff and the numbers he cited without appearing to be against the safety and lives of the citizens• He added, however, that many people and business interests have been coming to him and asking him to modify or remove the closure order, and that he is merely trying to present their viewpoint• Maj. L.P. Bahrenburg, surgeon at the Marine Hospital and representative of the USPHS• Schmoll once again suggested that churches be opened to see what the effect would be• Dr. Ellsworth Smith, president of the Medical Society, said that physicians could not recommend lifting the closure orders given the high mortality levels of the epidemic; “We have got a monster in a cage,” he said. “The question is should we let him out and see if we can catch him again. If we let him out he may get away from us.”• Smith said they should wait until there was a more definite dropping off of cases before lifting the closure order• He added that leniency in allowing some stores to remain open in the beginning wasn’t a good reason to remove the orders now (in response to theater owners’ complaints)• Col. C.E. Freeman, supt. of Jefferson Barracks, said that the epidemic was over at the barracks but that it had not yet reached its crest in St. Louis, and therefore the closure orders should remain in effect• Dr. J.W. Withers, supt. of public schools, said he was anxious to re-open the schools, but that he didn’t think the records recommended that move; he would defer to medical authorities• Dr. James Stewart, head of hygiene dept. of the public schools, said he had not been in favor of closing them in the first place, but believed that they should remain closed for now• Mrs. F.V. Hammar, chair of the St. Louis Red Cross, said that cases were becoming more virulent, and that destitution as a result was increasingNewspaper article1