The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-08-24
.|NSUR|NG OUR
FIGHTING MEN
PLAN OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY ENDORSED
Bill Now Before Congress to Provide
For the Families OF the Men
at the Front

McAdoo for life and indemnity insur-
ance for the soldiers and sailors OF the
United States, after discussions by rep
resentative insurance men and report on
by advisory commuters, has been put
in definite form and submitted to Presi-
dent Wilson. The Presidents comment
was as follows:
II have examined the enclosed papers
very carefully and take pleasure in re-
turning them with nv entire approval. -
A bill he's been introduced in Congress
along the lines suggested by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and approved by
the President. In essentials it is pro-
posed that the government furnish at
cost to the soldiers and sailors of the
United States life ard indemnity insur-
ance. The main features of the Secre-
tary's plan are that the government
shall bear all the cost of the administra-
ton plan and that no expense of any
kind shall be charge on the funds
created by the payment of premiums by
the soldiers and sailors. Relieved of
overhead charges, eight dollars a year
for every thousand dollars insurance
will be an adequate charge. under the
plan, and this figure will put the maxi.
mum insurance of ten thousand dollars
within the reach of practically every
private soldier or sailor. Insurance in
private companies would cost many
times this sum for men actually eDgag-
ed in warfare.
After the war the insurance may be
converted into other forms. The insur-
ance is to be payable in installments, is
non- assignable and free from the claims
of creditors of the insured or of the
beneficiary, and is limited to the wife,
children and other specified kindred.
If total disability results or disease is
contracted in the course of service, the
compensation is to be based on percent
age of pay, with minimum, however.
of from forty TO seventy-five dollars a
month according to the size of the fam
lly. Partial disabilities are to computed
on basis of percentages of total disa-
bility.
Medical, surgical and hospital treat
ments, supplies and appliances are to be
given. Rehabilitation and re-education
of the injured soldiers or sailors, fitting
them for lives of activity and useful
ness, is part of the plan.
The plan also contemplates free al
lowances to the families of soldiers and
sailors, the government supplementing
the sums set aside by the soldiers and
sailors out of their wages.
The insurance is not to be gift of
the government but is to be paid for out
of the pay of the insured men. The
government, however, is to take upon
itself the cost of collecting and admins
tering the funds and also the extra haz-
ard caused by the war, the rate of eight
dollars per thousand being normal rate
in peace time and an entirely inadequate
rate for war risk.
The workmen's compensation laws
| and the experiences of insurance COM
panies in this country and the laws and
experiences Of other countries have
been studied and used in the prepara-
ton of this bill.
Secretary McAdoo emphasizes the
justice and rightfulness of such func.
tion of the government by citing the
| fact that in this war we are not relying
upon the volunteer system but are draft
| ing American men and compelling them
to undergo danger and, if necessary. to
make the supreme sacrifice for their
country. A higher obligation, he says,
therefore rests upon the government,
not only towards the fighting men but
towards those dependent on them, and
a just, generous and humane govern.
ment should see to it that so far as il
is practicable they should be given this
protection. not as a matter of mercy OF
charity but as a matter of right. And
that they should enter into the service
of their country with the certain knowl-
I edge that If death or misfortune comes
to them they and their dependents are
protected by insurance afforded them
by their government as part OF the
compensation for the service they are
rendering their country.
| In conclusion Secretary McAdoo points
out that while this plan may call fol
| considerable expenditures at present
yet the eventual cost to the government
of this plan will be very much less thar
that which would result from the ad
herence to the present pension program
of the country, and. further, that the
pension system will not provide the
same benefits nor cover the subject il
the same comprehensive, humane anC
equitable way.
! There is no use to which the funds de
rived from the sale of Liberty Loar
Bonds can be put which will be more
cordially approved by the people of tht
country than to provide this just ant
deserved protection to the men WHO ar,
braving all the dangers of this war OF
land and sea in the service of thei
/ country