The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-04
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL

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of genera. legislation which failed of
complete enactment at the last ses-
sion of Congress is what is known as
the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Rights
Bill. The measure passed the House
of Representatives two days before
the final Accommodation late to re
ceive consideration in the Senate. 1t
is now pending before the judiciary
committee of that body, and will in
all probability be promptly taken up
and acted on now that Congress has
again assembled.
The general object of the legisla-
ton. as stated in the first section of
the bill, is to extend protection to our
soldiers and sailors lin order to pre-
vent prejudice or injury to their civil
rights during their term of service,
and to enable them to devote their
entire energy to the military needs OF
the nation"
In civil suits against a soldier, the
bill provides that no judgment shall
be entered against the defendant by
reason of default of an appearance, if
it appears that he is in the military
service, until after the judge shall
-o4, a., o44ornav m ropraaout thA
defendants interest. AS a further
protection against injury to a soldier
the judge may require the plaintiff,
before judgment is entered, to file a
bond to indemnify the defendant if
the judgment shall be thereafter set
aside. In addition, a judge may grant
a stay of proceedings against a sol
der for the period of his military
service, even though the action may
be to compel the fulfllment of a con-
tract previously entered into my the
defendant, and any penalties incurred
because of such non-f1lfllment may
be RENTED by the court.
Except upon express permission by
the court, a soldiers family cannot be
evicted for non-payment of rent dur
ing his term of service, unless the
rent exceeds $50 per month. Similar
protection is afforded in cases where
real or personal property is being
bought by a soldier ON the installment
plan. He will be allowed to keep the
property during his military service,
although the installments may lapse.
Where mortgages are held against a
soldier, the court is given power to
prevent foreclosure proceedings dur
ing military service, and to declare
invalid any foreclosure sales that may
have been consummated.
The insurance feature of the bill
will perhaps bring more widespread
relief than any other section in the
measure. 1t provides that policies
held by persons in the military serv-
ice. up to $4,000 in value, shall not
lapse because of non-payment of pre-
miums during their period Of service
and one year thereafter. Each policy
holder is required to make applica-
ton to his company, through the Blu
reau of Wal Risk Insurance, before
he can receive the benefits of the act.
The government will deposit bonds
with the insurance companies to pro-
tect them against loss, and is itself
protected by a lien ON the policies al
fected.
The court may also prohibit tax
sales of property occupied by a sol
dier's dependents or employees during
the term of his military service and
rights a soldier may have to any pub
lie land shall not be forfeited because
of his failure to do any act required
by law while he is in the army.
The measure was originally drafted
by the judge advocate general of the
army, assisted by experts in his de
partment; but the committee on judi
ciary of the House went over it very
ao.oF,.I1.y and all the raapoharc non
tributed Il the perfection of its pres
ent form. In the Civil War it was left
to the States to provide the relief
granted in the pending bill, with the
result that many of the laws were
declared unconstitutional, especially
those which undertook to impair the
obligations of contracts. The present
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