The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-09-20
ASSIST THE FAMILIES OF
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
FEATURES OF MEASURE NOW
BEFORE coNGRESs-sUe.
= sTlTuTE FOR PENSION.

The faulty working of the pension
system has emphasized the necessity
for carefully considering the methods
of furnishing financial assistance to
the families of soldiers and sailors.
Obviously the task Is so great that
the government alone can assume 1t.
A bill representing the careful study
of the whole problem of possible de-
pendency as result of the war has
been simultaneously introduced In
both houses of congress.
establishing the bureau of war risk
insurance. 1t adds to the duties of
this bureau the administration of fam
lily allowances, allotment to depend
ents,a compensation for death or dis
ability, and life insurance for men in
the military or naval service. Secre-
tary McAdoo states that the cost for
the first year for the complete act
ivities of the bureau will be sits, $780,
600 and for the second year $3.50, $780,
600. The main purpose of the bill is
|demnity against the losses and risks
in Cured in the discharge of a pat
riotic duty and in the performance of
an extraordinarily hazardous service
to which the government has called
and forced the citizen. 1t aims to ac-
complish these ends by granting a
reasonable measure of indemnity
against risk of loss "a of support Of
the bread winner, (2) Of life and limb,
go of present instability at ordinary
rates. The risk of dependency, in the
case of an enlisted mans family. is
Unidentified by allotment of part of
the pay of the enlisted man, supple
mented by family allowance grant
ed and paid by the government.
How the Plan Works.
Secretary McAdoo illustrates the
working of the system in the follow
ing example: "A private gets 500 per
month for service abroad. If he has
Ia wife and two children he must al
lot to them at least SIS out of his pay.
The government supplements this by
giving the family an allowance of
$3.50. This family's minimum month
ly income, therefore, would be $47.50
If there is another child, the govern
ment will allow SIS additional, If the
man should have father or mother
actually dependent upon him, he car
secure an allotment of $40 per month
from the government for the parent
by alloting SIS more of his pay. Thus
the private with wife, three children
and a mother actually dependent upoI
him, by giving $40 out Of his $33 Pc
month, would get from the govern
ment $4750 per month, giving tn
family an income of $3.50 and still
leaving the man $13 per month 70
spending money. If there are NOR
children, or if there is also a depend
grant as much as $50, over and abov
the mans own allotment"
| Provision is made whereby mel
that do not allot their half-pay full
deposit the remainder at 4 per cen
compound interest. The risk of dis
ability to officers, men, and nurses 1
Unidentified by compensation analog
Gus to the workmen's compensate
act. Total disability is compensate
on the basis of proportion Of tn
pay, from the minimum Of from "a
to SIS per month up to the maximum
for the higher officers Of 5000 pc
month. Compensation for disability
granted in proportion to the com
pleteness of the disability. Medica
surgical and hospital treatment is in
cluded. Provision although not g
present detailed, is made for the re
Mobilization and re-education OF tn
injured Risk of non-insurability g
ordinary rates is provided for by gov
lernment insurance in amounts froi
$1,000 to $4,000 for total disability {
death. The excess cost due to the in
, creased mortality and disability ris
should be borne by the government
The bill places the responsible
where it obviously belongs-upon tn
national government. Local relief OF
LEGATIONS will be assumed by the Re
Cross. Clearly the purposes Of tn
act are to prevent families from sui