Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-17
Compensation, Indemnify
and Insurance for Men
In Service, Asked IN Bill

| allotment
The legislation, if enacted, will sound
! he death knell of pensions ana pen
sions scandals and inequalities. rms
will be accomplished by making more
| ADEQUATE and equitable provision for
: .ndemnifying officers and men against
the risk of disability or death. The plan
| IS analogous to the workmen's compen-
! alton. AS a general thing, the COM
| 3ensation scheme will give more than
, the pension system.
In cases OF total disability, from
wounds or injuries suffered in actual
service, or from disease thus contracted
| the compensation is based on the per-
centage of pay, with a minimum allow
ance of from $40 to SIS per month &C
cording TO the size of the family. This
allowance may be increased for higher
officers TO 5000 per month. Compensa-
! ton for partial disabilities is fixed on
a percentage of the allowances for to-
;al disability.
WOULD REHABILITATE, TOO.
The legislation recognizes as vital
| the rehabilitation and re-education of
| injured men, and provides adequate
measures to discharge this responsible
ty resting on the government.
Contrasting the system of allowances
with the Anticipated system of pensions
the following illustrations:
| Assume that a man were totally dis
| abled by losing both legs and both
arms IN battle. Under the existing pen
sion system he would receive $lOO per
month, regardless of the size or his
| family. Under the compensation provi-
sions, If he were a private and unmar-
ried he would receive $40 per month,
and if. as is most probable, he needed
a nurse or attendant, UP to $50 addl-
| tional If he had a widowed mother
dependent upon him for support, he
would get another $40. If he subse-
quently married, his monthly compen-
sation would be at once increased by
1916 If later on, he had children the
compensation would again be increased
$50 per month for each of the first two
children; a possible maximum of $lO0
per month"
The plan provides that in addition
to these monthly payments, the injured
soldier would be fitted with artificial
| limbs, and given such medical atten-
| ton and treatment as required. HIS
ability to increase his earnings by in
| dividual efforts would not affect his
| compensation, and, moreover, If he de
sired to set up small store-keeper,
| he could commute $40 per month of his
compensation. This might give him
| 81 900 or more in cash for his busl-
| ness. and still leave him some pro-
| lection.
In case of death from injury or dis
| ease incurred or contracted in the serv-
| ice, the plan provides compensation for
! the widow, children and dependent
widowed mother. The amount of cost
| IS based upon percentage of pay, and
| ranges from a minimum, according to
the size of the family, of from SIS to
a maximum of $50 a month for pri-
! Yates, and to a maximum of 5000 per
month for higher officers. 1t includes
also an allowance not exceeding 500
| for funeral expenses. The compensa-
ton for widows ends two years after
| remarriage, and for children at the age
| of eighteen, unless they are physically
or mentally incapable of gainful occu-
patton.
CITES ILLUSTRATION.
| Mr.. McAdoo cites the following IL
| lustration: IF the man died as re
! suit of his injuries, leaving a wife, two
children and a widowed mother. under
| the pension system the family would
| receive ordinarily SIG, or at best $24 a
| month; even an officers family would
| receive $34 a month. Under the COM
pensation system the family would con-
| tinue to receive $50. and on the death of
the mother this would be reduced to
! $50. If the wife remarked it would
| continue at this rate for two years.
and would then be reduced to $25 until
| the first child reached eighteen, there
| after to SIS; terminating when the sec
/ ond child reached eighteen.
One of the risks of the soldier is non
| instability at ordinary rates. The leg
4 islation proposed by Mr.. McAdoo in
/ IDENTITIES against this hazard by provid-
/ ing for the issuance of government in
%aI \ 1Nf1 Ettr
/ and death, to officers. men and
/ army nurses while in active
/ service, in amounts ranging from
| 81, 900 to $4,000. Mr.. McAdoo believes
! that the excess cost of insurance due
! to increased mortality and disability
/ should be borne by the government. 1t
| is his contention that the insurance bu-
! reau should be administered at govern
ment cost for the benefit of the fighting
men. The premium rates suggested by
! Mr.. McAdoo to be charged by the gov
eminent are based upon the mortality
experience tables of peace times with
/ out loading" which comprises over
! head charges. commissions to agents,
advertising, etc, and which is a large
! item in the premium charges of private
companies.
! "The cheapest form of insurance, cost
! ing during the war on an average IS
kper 81 900 of insurance, and this bring
| ing even the maximum OF $4,000 insur-
| ance within the reach of practically ev-
| cry private is provided for" says Mr..
| McAdoo in his letter to the president.
| After the war the insurance may be
| converted into other forms of earlier
| maturity, the premiums to be based.
! however, on the same mortality table
| without loading. All insurance is to
/ be paid in installments, to be non-as-
| signable and free from the claims of
| creditors. either of the insured or of the
| beneficiary. 1t is to be limited to wife.
| children and other specified kindred. 1t
| aust be applied for within 120 days
| after the terms are promulgated, or
| subsequent enlistment or entrance in-o
! the service. For those who are totally
disabled. or die before they have had
an opportunity to insure within the pre-
scribed period, insurance in the sum
! of 5000 is deemed to have been applied
| for, and granted"