The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-19

able faculties and functions 20 suit
able trades and vacations, which the
injuries Of the battlefield have not
wholly destroyed. The heavy depio-
lions in man power resulting from
this conflict, which Is without preo-
sdent in history or Imagination,
Will place new and greater values
upon all forms and degrees Of hu-
man energy, and demand a. . nrst
duty Of intelligent government that
every remaining useful sense and
limb OF the blind and crippled shan
be reclaimed under the benevolent
processes OF education and reapplIed
to economic uses for the benent Of
society. The millions we shall Be
called upon to spend to support the
dependents OF the soldiers while they
are in the fighting line, for indennni-
ties and for re-edueation OF the Grip
pied, are IN the last analysis invest
ments Of the best sort: they are
sums Of capital advanced BY the
nation to promote utility, self.
respect and economic DEVELOPMENT
More than all, they are essentially
humanitarian and in the highest
sense . discharge BY the Govern
msnt OF an essential duty 20 society.
Military services Il now obligatOryS
those who imperil themselves hays
no election. The insurance com
pAnies do not and cannot permit this
fact to AFFECT their calculations. They
must protect themselves by charging
cured against lose no matter how Sc
we're the rate Of mortality may bA
Conssouehtly, the very men who are
called into the service because thir
physical condition Is OF the best and
who as civilians would for that
reason be able to secure the most
favorable insurance rate In peace time
are denied a. soldiers the necessary
life insurance to enable them %
protect their families and depend
suts. The tremendous rates ehAFESd
by private Insurance. companies to
protect them against the extrA-haz-
Rrdous risks OF war put Insurance
entirely beyond the reach Of the con
seripted soldier.
Must Net Penaliss Patristiam.
Military necessity has. therefore.
subjected the most At subjects for
insurance to an insurmountAblO diD
elimination unless the GoVsrnmsnt
itself supplies insurance At cost ana
upon . peace bAsIA. It would, In fact
be dastardly and undsmocratie II the
should penaIizs the sol
der who IL forced to render the high
est duty Of the citizen By Its failure
to provide war insurance upon peace
terms and at net cost, nrst, because
the pay Of the enlisted msn in the
army and navy 10 less than The wages.
and salaries generally earned In
private life, which reduces their In
vesting capacity; and, second. BE-
cause Government insurance Il Al
essential war and emergency meas
ure, inauguratsd for the specific ben
eft of our military forces, and can
not and should not be conducted for
profit
Such overhead charges as AEsntS'
advertising. promotion,'
local rentals. etc, are sliIninAtsd-
The Government must assume the
cost OF administering this benevolent
agency, just As Il bears the cost Of
all other Goyernment
agencies established for the bensnt
OF the people.
This legislation will be . great step
IN the recognition OF the Rs-
pu6lie's duty to Its heroes. I con-
slider 1t the most Significant and pro
greSsive measure presented to Con-
Eress since the declaration OF war.
Justice Must Begin At Home.
We are proposing to expend during
the next year more than $4,000 oo.-
BOO to create and maintain the nsess-
sary lighting forces to rs-sstablish
justice In the world. But justice
must begin at home; Justice must Be
done to the men who die and suffer
for US on the battlsnslds and for
their wives and children and de-
pendents who sacrifice for us at home.
To do justice to them requires only .
1.-THE of the money we are expanding
for the general objects OF the war.
Let 1t not be said that noble America
was ignoole in the treatment Of her
soldiers and sailors and callous to
the fate OF their dependents in this
greatest war of all time.
The pending war insurance bill
gives compensation, not pensions: IL
nxes amounts definitely in advance
Instead Of holding out mere chance OF
gratuities after the conclusion OF
peace. 1t saves the dependents from
want and gives them the necessRrieS
of life while their men are at the
front. 1t deals with its heroes li6er-
Ally for the sufterings that result
from their disablement on the feld
81 battle, and, II they die. 1t makes
lust provision for the loved ones who
survive them. Il fosters the help
esS and dependent, the MANNED and
disabled, and recognizes the immen-
lily Of the nations debt to the valor
md patriotism Of her heroic soma.