The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-10
CONGRESS ASKED
TO APPROVE
TO INSURE LIVES
OF U. S. SOLDIERS
Proposed Plan Would Gov
er Also Disabilities Suf-
fered During War
WOULD PROVIDE
FOR DEPENDENTS
Amount Paid Based Upon
Size of Family and Ex-
tent of Injury
CBy Associated Press.)


Washington, Aug. 10.-Authority
to make effective the governments
program OF insuring the armed for
ces OF tho nation was sought of con-
gress today in a bill introduced in
both houses by Senator Simmons
and Representative Alexander
The proposed legislation was
framed to follow plans already an
nounced in general outline. and
would provide insurance at minimum
cost for American soldiers, sailors,
and marines. family allowances to
dependents OF men In The nations
military or naval service. indemnifi-
cation for disabilities, and the re-
education and rehabilitation, at gov
ernment expense of injured men.
| A feature would make 1t compul-
sorry for officers and men to allot a
minimum of SIS a month of their
pay to dependent wives and children.
The maximum compulsory allotment
is half pay. These allotments would
be supplemented by family allow
ance to be made by the government
OF IS to $50 a month according to
the circumstances and number Of
dependents.
Liberal indemnities for partial and
total disability are included in the
program, varying from $40 to SIS
per month minimum up to 5000 a
month for higher officers. Insurance
would be written by the government
on lives of the men at rate ap-
proximately SO per thousand in sums
of $1,000 to $4,000, the premiums
payable in installments. -..
Cost To Government.
The total cost to the government
for two years is placed at $685.
$4,000 which Secretary McAdoo es-
Inmates at less than six per cent of
the cost of the country of conducting
the war. Children up to eighteen
years of age or those older who are
unable to work and wives OF men
and officers would be given family
allowances. The amount would de-
pend upon the size of the family the
allotment made by the husband or
father out of his pay and other cir
cumstances to be determined in each
individual case.
IlG uDGB uON dLSCAhPG W 1ONGA
the method to be pursued in re-edu-
cation and rehabiIitating injured
men. Two principles, however, are
recognized: The mans obligation to
avail himself of such opportunities
as the government may provide un-
der penalty Of loss of compensation
during "any period Of unreasonable
refusal" and a mans rights to dis
ability compensation regardless of
his individual economic recuperation.
The amount of indemnities paid in
cases OF partial disability, however,
would vary from time to time, ac-
cording to the altered circumstances
OF the man insured.
Assume that man was totally
disabled by losing both legs and
arms" Mr.. McAdoo wrote the presi-
dent by way of illustration. Under
the compensation of this bill IL he
were a private and unmarried he
would receive $40 per month and If
he needed a nurse or attendant up
to $40 additional.
IF he had a widowed mother de-
pendent upon him for support he
would get another SO. II he subse-
quentIy married his compensation
would be increased at once by SIS.
If later on he had children, the COM
pensation would again be increased
$40 q month for each of the first
two children, a possible maximum
Of $105 a month.
'Tn addition to this monthly pay
ment he would be fitted with arti-
fetal limbs and have treatment. His
compensation for pension would not
be affected by any increased earn
Ings."
When disability results. in death,
dependents would receive from SIS
to $50 a month, the sum again being
rated according to- the circumstance
of the dependents. This feature Of
the program is regardless Of the in-
surance which the man or. officer
may take II he wishes paying the
premium therefor himself.