The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-12
INSURE EVERY
SOLDIER IS PLAN
. Of Government |
Before Congress Adjourns War
Administration to Propose
Federal Insurance
ONE MILLION $4,000
POLICIES PROPOSED
Officials Busy Now on Gigantic
Plan to Protect Men at
Front
BY MILTON RRoNNER.

congress mas cnanCe 10 get away,
the administration is going to ask it
to pass legislation which will enable
Uncle Sam to 60 into the life and
accident indemnity insurance business
on the biggest scale in history At one
blow, the administration wants to in.
sure one million soldiers and sailors
and to prepare to insure other mill
ions as called into service.
lmpeIIing Reasons. 49,.
There are two impelling reasons
for this: the administration wants to
avoid a huge pension avalanche after
the war; second, the insurance; COM
panies themselves asked too much to
carry insurance policies on our fight
ing forces. Most of them demanded
500 per $1,000 of insurance, in addi-
tion 10 the regular premium.
This looked like penalizing patriot
ism to Charles F. Nesbit, superin-
tendent of insurance, District of Co.
lumbia. Accordingly he proposed to
, War Secretary Baker that the insur-
ance companies be asked to form a
board to pro rate the insurance on
all the fighting forces and to cut the
premium if possible.
Not Practical.
Examination proved this not very
practical. For instance, if insurance
were taken out on 100000 men, the
premium, amounting to $21, 900, 900,
would be dissipated as follows;
$5,OOo,O0O for medical examination;
$lO,00O,0OO for agents commissions;
$2,0OO,O0O for other expenses. This
would leave only $4,0OO,000' to be ap-
piled to the risks, .. ...-,. al, b. I.
If the government itself insured the
men, there would be no expense in
connection with agents, medical ex.
aminers, etc., SO it could take the
risks at much less cost than the com,
panies. At "a meeting Of insurance
company representatives the other
day with Secretary OF the Treasury
McAdoO 104 voted in favor of the
governments dnsuring its men and only
four opposes itHonns aBaEat @sFtt. .ta&
M6fksi 0utrf'tan.9d bIr'H
Edwin F. Sweet, asaiBtanE secretary
of commerbst shas 1NOrked Olt! "a ten.
tative plan as :a<.yho =" ~
There is to be- created, in connec-
tion with one of the existing execu-
tive departments of the government,
a soldiers and sailors indemnity bu-
reau with competent insurance man
at its head The necessary actuarial
and clerical assistance will be pro-
vided Protection for a definite
amount, not exceeding $4,000, will be
automatically furnished to everyone
in the military and naval service of
the country without regard to rank
and without expense to the insured
Scale of Indemnity.
This insurance will cover par
tiai or total disability as well as
death. All losses will be paid ~
regular inStaIlnlepts. .AII adjust
ments will be made with the least RI
possible delay. As concrete, evl;-r
dence Of the governments oblisa-
ton certificate or policy may be
given each soldier and sailor. In
addition, each man may buy extra
insurance 10 Ine dWOuHt oI VS,ooo
on terms as favorable as in peace
time, the government issuing the
policy. The scale Of indemnity for
injuries is being worked out.
It is also proposed to- center in this
indemnity bureau the paying of sepa-
ration allowances to the dependents
of soldiers and sailors. This has never
been done in this country, but Canada
and England have done it throughout
this war; ,s
In order to carry out these insur-
ance and allowance plans specific leg
islation and appropriations will be re-
quired. but it is not anticipated con-
gress will balk, as the subject will
! come very close to millions of fam
lilies.