Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-04-08
Official Says Texarkana Building Will Be Aband-
 oned If Bill Becomes Law
CARE OF EMPLOYES
Is Perfect Over the Entire System Institution One of the C0stliest
 and Finest in the South.

Tn the event the Senate passes the Fartian Hospital Bill, which went through the House Thursday after hard fight on the part of Judge E. J. Kerwin, of this city, tho championed the cause of the railroad boys, and which gives the railroad employees six out of nine members of the boards Of control of the railway hospitals ill this state, the Cotton Belt will close it's magnificent and completely equip ped $250,000 hospital at Texarkana. This was the positive statement made here Friday morning by prominent official of the St. Lous, Southwestern Railway Company, wno is in posi- ton to predict the result of the adop- tion of such measure
 There is no earthly reason, said the official, "why tie railroad boys should demand representation on the board of the company's own hospital. I pay a dollar month out Of my salary to aid in maintaing the institution and want to say that I pay that money more cheerfully than any other money I give out from month to month. feel that I am helping the railroad men sustain an institution that is of great benefit to them and if l am SO unfortunate as to be injured. l would rather go there for treatment than anywhere else.
 "The books of the hospital are al ways open for inspection and any statement to the contrary is without foundation. The minor railroad em- ployes who are assessed ? cents month for the hospital are given equally as much attention and con- sideratien there as the higher off cials who are required to pay s1 monthly. They do rot have to be injured to be cared for. If they get sick they are sent 70 the TeXarh'na Hospital free of all cost and can re- main there for life, if their condition merits it. The agents along the road are given full authority to send en- ployes to the hospital, if sick or in. jured, immediately upon application being made to them. If they are hurt in city like Pine Bluff or are too sick to be moved to Texarkana the tn physic: :an to send them to a hospita, in Pine Bluff. If they have trouble with their eyes and do not care to go to the hospital at 'rexarkana, where specialists are also employed the year round with other physicians and sur geons to care for them they can be sent to specialist in the city in which they reside The company de- frays all expenses of the treatment, the same as if it was done in it's hos pital at TeXarkana.
 'If any employe has a courageous disease they are cared flor in the nicely furnished and we'll built pest houses that are on the same site with the company hospital at Texarkana. The hospital at Texarkana is one of the finest in the South. There are none better equipped and better man. aged. There are always from 150 to 200 railroad men being care for there, and it would be an unfortunate thing for the railroad boys if the hospital was closed
 "I know whereof I speak. I have heard the higher officials, at whose request the hospital was established at regreat cost to the road, expiess themselves. If the Partian Bill be- comes law an order will be issued
 closing the hospital lat Texarkana. The company feels that it has the right to control it's own properties and regardless of the fact that the railroad men over the entire system give their monthly assessments to ielp maintain it.
 Do not think for a minute that the amount realized through the assess ment plan is suffic .ent to defray the expenses of the hospital. have known Of deficiency of nearly S6o,- GOO in one year, which was paid by the Cotton Belt company, after all assessments were levied''