El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-14
HOUSE PASSES
ARMY INSURANCE
Vote Is Unanimous and Is
Announced Amidst the
Greatest Applause.

Washington. r. g. Sept. 1.-THE
senate today had before it the sol
diers' and sailors Insurance bill
passed unanimously by the house last
night amid thunderous applause. Be
fore passage the bill was so amended
as to equalize the allowances Of de
pendents of officers and enlisted men
Benefits and allowances now pro-
vided for are slightly higher than
those originally proposed as the
minimum for privates by the COM
mittee and considerably lower than
the maximum amounts which Off
GERS and their dependents would have
received
Wilson Scores Personal Victory.
President Wilson scored per-
sOlal victory in the adoption. 14l 70
q. Of an amendment raising from
$4,000 TO $4,000 the maximum amount
Of optional insurance policies that
the government would issue TO all
men in the service The original
draft Of the bill carried $4,000, but
il was stricken out i'm committee.
Opposition COlIaPses.
The mildness of the attack OF op-
ponents Of the measure on the OPP
tional insurance section caused sur
prise This fight. however. viii be
carried to the senate by the insur-
ance companies. II is understood
EuuAAAAuAe AOE AEMNAUnAs
The main purpose OF the bill is 20
provide as substitute for the pres
ent pension law as Il would apply TO
men engaged in this war, a new sys-
TEN OF alotments and cOmpensations
which VIII take care Of dependents
Of the soldier and rehabilitate men
upon their return from the war.
Provides Present Allowances.
Upon enlistment, under the provi-
sions Of the bill. a soldier or sailor
wnT|u he entitled 10 take ont from
$1,000 TO $4,000 optional insurance
at approximately 50 per $1,000. His
dependents would be entitled 10 al
lotments from the government OF
equal amount up TO SIS per month
from his pay.
Death or disability resulting. the
dependents Of any person in the mill
tary or naval service, including
women members OF the nurse corps.
would be entitled 10 compensation
and the insurance.
Total Disability. so to 800.
In case Of total disability the in
jured persons would be paid from $40
TO 500 per month
Elimination of the committee COM
pensation provisions came uneXpect-
edlE. No serious opposition 10 them
was promised until representative
Black. of Texas. suddenly began as
sailing the salary basis proposed as
a most undemOCratic thing TO impose
upon an army fighting for demOc-
racy- He quickly won supporters and
his proposal to equaliZe the benefits
Of all classes was adopted almost
unanimously Representative Alex
ander. Of Missouri. opposed the Black
amendment on the ground that a
family should benefit from the death
or disability OF their support in ac-
cOrdance with his earning capacity
When Compensation Ends.
Q ea.-. -aH.n
cease upon her remairrage and a de-
pendent child's would cease at IS
years of age.
Monthly benefits 10 soldier or
sailor in case OF total disability,
If he has neither wife nor child
living. $40. wife. $50 wife and one
child. sf5- two or more children. $50
no wife but one child. $50 and so
additional for each child up 10 .;
dependent widowed mother, SO ad-
ditionaL.
Injured men requiring nurse care
would receive an additional $50
A man losing both feet. hands OF
eyes would be entitled automatically
TO 800 per month.
Amendments adopted would give
claimants 10 years instead Of one in
which TO file their claim for CON-
pensatiOn; prevent their divorced ]
wives who have remarked from shar- ]
ing in a dependents allowance. and I
eliminate proposed salary increases
for present employees Of the govern J
ment who are 10 administer certain /.
provisions OF the measure.
Probably Cost -, OOO, 900. 900 n Year. /
Opinions differ as to the cost OF .
applying the measure. The first year ]
appropriation is 176,000.O0O. but il I
is declared by some that this Will 1
not be nearly enough. Representa- /
tive Gillette. Of Massachusetts, act (
ing Republican leader. declared that /
the second year cost of administra- I
ton probably would be nearly So
000. 000. 600