Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-29
Insurance Plan for Soldiers Gives
Protection to Dependent Families

Red Cross that, at the instance OF
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo, a
comprehensive measure providing for
the financial assistance of the families
O. merican soldiers and sailors has
been introduced in Congress.
Henry p. Davidson Chairman on be-
half of the Red Cross War Council, re-
Gently authorized the following;
obviously the task of providing
for the financial assistance of the
families of our soldiers and sailors
Is so large that the government alone
can assume it. In no other way can
the burden be discharged fairly and
as a matter of right rather than char
ity. No voluntary organization, or
organizations, could adequately cope
with a duty of such magnitude"
The bill, which was introduced in
both Houses of Congress Simultaneous
ly, represents a very careful study of
the whole problem of possible de-
Iperdency as a result OF the war and
a conscientious estimate of the govern
ment's recognition of its response
bility.
AS drawn, the bill is an amendment
to the act establishing the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance and adds to the
functions of this Bureau the admins
tration
In memorandum, Secretary Nc
Adoo explains the operation of the
proposed legislation.
4 realize" says the Secretary OF
the Treasury, that the cost involved
lin the PRONUNCIATION of such compre-
.hensive plan is a most important fac
tor to be considered Actuarial esti-
mates were submitted to me. These
estimates are necessarily of a tenta-
tive character, owing to the fact that
it is impossible to secure data upon
which to base calculations. After
careful consideration of these esti-
mates, and after consultation with
Captain S. H. Wolfe, of the War De
Ipartment, one of the leading actuaries
!cs the country, l have reached the
conclusion that if the bill is promptly
Ieracted into law the total expenditure
for the first and second years will be
as follows:
First Year.
Family allowances Sal 900, 900
Death indemnities ........ 100000
Compensation for total
disability ....... 5,25O,OOO
Compensation for partial
disability .............. 100000
. Insurance against death
and disability ........ 23,OOO,OOC
Total Recommendations C
Second Year.
Family allowances ......$190, 600
Death indemnities ........ 22,OOO,OOC
Compensation for total
disability .............. 35,OOO,OOC
Compensation for partial
disability ............. 21,OOOO OC
Insurance against death
and disability .......... 1l2,5O0,0OC
Total Observation-Disclosures. $3.50 100000
The bill is intended to meet those
essential and fundamental principles
OF justice which you have so much a
heart. It's main purpose is to grant
a reasonable government indemnity
against the losses and risks incurred
in the discharge of a patriotic duty
and in the performance of an extra.
| ordinarily hazardous service to which
the government has called and forced
the citizen. 1t provides not only TO.
the man, but for his family.
ut aims to accomplish these ends
by granting a reasonable measure o,
indemnity against risk OF loss: O.
OF support Of the bread-winner; (2)
! o. life and limb; 90 of present tnsura
bility at ordinary rates.
The risk of dependency, in the case
o, an enlisted mans family, is indem
nifed against by allotment of part o.
the pay of the enlisted man, supple
mented by a family allowance grant
I and paid by the government
This system, as explained, means
that the enlisted man shares with thu
government in providing for the fl
nancial needs of his family. The com
pulsory allotments from the enlist
ed mans pay must equal the famil,
allowance from the government, will
a minimum, however. OF $15 monthly
ard a maximum of one-half pay. Their
is a scale of allowances determine'
by the size of the dependent family
so that the monthly family allOwanc
ranges from S. to $50, according t.
the number Of dependents
Secretary McAdoo illustrates tn
IL