The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-09-06

aiter DISCUSSIONS by representative
insurance men and report on by adj
visory committees, has been put in
definite form and submitted 10
President Wilson.
The Presidents comment was as
follows:
II have examined the enclosed
papers very carefully and take
pleasure in returning them with my
entire approval"
A bill has been introduced in Con-
gress along the lines suggested by
the Secretary Of the Treasury and
approved by the President.
In essentials il is proposed that
the government furnish at cost TO
the soldiers and sailors Of the United
States life and indemnity insurance.
The main features Of the Sec
retarys plans are that the govern
ment shall bear all the cost Of the
administration Of the insurance plan
and that no expense Of any kind
shall be a charge on the funds Great
ed by the payment of premiums by
the soldiers and sailors. Relieved OF
overhead charges, eight dollars q
year for every thousand dollars in
surance will be an adequate charge,
under the plan, and this figure will
put the maximum insurance Of ten
thousand dollars within the reach
of practically ever private soldier
or sailor. Insurance in private
companies would cost many times
this sum for men actually engaged
in warfare.
After the war, the insurance may
be converted into other forms. The
insurance is payable in installments,
is non-assignable and free from
the claims of creditors Of the in
sured or Of the beneficiary, and is
limited TO the wife, children and
other specified kindred.
II total disability results or dis
ease is contracted in the course OF
service, the compensation is to be
based on percentage of pay, with a
minimum, however, Of from forty
to seventy-flve dollars a month &C
cording to the size Of the family.
Partial disabilities are to be COM
puted on a basis Of percentages OF
total disability.
Medical, surgical and hospital
treatments, supplies and appliances
are TO be given. Rehabilitation anil
re-education of the injured SOL
diers or sailors, fitting them for
lives Of activity and usefulness is
part Of the plan.
The plan also contemplates free
allowances to the families Of soldiers
and sailors, the government supple
menting the sums set aside by the
soldiers and sailors out OF their
wages.
The insurance is not to be gift
from the government but is to be
paid for out Of the pay of the insur-
ed man. The government, howver,
is to take upon itself the cost OF
collecting and administering the
funds and also the extra hazard
caused by the war, the rate Of eight
dollars per thousand being a nor
NAL rate in peace time and an en-
tirely inadequate rate for war risk.
The workmen's compensation laws
and the experiences of insurance
companies in this country and the
laws and experiences Of other
countries have been studied and
used in preparation Of this bill.
Secretary McAdoo emphasizes the
Justice and rightfulness OF such a
function of the government by Cit
ing the fact that, in this war we
are not relying upon the volunteer
system but are drafting American
men and compelling them to under
go danger and, if necessary, make
the supreme sacrifice for their coun-
try. A higher obligation, he says,
therefore rests upon the govern
ment not only toward the fighting
men, but toward those dependent on
them, and a just, generous and hu-
name government should see to it
that so far as is practicable, they
should be given this protection, not
as a matter Of mercy or charity, but
as a matter Of right. And that they
should enter into the service OF their
country with the certain knowledge
that if death or misfortune comes To
them, they and their dependents arc
protected by insurance afforded them
by their government as part OF the
compensation for the service thew
are rendering their country.
In conclusion, Secretary McAdoo
points out that while this plan may
call for considerable expenditure at