Evening star., 1944-08-21
0fficiaIsSuppor1
Health Aids for
US. Workers
McNutt, Flemming
Soy Program Would
Reduce Absenteeism
BY DON s. WARREN.

Establishment of medical services
In the Government agencies would
reduce absenteeism and effect q
great saving in man-hours. the Ran
dolph subcommittee of the House
Civil Service Committee was ad-
vised today by Manpower Commits
sioner Paul v. McNutt and Civil
Service Commissioner Arthur S.
F1emming.
Testifying at the opening Of three
days of public hearings on the bill
offered by Representative Randolph,
Democrat. of West Virginia, these
officials, the first of q long list of
scheduled witnesses, both declared
that medical care provided by the
Government was far behind what is
offered by private industry.
Mr.. McNutt, who is head of the
Federal Security Agency, charged
that>the Government, In this regard,
has failed to practice what we
preach" He stressed that the Gov
ernment had taken the lead in
recommending to war plants that
they adopt thoroughgoing industrial
health programs as an essential to
forestalling absenteeism and that
seven sponsoring agencies have met
with little opposition from industry.
Health Protection Pays.
Industry on the whole knows that
health protection pays" Mr.. McNutt
said. But what we have recon-
mended to Industry, what we have
helped industry to do for employe
health services, the Federal Govern
ment has not yet done in any ade-
quate measure for ITSELF"
Although the Government is the
largest single employer, he added,
we have only the rudiments of a
health service-amounting III some
Federal agencies to no more than a
first-aid room at most"
Mr.. Flemming said a 1912 suryey
IN 50 Government agencies indi-
Gated that among the 1900, 900 Fed
eral workers there was an average
absence of seven days per wear.
and that If this could be cut to six
days there would be saving of
$4,000 man-days per year. or
equal to that of 10000 full-time
workers. If cut to five days. it
would have 8,400,O 900 man-hours
year, or the equal of 10000 fun
time workers. he added.
Mr.. McNutt estimated that If
absence because of illness of Fed
eral workers in the District could
be reduced by as much as one-third
1t would add more than 1000 man
years to the Government working
force. -
Feels Government Negligent.
Mr.. Randolph brought out that
this bill, introduced at the recon-
mendation Of the Civil Service Com
mission, would provide by contract
or otherwise for medical service
limited to treatment of minor ILL.,
nesses and for cases of emergency
or injury or illnesses sustained in
performance of official duties. -
Mr. Flemming said he felt the
executive branch of the Government
mad been negligent in not bringing
the proposal to Congress earlier
and contended the proposed medical
service would be of great aid in
determining on the proper advance
ment In Government service of
handicapped war veterans.
He voiced the opinion the pri<
vate medical profession would not
be opposed to the type of medical
care proposed in the Randolph bill.
He emphasized the measure does
not provide a blank check" and
that the resulting programs would
come before Congress for annual
review in passing on requested ap-
propriations.