The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-27
.OOTY HEADS A
|. BENEFIT PLAN
JUST STARTED
AMERICAN TELEPHONE, WEST
ERIN UNION AND WESTERN
ELECTRIC COMPANIES TO CARE
FOR EMPLOYEES.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.
New York, Jan. 26.-Dr. Alavah
Fl. Doty, formerly health officer Of
port of New York, has been ap-
pointed medical director of the
employees benefit fund committee Of
the American Telephone & Telegraph
Co, Western Union Telegraph Com
pany and the Western Electric Com
pany in connection with the admins
tration Of the new pension and sick
benefit plan for employees Of these al
lied corporations.
There will be established gradually
by these companies a system of med
zeal supervision and preventative
sanitation designated to preserve the
health of the telephone and telegraph
army. This undertaking on SO large a
scale, the companies having nearly
100000 workers. inaugurates new
era in the relations of employer and
employee.
Theodore N. Vail, president of the
American Telephone and Western
Union companies in announcing Dr.
Doty's appointment said: ct is in
tended that the medical department
shall have wide range in its activity
in addition to the usual functions of
such a department. It will devise and
carry out various methods of health
protection known as preventative
measures So far as practicable we
shall seek the early detection of dis
ease, particularly those that are COM
municable, notably tuberculosis and
arrange for their prompt removal,
care and treatment. This not only
offers a far better chance for the pa
TENTS recovery. but also.protects other
employees.
Preventive measures also will in
clude sanitary conditions in office and
workshop. such as proper lighting,
good air, pure water, safe plumbing,
and discontinuance of articles in gem
eral use which are believed to be
agents of infection.
by various plain and practical
methods, employees viii be instructed
In hygiene and sanitation and we hope
that the information thus gained will
extend to the home and to the public
generally.
Modern senitarians know that pub
Tic health Is best maintained by pre-
vention rather than by treatment of
disease after 1t develops
The measures we plan are OF inestl-
mable value not merely In the inter
ests OF our company but also in public
education on sanitation subjects, for
our employees are everywhere in the
United States. even in the smallest
towns. Supervision by the medical de-
partment over sick and injured does
not necessarily mean that the COM
panfes are to furnish medical attend
suee for those who are disabled but
so far as possible they will aid in Sc
curing prompt and skillful treatment
for employees. Arrangements win be
made with hospitals throughout the
country for prompt reception OF those
/ who may decide upon this form OF
/ treatment Medical representatives
viii be selected to deal with the va
rious conditions and emergencies that
may arise in connection with this
branch OF service.
The various measures outlined will
be carried out in q reasonable way
and without undue haste, for haste
often involves unnecessary expense
and with but little benefit to EN-.
ployees.
This undertaking in accord with
modern sanitation will also benefit the
companies. as it Is intended to do. Il
/ provides mutual protection and co.
operation between employees and EN-.
ployer. It insures far better and less
interrupted service and constitutes ar
economical factor in the interest OF
both parties"
/