Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-02


such conditions the government has
solemn duty to perform t. those
selected.
In the preparation of the plans
shortly to be submitted to Congress
there has been cordial cooperation
between several government depart
ments and agencies and organizations.
Seldom has there been a more
thorough study of question IN an
effort to solve a vexing problem.
Investigates Problem
Inasmuch as the bureau of war risk
insurance of the Treasury Department
Is already insuring masters, ofncers
and seamen of American merchant-
men and also the hulls and cargoes.
President Wilson asked Secretary NC
Adoo several weegs ago to invesu-
gate the question. and the Council
of National Defense also took up the
problem through the Committee on
Labor of it's Advisory Commission.
headed by Samuel Gompers, President
of the American Federation OF LABOR.
Judge Julian w. Mack, Frederick l..
Hoffman, James w. Sullivan, James
Lord and T. Spencer Baldwin, con-
stituting the section of Compensation
for Enlisted Man and Their Depen-
dents of the Labor Committee, have
performed invaluable work in the
preparation of plans. Assistance has
also been given by Edwin f. Sweet,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Captain S. H. Wolfe, representing the
War Department, Major Henry Leon
ard. representing the Navy Depart
ment, Miss Julia Iathrop. represent
ing the Department of Labor, DR..
L. S. Rowe, Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury, Hendon Chubb, Chair
man of the Advisory Board of the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance. Will
liam c. Delaney. Director of the
Bureau and R. NJ. Little. Chairman of
the Federal Civil Employees Compen-
sation Board.
The experience and knowledge of
the insurance men of the country was
early sought by Secretary McAdoo.
and out of more than one hundred
representatives of different companies
who attended a conference called by
the Secretary on July I'd in Washing
ton grew a committee of twelve in
surance men. who studied the prob
lem and submitted a comprehensive
report to the Secretary.
Inasmueh as a portion of Americas
army is already in France, a part of
its fleet is in European waters, and
many more soldiers and sailors and
marines are in training. Secretary Nc
Adoo has striven to push the prepara-
tion of plans with all possible speed
in the hope that Congress may pass
the necessary legislation during the
present session.
, The plans under consideration are
based upon the now generally ac-
cepted idea that payments on account
of soldiers and sailors killed or in
jured in service should depend in a
measure upon the number of peo-
pie dependent upon him. 1t is plainly
evident that this course should be
followed.
Under War Risk Bureau
In general it is intended that pro-
vision be made for the support of de-
pendents of soldiers and sailors by
giving them an allotment out of the
pay of the men and also an allow
ance from the government; that off,
GERS and men be Unidentified against
death or total or partial disability;
that n system of rehabilitation and |
re- education of disabled men be in
augurated; and that the government
insure the lives of soldiers and sail
ors.
The new system would be admin
istered by the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance of the Treasury Depart
ment which is already writing war
risk insurance on masters, officers and
crews of American merchant vessels
and on American hulls and cargoes.
Dependents of soldiers and sailors
in service would be provided for
through allotments from their pay,
supplemented by family allowances
by the Government. The amount of
the Government allowance would de-
pend upon the size of the family. and.
as to others than the wife and chill
dren, upon the actual dependency
upon the men. The family allowance
would be made only If the soldier
or sailor makes an allotment for his
dependents out of his pay.
Government VIII Pay
The risk of death or disability
would be compensated for somewhat
on the analogy of workmen's COM
pensation acts, with the compensa-
tion measured by the mems services,
the size of the families. and the loss
to the family. Partial disabilities
would be compensated for upon per-
centage of the compensation for total
disability. The cost OF this compen-
sation naturally must be paid wholly
by the Government,
In addition to direct compensation
to take the place of pensions, the plan
in contemplation would go further
and establish an insurance system by
the Government under which our SOL
diers and sailors could obtain insur-
ance at premium rates based upon
the mortality experience tables of
peace times. The excess cost due to
increased mortality and disability war
risk should clearly be borne by the
Government, and the cost of admins
tnrlnp the insni.anca dpnarfnent for