Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-18
CLIQUE FIGHTS WAR PENSIONS.
Political Influence Lost, vs. Belief, If
Measure Passes.

Washington. Aug. ia pension
clique in the house Of representatives,
headed by Representative Key, of
Ohio, chairman of the pension COM
mittee, is to make an organized fight
on the governments war insurance
plan Of compensation for soldiers on
the battle line.
The pension group, according to
champions OF the compensation sys-
tenn, is opposed to the governments
plan for the reason that it will effect
lively supplant the antiqu: ted pension
s;stec, ard provide automatic aid for
soldiers dependents that will remove
the pension problem entirely from
politics, and thus deprive members of
a source of"political influence at home.
When the interstate commerce COM
mittee of the house met to hear aggu-
ments for and against the war insur-
ance plan, the intention of the pension
clique to oppose the bill was disclosed
by Representative Adamson, chairman
Of the interstate commerce committee,
who said he understood there was to
be opposition to the government bill.
Later. from other sources. it was
learned that the bill Twas referred to
the interstate commerce committee,
whose jurisdiction is far removed from
war Insurance, because or the fact
that Secretary Of the Treasury Nc
Adoo had advanced information that
Chairman Key Of the pension commit
tee was opposed to the bill. Accord
ingiy the bin was sent to the Adam
son committee. which is now under
taking to put it thru the house.
Judge Julian W. Mack of Chicago,
chairman Of the committee which
framed the governments war Insurance
plan, exposed to the interstate COM
merce committeera at the afternoon ses.-
sion some of the reasons for the OBJ
jections of the insurance companies to
the governments plan. They did not
like the PLAN Judge Mack said, for the
reason that it would permit the govern
ment to do an insurance business equal
to that transacted by the three largest
insurance companies In the United
States.
Judge Mack also showed that the
government would indirectly take away
business from the insurance companies
and showed that they were opposed to
the bin for that reason.
Answering the questions Of half
dozen insurance actuaries and experts
who thronged the committee room,
Judge Mack impressed on the commit
tee that the government plan was
just and fair one; that it not only pro-
vided adequate compensation for SOL
diers dependents but that 1t forced the
soldier to save part of his earnings.
THE actuaries," Judge Mack said
don't want the men to buy the liz
surance OF course they don't. 1t will
hurt their business. They don't want
the soldier to deposit money with the
government, because they are afraid
that he willuse the money to buy, in
surance."
Judge Mack also pointed ou- to the
committee the danger Of giving the
American fighting man $33 month
to spend while French and British SOL
diers, with whom the Americans will
fraternize, will have only fraction ct
that amount.
Gen. John J. Persh!ng was quoted by
Judge Mack as having sent word that
So or $40 a month was sufficient spend
ing money for the, American soldiers. =
'T am authorized to say that for Gen.
era Pershing,'' Judge Mack said. "A
man who talked to General PershiEg
not more than two weeks ago brought
back that word"