Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-08
corning III. s,vstem which Congress

enlisted man, or by any msmper VI TAG
army or navy nurse corps composed OF
women. This compensation is graded
like the compensation now provided Tor
wage earners under workmen's compen-
sation laws in IS states, and under the
federal government of the United States
according to pay, ana u made payable
In monthly installmeuts. It is not as
signable and is exempt from taxation,
attachments. and execution. 1t takes the
place Of any rights or expectations under
pension laws and is expressly granted In
lieu Of pension. It Is not operatv for
| persons receiving service or retirement
pay The scale is a fairly liberal one and
Congress-, Of course, may at any time
make it more liberal, but presumably
would do SO only under general legisla-
ton for the entire service, thus preclud-
. ing the inequalities and injustices OF
special pension legislation. Congress can
not constitutionally bind future con-
crosses and prevent special pension legis-
iation but 1t can and in this law it seeks
to create so fair, liberal and satisfactory
a system of meeting every Just claim inn
personally and as a matter Of right that
1t will be practically impossible for any
future Congress to consider a private
pension bill and highly improbable that
any soldier or his dependents would seek
any other remedy than that provided for
under this war compensation act.
4 a man fit for military service is
physically the best insurable risk and
can purchase insurance at the lowest
commercial rate. The minute he
shoulders a gun he either cannot pur-
chase insurance at all or only in
limited way at very high and prac-
tically prohibitive rate. This bill pro-
poses TO stimulate and encourage every
enlisted man to use his own resources
and to make use of the facilities Of in
surance to protect and safeguard his
interests to the limit Of his resources.
To do this it offers him ordinary term
insurance renewable from year to
year during the war and convertible
at the end Of the war without physical
examination in amounts of $500 and
multipes of $500 but not to exceed
81 1000. at rates which he can afford to
pay. and approximately what he would
pay for such insurance in times OF
peace This means that $4,000 insur-
ance would cost young man about 81
per month. No additional charge is
made to the man because of the fact
that the mortality through the war will
be heavier than in times Of peace. This
is the risk which the government has
created and which 1t alone should bear.
He is given 120 days after enlistment in
which to take out such amount Of
additional insurance as he may elect.
M he fajlS N oYnrciSo this nYivi1pUa
and dies or becomes totally disabled
within this period he will be considered
as insured and the benefit paid.
The insurance is payable only in
monthly installments to the beneficiary
during life. The maximum amount of
10000 is estimated to yield about $50
per month. which for the enlisted man
who added to his compensation for
death or disability as based on his
rate of pay is none too liberal to MAIN
( tain a decent standard of living for his
family deprived of its bread winner.
The insurance companies do not
favor state insurance nor like the idea
Of the government going into the IN
surance business They appreciate,
however, the advertising value for the
! insurance business in general of this
feature of the warinsurance bill.
| Compensation plus insurance pro-
vides just measure which is based on
democratic principles of independence.
self help and individual foresight. In
surance and compensation should be
inseparahle.
Without compulsion and without they
opportunities of insurance agents
would the average man who needs 1t
most take out this added insurance to
any considerable extent? Could he af
ford to do SO? Probably not more than
$500 per man on the average would
be written. In perfecting the details of
the bill Congress may decide to limit
the privilege Of such subsidized ins,,r-
ance for officers and men whose rates
OF pay. or private resources, make the
government aid unnecessary. It NAV
also decide to pay the full cost for GER
tam amounts of such added insurance
for those who can afford to take only
small policies. The principle of the
government subsidy is. however, right
and just. There is no discrimination
az the expense of the insured taxpa YER
who pays the full commercial rate in
favor of class to whom we do not
/ AVE- IAlii ally SUBSIDIZED
insurance can possibly pay
The cost to the government, however
great and however difficult to estimate
exactly in advance. is sure to be less
than that Of any system of pensions
and much fairer because proportionate
to what the insured person has done for
himself The soldier who does nothing
for himself must be content with what
his compensation yields or depend on
private charity. After rejecting or ne
glecting so liberal an opportunity as
this provision for the insurance of his
tlnsurabiity offers he cannot with good
grace appeal to the Government for a
pension.
An extremely interesting and valuable
provision is made for injured persons
who may through a process of re-educa-
ton rehabilitation, and vocation train.
ing which the Government will provide,
have their earning power restored In
cases Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT or Of injuries to
sight or hearing and of other injuries
commonly causing permanent disability,
persons may be required in lieu of COM
pensation for the time being to enlist in
a training branch OF military and naval