Arizona republican., 1917-08-07
A Soldiers Indemnity Fund

Soldiers Indemnity Fund
 One of the great life insurance companies has sug- gested a replacement of pension system with scientifically administered indemnity fund for sol diers and their families. The plan of the company would involve:
 l. A law providing protection for the soldiers dependents during his absence.
 g. Re-education schools teach him trade if. through injury sickness he is prevented from following his usual occupation
 g. monthly cash indemnity heretofore mis- named pension) which the people shall through their government to compensate him for loss of earning power due to personal injury impaired health resulting from military service.
 A. For his dependents. if he loses his life. monthly cash indemnity to guard them against want they able of themselves.
 All this is in line with and elaboration of suggestion carried in The Republican for the adop- tion of system, by whatever it may be called. be substituted for present so-caed system of pensions In the first place. the present system only wildly extravagant one Much of the money appropriated for it is spent in it's administration. Beside that it is greatly nequitable Its benefits not only unevenly distributed but they frequently measured by the "pur which the beneficiary is cap able of exercising.
 The proposed plan would be extension the workmens compensation indemnity idea from gov- ernment employees to the fighting men of the army and navy.
 Further, this subject the insurance company recommends
 Let congress establish a soldiers indemnity fund and prepare indemnity certificate contract to be given every soldier when he the service.
 Let this indemnity contract specifically as similar private contracts do the various contingencies for which the government promises to pay the in demnity.
 This contract will give the soldier tangible evil dence that the government will take care of him and his family in case of need To him it will be asset as safe and secure and of performance government bond
 The claims under these soldiers indemnity cer- tfcates should be investigated and adjusted by the government they investigated and ad iusted by insurance companies The operation of the entire plan can be carried on in simple direct and inex- pensive way
 If you agree that soldiers should have such scientific and business indemnity plan in place of our present wasteful. and in ways disgracefu pension system write senators and congressman accordingly.
 Life insurance officials responded to the request Of the government to give their views upon this sub ject of providing substitute for present pension system. At the conference it made clear to the government authorities that it unwise to go to the expense of putting this plan operation through the life insurance companies the government could itself handle it directly at less cost although companies were ready to undertake it if the govern ment desired.
 It seems perfectly clear that if a workmen's con- pensation law is good thing for government em- ployes (and we now have it), soldiers indemnity fund similar plan would be good thing for our soldiers and sailors
 Why not let these have the comfort of know ing, when they enter this war; that a grateful people have already provided financial protection for them and the loved ones whom they have left to go the defense of the nation.
 A plan of this kind worked out by competent men and adopted would obvate all special legislation on the subject, and which partakes of the nature of pork" It would be subjected to changes at every session of congress.
 More money will be required after the present war for the support of dependent soldiers and their fam flies than before The expenditures that followed the civil war, vast as they were, will seem small and trfng by comparison It is vital as little of as possible be permitted go waste; as little as possible be spent the operation of the machinery