The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-10
COMPENSATION !.
FOR SOLDIERS
IS OUTLINED |! !
Insurance for Fighters Provided
in Bill Introduced by
Simmons ~
M'ADoo CHAMPIONS =
GOVERNMENT RELIEF ACT
1ndemnities for Disability Range
From $4,000 to $4,000 .
Month

Washington, d. c., Aug. 10.-tAuthor.
ity to make effective the governments
program of insuring the armed forces
of the nation was sought Of congress
today in bills introduced in both
houses by Senator Simmons and Rep.
resentative Alexander. ,.
The proposed legislation was framed
to follow plans already announced in
general outline and would provide in.
surance at minimum cost for Ameri.
can soldiers. sailors and marines. the
insured men paying the premium:
family allowances to dependents Of
men in the nations military Or naval
service; indemnification for disabili.
ties and the re-education and rehabili.
tation at government expense of in
jured men.
AIlot a Minimum.
A feature would make It compulsory
for officers and men to allot mini.
mum of $500 a month Of their pay to
dependent wives and children. The
maximum compulsory allotment Is
half pay. These allotments would be
supplemented by family allowances to
be made by the government of IS. to
$50 a month, according to the circum-
stances and number of dependents.
Liberal indemnities for partial and
total disability are included In the
program varying from $40 to SIS per
month minimum up to $500 month
for higher officers. Insurance would
be written by the government on lives
Of the men at 2 rate approximately :
So per thousand in sums OF $1,000 to
$4,000, the premiums payable in in
stallments ttas II. ,,a. ...
Cost $55s,e5o0oO. >
"The total cost to the government
for two years is placed at $556,65O,000,
which Secretary McAdoo estimates at
less than six per cent Of the cost to
the country of conducting the war
Children up to 18 years Of age, or
those older, who are unable to work,
and wives of men and officers, would
be given family allowances. The
amount would depend on the size OF
the family, the allotment made by the
husband or father out of his pay and
other circumstances to be determined
in each individual case.
The bill does not attempt to cover
the method to be pursued in re-educa!
ton and rehabilitating injured men.
TWO principles, however. are recog-
niZed.
Disability Compensation.
The mans obligation to avail him
self of such opportunities as the gov
may provide under penalty
Of loss Of compensation for ANY Pc
riod of unreasonable REFUSAL and a
mans rights to disability compensa-
ton regardless of his individual eco
nomic recuperation. The amount Of
indemnities paid in case OF partial dis
ability, however, would vary from
time to time, according to the altered
of the man insured
Assume that man was totally dis
abled by losing both legs and arms"
Mr. McAdoo wrote the president, by
way of illustration, under the COM
pensation of this bill II he were q
private and unmarried, he would r.,
ceive $40 month, and II he needed
a nurse or attendant he would receive,
up to $50 additional. ,2 h.
Aid for Dependents.
"If he had widowed mother de- p
pendent upon him for support he
would get another $40. II he subse-
luently married, his compensation
would be increased at once by SIS.
II, later on, he had children, the COM
pensation would again be increased
$40 per month for each of the first
two children, possible maximum OF
s1O5 per month.
"In addition to this monthly pay
ment he would be fitted with artificial
limbs and have treatments. His COM
pensation for pensions would not be
affected 10y any increased earnings.
When disability results in death.
dependents would receive from SIS to
$50 per month, the sum again being
rated according to the circumstance
Of the dependents, This feature OF
the program is regardless OF the in
,urance which the man or officer may
AXE if he wishes to pay the premium
here for himself"