The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-01
CHILDREN IN WAR TIME.
Fifth Article. Provisions for Soldiers
Children.

How other countries prov de from gov
eminent funds for the wives and chilCrcr
of their soldiers in active service, Will,
the United States makes no such allow
ances is described n the latest report
by the children's bureau OF the Il. s lie
partment of labor
Separation allowances are granted mol
only in European countries where tho
pay OF the private soldier of the lowest
rank runs from 80 cents to $3.50 a month
but in Canada and Australia, which paw
him 1913 and $3.50 while he is engaged
in foreign service In addition to the sol
dier's pay the wife and children of the
/ Canadian soldier receive from the gov
renment $50 a month; and the allowance
to the family of the Australian soldier
varies according to the number of chill
| dren up to a maximum of nearly $50 a
month.
The pensions allowed by law to wives
and children of soldiers killed in serv-
ice are shown to be considerably higher
also in Great Britain and the British do
minions than in the United States And
the report describes various WAYS in
which foreign governments are making
an effort to meet the special needs Of in
dividual families.
In presenting this report to the secre-
tary of labor, the chief of the children'S
bureau speaks of the general study of
child welfare in the warning countries
which is being conducted by the chill
dren's bureau and says;
The relation of all these questions OF
child welfare to the living conditions
behind the lines Is clear. 1t is also plain
that the living conditions in large meas
Tes depend upon the provisions made
by the respective governments for sol
diers and their dependents And since
the withdrawal Of men from the ordinary
walks of life TO form a large army must
create similar problems here, the ques-
ton of what countries offer important
suggestions for system of soldiers
compensation in this country becomes at
once basic to the consideration of child /
welfare in war times
The material contained in the ac-
company repot, together with the /
earlier report upon the care of depend !
ents of enlisted men in Canada, has been T
already utilized in drafting a proposed /
measure for soldiers compensation in
the United States by the Hon. Julian w
Mack, chairman of the council of nation.
defense for that purpose
The American measure TO which this
refers has been endorsed by the presi-
lent and by Secretary McAdoo. II has
already passed the House of Representa-
ives aud IS now pending in the Senate.
This bill would provide separation al
owances to families of men in active
ervice and would evise the scale of COM
,ensation to disabled men and their fam
lies and to the widows and children of /
men killed in service II contemplates ]
he organization OF an effective system {
f re -education under government direc +,
ion based upon the experience of Cana
a and of Europe.
II also includes a provision, suggested
v the Canadian municipal insurance
hereby the government would sell life
Insurance at rates based on the cost OF
lsurance in time of pecae, the govern
tent itself carrying the added cost of the
ar hazard The maximum amount Of
in time of peace. the govern
ne person would be $4,000 and the priv
eyes Of the insurance would be open on
ie same terms to officers enlisted men,
nd members of the female nurse corps
is expected that the rate for max
mum policy will be such that any en-
sted man could easily meet the prcmi
ms from his military pay.