New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-21
Against Group Insurance
BIZ F. Spencer Baldwin, Manager State Insurance Fund

DY l.. OPeIlCeI DutdWHi, Vi
May have space for few words Of
comment on the contribution to your edi-
torial page of August Is by George Clarke
Cox, Phi. D., on Group Insurance for Sol
diers"?
It is difficult for a lay reader to discern
the exact purpose or raison detre Of this
contribution. 1t is of the species of academic
criticism that leaves one at the end vaguely
in doubt as to what it is all about. APP
parently the writer sets out to crltcise the
proposed system of government insurance
and family allowance for soldiers and sailors
on the ground of expense, but in the end he
comes forward with q proposal that the gov
eminent provide free group insurance for
the men serving in the army and navy,
much more radical and expensive project
than the plan embodied in the Administra-
ton bill, which provides simply for the sale
of life insurance at net cost.
The Government Measure
It may be of interest to explain briefly the
three main features of the government meas
ure under discussion. The plan provides, IN
the first place, for family allowance to de-
pendents of enlisted men in amounts gradu-
atcd, according to the size OF the family,
from So to $50 month. Alotments of pay
are to be made as contributions toward the
family MISUNDERSTANDING as to wife and
children and voluntary as to other persons
the amount of the allotment ranging from a
minimum Of SIS month TO maximum of
one-half the pay In case one-half of an en-
listed mans pay is not allotted, the Secre-
tary of War or the Secretary of the Navy
may require that any portion of one-hat OF
the pay that is not allotted shall be deposit
ed to his credit, to be held during such
period as may be prescribed and paid back,
with interest at per cent, to the enlisted
man or his benefciaries or next of kin.
The second feature of the plan covers
compensation for death or disability, accord
ing to the usual method of workmen's COM
pensation legislation. The amount of COM
pensation is graduated according to the
amount of pay and the number and status
OF dependents the maximum monthly COM
pensation for death and for total disability
being fixed at $780, A most important pro-
vision of this part of the plan requires the
injured men to follow such courses of re-
Mobilization, reeducation and vocational
training as the government may prescribe,
with the view to restoring them. to self
supporting employment upon the penalty OF
suspension of payment of compensation Tor
wilful failure to comply with this require
ment, but the amount of compensation IS not
reduced in the case of man who RECEIVERS
his earning power, in part or in whole, IN
order that there may be no loss OF In
centive to make the best of all opportunities
for rehabilitation. Failure to make proper
effort to recover lost or impaired earning
power is thus penaized, while success in at
tanning this end is rewarded.
A Comprehensive Plan
The third division of the plan authorizes
the sale of life insurance to enlisted men by
the government, in amounts not less than
81 900 or more than $4,000, at absolute net
cost The government is to bear the expense
of administration and the additional cost re-
sulting from the war hazard Application
for this insurance must be made within 12O
DAYS after enlistment or entrance into active
service and before discharge or resignation,
except that men in active service at the time
of the publication of the terms and conditions
of the proposed contract of insurance may
apply at any time within 120 days after that
date.
This comprehensive plan provides protec-
ton for enlisted men with respect TO the
three main risks attendant upon military
service. These are, first, the risk of loss of
occupation or earnings and the consequent
hardship to dependents during the period of
service; second, the risk Of loss of life or
limb, with resulting dependency for the man
himself or the members of his family; third,
the risk of non-insurability at ordinary
rates, which every enlisted man incurs by
reason of entry into military service. These
are heavy and serious risks which enlist
ment and draft impose upon men who are
undertaking the task Of national defence, and
it is just and proper that this burden should
not be thrown upon the individual, but
should be assumed and borne collectively by
the people as a whole.