The daily Alaskan., 1917-08-30
J, s. WILL INSURE '. ALL ITS FIGHTERS
Experts DsVIsIRg Plan to Com !. p8Rsata For Injuries h War.
BENEFIT FOR DEPENDENTS

Scheme VIII Make lt a Tax on che
 Whole People, Says Insurance Man. ! The Treasury, War; Navy and cem-
 msros Departments Are Working on | It to Avoid EviIs of Pension syStem. Following a conference in Washing ion with Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, a committee of prominent h. surance men have drawn up plan for pensions or compensation for casual ties in the war, which will be submit ted to congress.
 The details are to be worked out in cooperation with the secretary of the treasury and officials of tho war, navy and commerce departments, as well as the Council of National Defense. It was said they will conform as closely as possible to the principle of the work mems compensation law.
 To give some idea to soldiers, their families and the public of what the government. aided by the insurance men, was trying to work out, the head of one of the large companies, who deprecated any idea of self advertise ment and therefore did not wish to be quoted by name. outlined the basis on which the experts are working.
 "The government" he said, Is inter ested in putting something through in this matter that will be happy sOlu- ton of q difficult problem, t decided to appoint committee of actuaries, with the agreement that the insurance companies would help the government It Is not life insurance that is sought It is casualty insurance or, better still. if Is compensatory insurance.
 That Uncle Sam is a great big em- ployer was the idea finally agreed on by the insurance and casualty chemists down in Washington, aud the proposed insurance will in effect be a death ben eft for the dependents of those who succumb in action.
 To Avoid Evils of Old System.
 "The government. you see, Is. very eager to do something to avoid pen sioning as 1t has formerly existed, to avoid tue evils of the old pension sys- tenn. What it wants to work out is compensatory insurance. Age has noth- ing to do with it. It isn't life insur- ance.
 "Of course the companies might have gone into a pool or a bureau, and the government would be sending out checks after proof, but the great desire now Is to simplify the whole matter.
 "In short, 1t is proposed to put the pension plan ou q wuriman,'s compen- sation basis. Of course 1t is up to congress, but I think 1t will go right through without hitch. MT. McAdoo stated what was wanted on behalf of the president. and the companies are willing to lend to the government their expert service, their statistics, etc. They have very recent statistics from Canada, where a great deal of insur- ance Is carried.
 '"The government and the representa- lives are in cooperation to develop the simplest possible plan, such a one as Is being carried out by big business through the wOrkmen's compensation.
 'aThe workmen's compensation law interpOses between the workmen and the hazards of labor. By this plan 1t Is desired to interpose between the soldier and the hazards Of war. The plan when finally worked out may be varied, according to the condition or. the family of a soldier. It might be a matter of compensation by install. ments.
 Will Be a Tax on Whole People.
 ''The principle of the workmen's com pensatiOn is being recognized by the United States in this war. The gov ernment says: Wen meet the neces- sary tax to compensate, and it will be a tax on the whole people. It will be just the same as if the problem arose in a bridge factory, q shoe factory or on a railroad. We'll tax ourselves. Here's a whole army going up against these hazards, and some must meet them
 Such acceptance of this principle amounts to social evolution. It would be a victory to have it accept ed without debate and with this com pensatlon principle granted and accept ed the ground Is covered for this war. It will help volunteering, for the vol unteers nearly all have dependents and the drafted have not. It simply shows what a great democracy does for It. self in this emergency.
 "Such a system would supplement a soldiers per diem. His dependents would get his compensatory damages. That Is why the government wants the plan crystallized in advance, The plan will probably be uniform, with out regard to previous occupation"