Evening star., 1925-02-15
HOSPITAL FOR j. S.
EMPLOYEES URGED
Mrs. VotaW Proposes EstaE-
Iishment Here to Be Main
tained by Workers.

A plan for the establishment of a
hospital for the $4,000 Government
employees in Washington is being con-
sidered by Mrs. Carolyn Harding
Notaw, sister of the late President
Harding, who, 1t became known last
night, will leave the United States
Public Health Service March 10.
Mrs. Votaw first will take a vaca-
ton trip for several months with
her husband, DR.. Heber Fotaw, who
IS recovering from recent Illness
before devoting her energies to the
realization of the hospital plan she
has conceived.
An institution built, maintained and
endowed by small monthly stipend
from the salaries of the employees
themselves to protect them in days OF
i'll health as they grow old is the
project contemplated by Mrs. Fotaw
Governmental Endorsement and super
vision will be necessary, however
before the plan can take definite
shape.
support by Workers.
This hospital for the icivil en-
ployes of the Nation should, in Mrs.
Votaw's opinion, be conducted like
Army, Navy and Marine hospitals,
except that the Federal employe,
through his own efforts, would con-
tribute the money as insurance
against illness or accident.
All that is to be asked of the Gov
ernment is that it encourage the
idea, direct the campaign for funds
and to manege them after collection.
"A carefud examination of this
bare outline of my proposed crusade,
~
who are just and broad minded from
making the usual accusation of its
being but another step toward pater-
nalism. 1t must be considered that
the Government must have some re-
sponsibility toward these $4,000 en-
ployes entered on it's rolls.
Vitnl to Old Age.
"A hospital for the Federal en-
ploye is most desirable under all
aspects of the case, but is vital to
the usefulness of the old-age retire
ment pension and is it's logical sequel
For, no retired governmental worker
could hope to pay any considerable e
hospital bill or even for home medl-
cal attendance out of the meager sum
allowed him. He is lucky If he can
maintain life on it, but If he is sc
unfortunate as to get i'll or meet with
an accident, it must be to the poor
hospital he goes, if he has no gen.
erous reserve fund.
II ask any person of feeling ana
sense of Justice if there be any more
pathetic sight in the world than a
refined and intelligent man or woman
who has given a lifetime to Govern
ment work compelled to receive med
zeal service in the poor hospitals
These institutions are fine for their
purpose, and they are we'll maintain
ed and invaluable to the civic life
but they are not the place for the
hundreds of Uncle Sans men ano
women who have no other recourse
than to use them in their old age
ailments.
Duty of Government.
"It does not seem a momentous is
sue to ask this great Government tt
permit the Public Health Service tt
take over such healing offices as sucf
q hospital would be for the nearly
one hundred thousand Federal EN-
ployes in Washington.
"Such a trif1ing sum as % cents
month from the least rewarded Gov.
eminent clerk or laborer, joined tc
something better from those who get
more remuneration would insure
against this poorhouse for medica
service"
Mrs. Votaw, who was at one time
member of the woman's bureau OF the
local Police Department.. has given
more than four years of valuable
service to the Public Health Service
and her resignation has been re-
ceived reluctantly. Her husband, DIR
Votaw, was until recently superin.
tendent of public prisons.