Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-08-23
INSURIEC OUR FIGHTING MEN.

ury McAdoo for life and indemnit
insurance for the soldiers and sailor
Of the United States, after discussion
by representative insurance men an
report on by advisory committee:
has been put in definite form and sub
mitted to President Wilson.
The Presidents comment was a
follows:
Il have examined the enclosed pa
pers very carefully and take pleasur,
in returning them with my entire
approval"
A bill has been introduced in Con
gress along the lines suggested by
the Secretary of the Treasury anc
approved by the President.
In essentials it is proposed that the
government furnish at cost to the
soldiers and sailors of the United
States life and indemnity insurance.
The main features of the Secretary's
plan are that the government shall
bear all the cost Of the administration
of the insurance plan and that no ex-
pense of any kind shall be charge
on the funds created by the payment
Of premiums by the soldiers and sail
ors. Relieved of over head charges,
eight dollars year for every thou
sand dollars insurance will be an
adequate charge, under the plan, and
this figure will put the maximum in
surance otter thousand dollars within
the reach Of practically every private
soldier or sailor. Insurance in pri-
vate companies would cost many
times this sum for men actually en-.
gagged in warfare.
After the war the insurance may be
converted into other forms. The in
surance is to be payable in install
ments, non-assignable and free from
the claims of creditors of the insured
Or of the beneficiary, and is limited to
the wife, children, and other speci-
fed kindred.
If total disability results or disease
IS contracted in the course of service,
The compensation is to be base1 on
percentage of pay, with a minin um,
however, of from forty to seventy
i've dollars month according to the
size of the family. Partial disabilities
ire to be computed on a basis OF per-
of total disability.
Medical, surgical and hospital treat
nents, supplies and appliances are to
be given. Rehabilitation and re-edu.
cation of the injured soldiers or sail
Drs, fitting them for lives of activity
and usefulness is part Of the plan.
The plan also contemplates free
to the families OF soldiers
and sailors the government supple
the sums set aside by the
soldiers and sailors out of their wages.
The insurance is not to be gift of
the government but is to be paid out
Of the pay of the insvred men. The
government, however, is to take upon
itself the cost of collecting and ad-
ministering the funds and also the
extra hazard caused by the war, the |
rate of eight dollars per thousand |
being normal rate in peace time and |
an entirely inadequate rate for war
risk.
The workmen's compensation laws
and the experiences of insurance COM
oanies in this country and the laws
and experiences of other countries
nave been studied and used in the
of this bill.
Secretary McAdoo emphasizes the
ustice and Iightfulness of such a
JUNCTION of the government by citing
he fact that in this war we are not |
elying upon the volunteer system
tut are drafting American men and
them to undergo danger
nd, if necessary, make the supreme
acrifice for their country. A higher
he says, therefore rests
Ipon the government not only to-
Yards the fighting men but towards
hose dependent on them and just,
generous and humane government
hould see to it that so far as is prac-
cable they should be given this pro-
ection, not as a matter of mercy or
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