The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-09-14
WAR RISK BILL
PASSES HOUSE
Measure Which Will Sup
plant Old Pension System
Overthrows Opposition.

The war risk insurance bill. carry.
ing an appropriation of SIG, 900. 900 anc
providing allotments for soldiers fam.
lilies, compensation for injuries anC
comprehensive insurance, passed the
House of representatives yesterday
Only five Representatives among So
present failed to vote for the bill that
is to supplant the old pension system
In this war. These five merely an.
swered present" on roll call.
Platt. Of New York, and Hersey. oi
Maine, at first voted mo" but botr
later changed their votes. Plat
switched to Present" and Hersey tc
aye"
The bill was passed only after a
stormy parliamentary battle betweer
Representatives Adamson and Raw
burn, in charge of the bill, and Repre-
sentative Madden. of Illinois. For ;
time it appeared that Madden Nigh
muster enough support to endangeI
the bills passage, but differences wer,
ironed out. The vote came at 60
o'clock. The House adjourned 70 NEE
at noon today and began consideration
of the Sj.OOO,OOO,OOO urgent deficiencie,
appropriation.
Expect Senatorial Changes.
Several changes were made in tn,
war risk insurance bill during tn
week, and others are likely wheI
it reaches the Senate. As il stand
now, however, the measure design
ed to take care Of Uncle Sam
fighting men may be summed up a
follows:
Allotments and family allow
ances-EYery enlisted man in tn
military and naval forces shall al
lot part of his pay to his wife. o
his former wife il she has not re
married. or to his child or children
Not more than half his pay, nor les
than SIS monthly, may be so al
lotted.
Allowance may be obtained 70
his family on written application
the sum not to exceed $50 monthly
The family allowances are as fol
lows:
If there be a wife only. 81
monthly.
If there be a wife and a child. s2E
If there be a wife and two chill
dren. S325O.
For each additional child. $
monthly.
Compensation Schedules Given.
Compensation for death or disabilit,
For death in the course of the ser
vice in the line of duty, the Unite,
states will pay:
For a widow S35 monthly.
For widow and a child, So.
For a widow and two children. So. g
For each additional child, g. monthly
II there be no widow, for one child
so monthly.
For two children. $35.
For tflFse children. SIS. with $40 70
each additional child.
For a widowed mother, $50,
For disability, the United States Wi
I pay the soldier:
II he has neither wife nor child, 81
monthly.
II he has a wife. $50.
II he has a wife and a child. SIS.
IL he has a wife and two children
S75. '''''' q
\ totally disabled soldier NAV dra,
so additional for a nurse or attenda n,
i The soldier who loses both ewes. bot
hands or both legs shall receive 81
monthly.
Insurance TO BE Granted.
1nsurance-To give every commits
stoned officer and enlisted man pro
lection for themselves and their de
pendents. the United States will gran
insurance against death or total dis
! ability. This insurance may be {
multiples of $500, but not to excee
$4,000.
The maximum was set at $4,000 o.
request of President Wilson. after /
had been first set at that figure am
then cut to $500 by the Intcrstat
and Foreign Commerce committee
The bill does not specify the prem
ium rate to be paid by the soldiers
but it is officially reckoned at IS pc
thousand dollars of insurance.