The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-08-23
INsURING OUR FIGHTING MEN

II
soldiers and sailors of the United
States, after discussions by repre-
sentative insurance men and report on
by advisory committees, has put in
definite form and submitted to Presi-
dent Wilson.
The Presidents comment was as
| follows:
81 have examined the enclosed pa
pers very carefully and take pleasure
in returning them with my entire ap-
prevail"
A bill has been introduced in Con-
gress along the lines suggested by the
Secretary of the Treasury and ap-
proved by the President
In essentials it is proposed that the
government furnish at cost to the SOL
diers and sailors of the United States
life and indemnity insurance.
The main features of the Secre-
tary's plans arc that the government
shall bear ell the cost of the admins
tration of the insurance plan and that
no expense of any kind shall be a
charge on the funds created by the
payment of premiums by the sailors
and soldiers. Relieved of overhead
charges, eight dollars year for every
thousand dollars insurance will be an
adequate charge, under the plan, and
this figure will put a maximum insur.
ance of ten thousand dollars Within
the reach Of practically every private
soldier or sailor. Insurance in pri
vatc companies would cost many
times this sum for men actually en-.
Eagcd in warfare.
After the war the insurance may be
converted into other forms. The in.
mcnts, is non-assignable and free
rom the claims of creditors Of the in
lSurcd or of the beneficiary, ard is linn
tied To the wife, children, and other
specified kindred.
If total disability results or dis
ease is contracted in the course OF
service, the Compensation is &c be baS
ed on percentage of pay, with a mini
Amum, however, of from forty to sew
cnty-fivr dollars "A month accordinc
to the size Of the family. Partial dis
abilities are to be computed on basis
of percentage of total disability.
Medical, surgical and hospital treat.
ncnts, supplies and appliances are tc
DC given. Rehabilitation and re-cdu
cation of the injured soldiers or sail
!
and usefulness is part of the plan.
The plan also contcmplates FIRE,
allowances to the families of soldier.
and sailors the government supple.
mcnting the sums set aside by the sol.
diers and sailors cut Of their wages
The insurance is not to be a 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
administering the funds and also the
extra hazard caused by the war, the
rate of eight dollars per thousand be.
ing "A normal rate in peace time and
an entirely inadequate rate for wai
risk.
The workmcn'S compensation laws
and the experiences of insurance com
panlcS in this country and the laws
and experiences Of other countric,
have been studied and used in the pre-
paration Of this bill
Secretary McAdoo emphasizes the
justice and rightfulncss of such 2
function of the government by citing
the fact that in this war we are not
relying upon the volunteer system but
are drafting American men and com
kpcl!lng them to undergo danger and.
II necessary, make the supreme Sil-
crificc for their government not onl,
towards the fighting men but towards
those dependent on them and a Just
generous and humane government
should see to 1t that so far as is pra".
tlcablc they should be given protcc.
ton, not as a matter Of mercy a.
charity but as matter of right And
that they should enter into the ser.
vice of their country with the certain
knowledge that if death or misfor.
tune comes to them they and their de
pcndcnts are protected by insurance
afforded them by their government as
part of the compo nsation for the ser.
vice they are rendering their country
In conclusion Secretary McAdoc
points out that while this plan NAV
call for considerable expenditures al
present, yet the eventual cost to the
government cf this plan will be very
much less than that which would re.
suit from adherence to the present
pension program Of the country, and,
further, that the pension system will
not provide the same benefits nol
cover the subject in the same com.
prehcnsivc, humane and equitable
way.