The Springdale news., 1917-09-07
INSURANCE FOR SOLDIERS
Bill Also Provides Monthly Main
tenance of Soldiers Families.

ury McAdoo for life and indemnity
insurance for the soldiers and sailors
of the United States, after discus
sion by representative insurance men
and report on by advisory commit
tees, has been put in definite form
and submitted to President Wilson.
The presidents comment was as fol-
lows:
Il have examined the enclosed pa
pers 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 ap-
proved by the president.
In essentials it is proposed that the
government furnish at cost to the sol
der and sailors of the United States,
life and indemnity insurance.
The main features of the seere-
tary's plan are that the government
shall bear all the costs of the ad-
ministration of the insurance plan
and that no expense Of any kind
shall be charge on the funds ere
ated by the payment of premiums by
the soldiers and sailors Relieved of
overhead charges. IS a year for
every 81 900 insurance will be an
adequate charge, under the plan, and
this figure will put the maximum in
surance of $4,000 within the reach
of practically every private soldier
or sailor Insurance in private COM
panies would cost many times this
sum for men actually engaged in war
fare.
After the war the insurance may be
converted into other forms. The in
surance is to be payable in install
ments, is non-assi enable 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
percentage of pay, with minimum,
however, or from $40 to SIS month,
according 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 treat
ments, supplies and appliances are to
be given Rehabilitation and re-edu
cation of the injured soldiers or
sailors. fitting them for lives of
activity and usefulness is part of the
plan
The plan also contemplates free al
lowances 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
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 So per thousand being
normal rate in peace time and an en-
tirely inadequate rate for war risk.
The Workmen's compensation laws
Il. r iyoc,
panles in this country and the laws
and experiences of other countries
have been studied and used in the
preparation of this bill.
Secretary McAdoo emphasizes the
Justice and rightfulness Of such a
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
compelling them to undergo danger
and, if necessary, 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, gen
erous and humane government should
see to it that SO far as 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