The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-12-06
Soldiers and Sailors Civil
Rights Bill.

Perhaps the most important piece O.
general legislation which failed of com
plete enactment at the last session il
what is known as the Soldiers and Sail
ors' Civil Rights Bill. The measure pass
ed the House of Representatives two
days before the final adjournment, toe
late to receive consideration in the Sen
ate. 1t is now pending before the Judi
ciary Committee of that body, and will
doubtless be promptly taken up and act
ed on when Congress meets on the 3rd OF
December.
The general object of the legislation,
as stated in the first section of the bill,
is to extend protection to our soldiers
and sailors Tin order to prevent prejudice
or injury to their civil rights during their
term of service, and to enable them to
devote their entire energy to the military
needs of the Nation"
In civil suits against a soldier the bill
provides that no judgment shall be en-
tered against the defendant, by reason of
default of an appearance, if it appears
tina. he is in the military service, until
after the Judge shall appoint an attorney
to represent the defendants interest.
AS further protection against injury to
soldier the Judge may require the plain
tiff, before judgment is entered, to file a
bond to indemnify the defendant if the
judgment shall be thereafter set aside.
In addition Judge may grant stay of
proceedings against soldier for the per-
iod of his military service, even though
the action may be to compel the fulfill
ment of contract previously entered in
to by the defendant, and any penalties
incurred because of such non-fulfillment
may be RENTED by the court.
Except upon express PERMISSION by
the court a soldiers family cannot be
evicted for non-payment of rent during
his term of service, unless the rent ex-
is afforded in cases where real or person.
al property is being bought by soldier
on the installment plan. He will be al
lowed to keep the property during his
military service, although the INSTALL
ments may lapse. Where mortgages are
held against soldier the court is given
power to prevent foreclosure proceedings
during military service, and to declare
invalid any foreclosure sales that may
have been consummated.
The insurance feature of the bill will
perhaps bring more widespread relief
than any other section in the measure
1t provides that policies held by persons
in the military service, up to $1,000 in
value, shall not lapse because of nom
payment of premiums during their period
of service and one year thereafter Each
policy holder is required to make appl-
cation to his company, through the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance, before he
can receive the benefits of the act The
Government will deposit bonds with the
insurance companies to protect them
against loss, and is itself protected by
lien on the policies affected
The court may also prohibit tax sales
of property occupied by a soldiers de-
pendents or employees during the term
of his military service and six months
thereafter. Likewise any rights a SOL
der may have to any public land shall
not be forfeited because of his failure to
do any act required by law while he is in
the Army.
The measure was originally drafted by
the Judge Advocate General of the Army,
assisted by the experts in his department
but the Committee on Judiciary of the
House went over it very carefully, and all
the members contributed to the perfection
of its present form. In the Civil War it
was left to the States to provide the relief
granted in the pending bill, with the re-
suit that many of the laws were declared
unconstitutional, especially those which
undertook to impair the obligations of
contracts. The present measure, when
it becomes a law, will act uniformity
throughout the States, and confer identi-
cal rights on every member of our fight
ing forces.