Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-14
Insurance Bill
 Passed in House
TO EQUALIZE MEN AND
 OFFICERS
VOTE WAS 319 TO o
The Main Purpose of the Bill is to Provide . Substitute for the Present Pension Law.

Washington. Sept. 13.-The admins tration's soldiers and sailors insur- ance biil, amended so as to equalize Inc allowances of the dependents. o1 enlisted men and officers, passed the house tonight.
 The vote was 319 to o, Representa- lives Platt of New York end Hersey of Maine changing negative votes to aye before the result was announced amid laundering applause. As the bill went to the senate to- night, pcivates and officers and their dependents stand on exactly the same basis. Benefits and allowances now provided are slightly higher than those originally proposed as the minimum for privates and considerably lower than the maximum amounts which of ficers ana their dependents would have received.
 Victory for President Wilson.
 President Wilson scored a personal an ame,.dment raising fro1p s5,000 to $10,000 the maximum amount of op- tiona1 insurance policies that the gov ernnent would issue to all the men in the service. The original draft of the bill carried $1O,OO0, but it was stricken out in committee.
 Main Purpose of the Bill. The main purposes of the bill are to provide a substitute for the present pension law as it would apply to men engaged in this war a new system of allotments and compensat!ons which will provide for dependents of the sol dier and rehabilitate men on their re- turn from the war.
 $1,0oo to $10,00c
 Upon enlistment, under the pro- visions Of the bill, soldier or sailor would be entitled to take, out from $1 900 to $10,000 worth of optional in surance at approximately s8 per $1, 900. His dependents would b,' entitled to c. llotments from the government of amount up to $15 per month from his pay
 Death or total disability resulting, the dependents of any person in the women members of the nurse corps, would be entitledr to compensation from $20 to $70 per month and the insurance.
 In case of total disability the in :ured persons would be paid from $$40 70 $10O per month.
 Compensation Provision Eliminated.
 Elimination of the committee com pensatio1 provisions came unexpect- edly. No serious opposition to them was promised until tive Black of Texas suddenly began assail- thing to impose upon an army fighting for democracy. He luiclly won supporters and his pro- oosal to equalize the benefits of all .lasses was adopted almost unani- nously. Rep, esentative Alexander of opposed the Black amend nent on the ground that family | mould benefi. from Athe death or dis | Lbi1ity of their support in accordance with his earnng capacity.
 A widows compensation would cease | with her remarriage and -depenednt 1 hild's would cease at IS years Of age.
 Benefits in Case of Disability.
 Monthly benefits to a soldier or ailor in case of total disability would e as follows:
 If he has neither wife nor child 1iv- ng, $40; wife, $55; wife and one child, 65; two or more children, $75; no wife ut one child. $50 and SIC additional or each child up to two; dependent K 7idowed mother, $1O additional ,,
 Injured men requiring nurse care youId receive an additions! $2O month A man losing both feet hands or yes would be entitled automatically ) s100 Fer month. Amendments adopted would give Iaimant, ten years instead of one in ,h;ch to file .heir claims for compen- ation; prevent divorced wives who ave remarried from sharing in a de- : endents allowance, and eliminate 1 roposed salary increases for present nployes of the gove1~mtnt nt who are oadmi 1ister certain provisions of the leaSure- Is