South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-05


! first time i'm the histor, of the
United States concerted EFFORT on
| governmental initiative is now being
I made 70 provide adequate and scien-
utc financial protection for the OH
GERS and enlisted men Of the army
and navy for their dependents.
! instead OF proceeding along the
/ old course OF fighting a war first and
/ caring afterward for injured soldiers
! and sailors and the families Of those
\ killed, the government is now at the
\ very outset Of Americas entry into
| the war laying plans for insuring
/ and indemnifying its lighting men.
AS result Of more than a month &
/ constant and intensive study a plan
/ viii soon be presented TO congress
! Tor consideration which. IL adopted
I viii give To the men who go 10 the
'front.' the comforting assurance that
I they will be cared for should they be
wounded. and that their dependents
Will receive adequate protection
/ should they be killed or disa bIesd.
4 The plan is intended 10 take the
! place Of the pension system so far
as concerns men and women en-
gagged IN the present war. IL is
7 based upon the fundamental idea
that the government should. as a
matter of Justice. protect its soldiers
and sailors and their dependent
families and should do this with due
regard for conditions as they exist
today.
To Present Information.
Workmen's compensation laws.
pension laws in the United States
and foreign countries. insurance
practice, and other related questions
have been Investigated during the
preparation Of the plans. and as
result information will be presented
TO congress which il is hoped will
lead 10 the enactment of legislation
both just and humane
The necessity for such legislation
is admittedly more pressing i'm this
wax than in any other to which the
United States was a party. because
at the outset the government has
adopted the selective draft system
Men are now being picked for ser
vice at the front by the government
It is generally admitted that under
such conditions the government has
p solemn duty to perform to those
selected.
In the preparation of the plans
shortly to he submitted TO congress
there has been cordial cooperation
between several government depart
ments and agencies, and organiza
tions. Seldom has there been a
more thorough study Of question
in an effort 20 solve "A veXing prob
lem.
Inasmuch as the bureau Of war
risk insurance Of the treasury de-
partment is already insuring mas
tiers, officers and seamen Of Ameri-
can merchantmen and also the bulls
and cargoes. Pres't Wilson asked
Sec'y McAdoo several weeks ago TO
investigate the question. and the
council OF national defense also took
up the problem through the com
mittee on labor OF its advisory com
mission. headed by Samuel Gompers,
president of the American federation
Of labor
Insurance Men Report.
The experience and knowledge of
the insurance men of the country
was early sought by Sec'y McAdoo.
and out 81. more than 100 represent
atives OF different companies who
attended a conference called by the
secretary on July In Washington.
grew a committee Of , insurance
men. who studied the problem and
submitted comprehensive report
TO the secretary.
lnasmuCh as a portion Of tgeri- |
cas- army is already i'm France, a |
part Of its fleet is i'm Gu opean
waters. and many more sole srs and
sailors and marines are in training. !
SeC'y McAdoO has striven 10 push !
the preparation of plans with all /
possible speed i'm the hope that con- !
gress may pass the necessary legiSla- !
ton during the present session.
The plans under consideration are
based upon the now generally ac-
copied idea that payments on ac-
count of soldiers and sailors killed /
or injured i'm service should depend |
mn measure upon the number Of /
people dependent upon him. II is |
plainly evident that this course /
should be followed.
In general 10 is intended that pro /
vision be made for the support OF /
dependents Of soldiers and sailors by |
giving them an allotment out Of the |
pay Of the men and also an allow |
auce from the government. that of /