New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-03
Congress Will Be Asked to
Enact That Government
Assume Risks
To Create New Bureau
Death Liability of 1900 for
Every Man in Service Is
Proposed

! aShlngton, July - lSsudhCe ny INV
| government itself of the insurance that
| is TO be given to every man in the
country's forces was approved to-day
/ by more than a hundred prominent IN
/ surance company officials in conference
at the Treasury Department. Leglsla-
ton to carry such plan into effect
will be asked of Congress at this ses-
sion by the Administration.
Creation of a bureau of service in
I surance or extension of the present
war risk bureau to undertake the work
probably will be proposed. The details
will be worked out by a committee of
/ insurance men, cooperating with Sec
rotary MeAdoo and officials of the
/ War. Navy and Commerce departments
and the Council of National Defence.
/ The insurance officials, who came to
| the Treasury to-day at Mr.. McAdoo's
| invitation, voted 1913 to 4 in favor Of
I having the government act as its own
insurance company. They told the Sec
rotary that they have to charge heavy
rates for war insurance md that they
are not eager to handle this business,
as they have no precedent figures upon
which TO compute risks.
Insurance Machinery Offered
Many of the companies represented
offered the use of their machinery for
handling the governments insurance
business and the services Of their ex-
perts in the guidance of governmental
activities. Most Of them suggested that
the government should guarantee a
limited indemnity and permit individ-
uals in the service to carry further in
surance in private companies without
limitations.
II is probable that the bill providing
for the establishment Of Federal insur-
ance will ask for a system comparable
to the present workmen's compensation
law 1t was pointed out by Captain S.
II. Wolfe. representing the navy at the
conference, that the governments in
> dustrial compensation system could be
broadened easily to apply to war SER
vice.
The plan recently advanced by AS
sistant Secretary Sweet, of the Com
merce Department, was discussed.
Under this plan. which is being consid-
cred by the Council of National De-
fence, the government would assume a
death liability of $4,000 and also pro-
vide compensation for injuries Various
suggestions were offered as to details
of a Federal insurance scheme, includ-
ing the aGvisability of instalment pay
ments TO benehciaries rather than lump
sums.
A number OF insurance men pointed
out that establishment of maximum
benefits would be fraught with many
complications, and asserted that the
number and age of benefciaries should
be an important factor in the plans
Only one company gave the Secretary
a definite offer 70 privately handle the
insurance for the government. IL stlp-
ulated a rate Of s58 per $1,000.
President Eager for Solution
IN opening inc meeting, Ine SeCfe-
tary told the delegates that President
Wilson is eager that some definite in
demnity plan be worked out quickly.
|, eve want TO do something, and we
want 20 do it quickly" he said. "The
man that goes out to fight for his coun-
try has a right to know what we intend
70 do for him or for his family. lie
should not have to rely on charity. or
20 feel that his family will be depend
ent upon the charity of the public or
it's Legislators. Charity in such cases
is criminal.
"Our men will fight better if they
know that their families are to be
properly cared for, no matter what
happens. America has the resources
to do this properly. II the insurance
companies are not able to do 1t, 1t Is
up 10 the government TO do it."
Captain Wolfe pointed out that a
governmental Insurance system would
strike a severe blow at the evils of
the pension system.
"The pension payrolls for 1916" he
said, Showed that benefits were still
being paid to $50 widows of soldiers Of
the War of 1872"