The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-08-10
INSURANCE Plan
FOR FIGHTERS IS
UP IN CONGRESS
Bills introduced in House
and Senate Provide Liberal
Indemnities.

WASHINGTON, Aug. lO.-Authority
to make effective the governments
program OF insuring the armed forces
OF the nation was sought of congress
today in bills introduced in both
houses by Senator Simmons and Rep
resentative Alexander.
The proposed legislation was fran
ed to follow plans already announced
in general outline and would provide
insurance. at minimum cost for Ameri-
can soldiers, sailors and marines, the
insured men paying the premiums;
family allowances to dependents OF
men in the nations military or naval
service; Naturalization for disabili-
ties and the re-education and re-habtlt-
taton, at government expense OF IN.
jured men.
Must Help Dependents.
A feature. not previously announced,
would make 1t compulsory for officers
and men to allot minimum OF SID q
month out OF their pay to dependent
wives and children. The maximum
compulsory allotment Is halt pay.
These allotments would be supple
.nented by family allowances, to be
made by the government, Of from IS
TO $50 a month, according to the cir.
Cumstances and number Of dependents
To encourage thrift and better TO
preserve equality and democracy
among the members of our own forces.
and between them and the allies" au.
thority Is sought to permit the war and
navy departments to compel men who
do not allot one-half their pay, to de-
post so much OF their half pay as Is
not allowed, with the government at
Jour percent interest, compounded
semi.annually.
Liberal lndemnities Provided.
Liberal indemnities for partial and
total disability are included in the
program, varying from $40 to $75 per
month minimum up to $500 month
for higher officers. Insurance would
be written by the government on the
lives Of the men at rate OF approx
inlately IS per thousand in sums from
$1,000 to $4,000. the premiums pay
able In installments.
The cost to the government, as esti-
mated by Secretary McAdoo, would ap-
proximate the following:
Family allowances, first year. $141,-
100000; second year. $190.000.0 900.
Death indemnities, first year, $5,-
100000; second year. $22.00o,000.
Compensation for total disability,
first year, s5,250.00 second year, $780,
100000.
Compensa ton for partial disability,
first year, $4,000 900; second year, ST.
100000.
Insurance against death and disabil-
ity, first year. $23.0O0.000: second
year, $112.500.000.
Totals, first year, $175,l5O, 900; sec.
ord year $3.50. SEQ, 600. - - 2 80
The total for the two years is thus
placed at s556.650,000, which Mr.. Nc
.!doo estimates at less than six per.
cent OF the cost to the country of con.
Quoting the war
Bill Was Approved.
In its general features the bill was
approved by the advisory committee
OF insurance representatives, summon.
ed by Secretary McAdoo, to Washing
ton July 2.
They opposed, however" Mr.. Nc
-Adoo advised the president in letter
made public with the introduction of
bills the grant of any government in
surance over and above the compensa.
ton on the ground that the other pro-
visions were liberal enough and might
be made more liberal in ways suggest
ed by them. They favored, over and
above compensation, the payment by
the government Of $1,000 in each case
of death during service, or within five
years after discharge of service in lieu
of insurance"