The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-11
Comprehensive System with
Compulsory Payments De-
vised by Secretary
PROGRAM BETTER
THAN PENSION PLAN
It Provides Against Death
or Disability of the Soldier
and for His Dependents

Washington, Aug. ll.-Authorlty 70
make effective the governments program
of insuring the armed forces of the ma
ton was sought of Congress yesterday
in bills introduced in both houses by
Senator Simmons and Representative
Alexander
The proposed legislation would provide
insurance at minimum cost, for Ameri-
can soldiers, sailors and marines, the in
sured men paying the premiums; family
allowances to dependents of men in the
nations military or naval service; in
Identification for disabilities and the re-
education and re habilitation in ways not
specifically stated but at government ex-
pense, of injured men.
A feature not previously announced
would make it compulsory for officers
and men to allot a minimum of Sl5 a
month out of their pay to dependent
wives and children. The maximum com
pulsory allotment is half pay These al
lotments would be supplemented by fam
lily allowances, to be made by the gov
eminent, of from S. to $50 month, ac-
cording to the circumstances and number
of dependents.
Liberal but varying indemnities for
partial and total disability are included
in the program, ranging from $40 to SIS
per month minimum up to 5000 a month
for higher officers. A private totally dis
abled, with dependents, might receive
total of Sl05 month. Insurance would
be written by the government on the
lives Of the men at rate of approx
mately SO per thousand in sums of from
$1,000 to $4,000, the premiums payable
in instruments.
The cost to the government as esti-
mated by Secretary McAdoo, would APP
proximate the following
Family allowance year, SAL
100000; second year, Sl90,000000
Death indemnities--Firs year, $780,
600; second year, 100000.
Compensation for total disability
First year, $5,250,00o; second year, $685.
100000.
Compensation for partial disability
First year, $3,200,o00; second year, S2l,-
600 600
Insurance against death and disability
First year, s23,o0o,O00; second year,
$ll2,50O00.
Totals-First year, Sl76,l50000; sec
ond year, $3.50, 10000.
The total for the two years is thus
placed at $556, 650,000, which Mr.. McAdoo
estimates at less than six per cent of the
cost to the country of conducting the
war
In its general features the bill was APP
proved by the advisory committee of in
surance representatives summoned by |
Secretary McAdoo to Washington July 2.
''They opposed, however" Mr., McAdoo
advised the president in letter made |
public with the introduction of the bills,
the grant of any government insurance
over and above the compensation, on the
ground that the other provisions were lib
eral enough and might be made more
liberal in ways suggested by them. They
favored, over and above compensation,
the payment by the government of ST.
300 in each case of death during serv-
ice, or within five years after discharge
from service in lieu of insurance"
Children up to Is years of age-"or
# incapable of pursuing a substantially
yainful occupation because of mental or
physical infrmities; then without age
imit" and wives of men and officers
would be given family allowances, de-
pendent on size of family and other cir
within the limits designated
luring the term of service of the men in
,ured.
Other dependent relatives would be
yiven allowances only in case voluntary
lllotments were made them out of the
,ay of the man insured
A man totally disabled by losing both
egs and both arms in battle, in addition
o monthly payments would be fitted
With artificial limbs and have treatment
furthermore, if he wanted to set up as
mall storekeeper, under the compensa-
ion system he would be allowed to com
mute $50 month of his compensation: .
his might give him 1000 or more and
till leave him protected to some ex-
ent. :
Provision is made for dependents in
ase a soldier dies and men killed or ,
issbled before the compensation bill be-
ONES law are protected to the extent
f 5000.