The sun., 1917-09-18
PROTECT
SOLDIER RIGHTS
Baker Wants Legislation to
Conserve Civil and Prop
erty Interests.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 17.-Legislation
to protect the civil and property rights
Of soldiers. in effect a moratorium for
men who are serving their country on
the firing line, may be placed upon the
Administrations programme for this
session of Congress as a necessary ele-
ment of the raising of a citizen army.
The soldiers and sailors civil rights
bill to carry out this purpose already
has been introduced in both Houses.
having been framed In the office of
Judge Advocate General Crowder. Sec
retary Baker, II was learned to-day.
has under consideration recommenda-
tions that the entire weight of Adminis-
tration influence be brought to bear to
obtain early enactment Of the measure.
To save soldiers and sailors from all
kinds of legal injustices in their absence
from home, the measure would en1oin
the carrying out Of certain civil court
actions until after tAas saleeA AklAhe sssaas
and estab abiish a. q legal excuse for failure
to carry out certain contracts. the fact
that a man is in the military service.
suits to ne Held In.
II is proposed that creditors suits
against officers or men may be held up
and Judgment by default denied. the
trainers of the bill recognizing that a
man In the army or navy would have no
opportunity to make his defence in per-
son or to arrange for its proper hearing
through counsel
If such "A judgment rested against a
man AT the time of his enlistment the
the sale Of his property during his ao-
sence. II would set aside the statute
OF limitations so that a debt owed to q
soldier might not be outlawed in his
absence: II would prevent the eviction
Of his family while he was away II they
failed to pay rent: 1t would protect his
! equity in any real estate or other pur-
chase contract in which he might have
been engaged at the time he went into
| the army it would protect him against
the ordinary results OF defaulted pay.
ments on business mortgages and keer
| him from being sold out in his absence
| il would insure any rights he might
| have to public lands. although his SER
vice at the front had prevented him
! from completing the legal acquisition
| of the property.
Another element of protection the bill
would accord to the fighting man would
|
not lapse through failure to make any
payment. His property also would bt
protected from sale for taxes. and ir
every other way which the legal experts
of the War Department have been able
to devise all civil rights and interests
Of men in the military service would b.
safeguarded.
Iusurance Bill Amendment.
! Amendment to the soldiers and sail
ors' insurance bill to authorize the Gov
ernment to pay the difference between
peace time premiums and war rates OF
soldiers and sailors insured by privat,
companies and killed In action will b.
proposed by Assistant Secretary Swee
Of the Department Of Commerce befor'
the Senate Finance subcommittee II
charge of the bill.
Mr.. Sweet. who Is one OF the originator
of the idea Of Government insurance To-
soldiers and sailors, will ask the com
mittee to make II possible for privat
insurance companies to thus insure a
peace time premiums without incurrinl
a war hazard Under his proposal tn
Government would bear the differenc
between peace rates and war rates onl!
upon individuals killed, and where the In
sured man met with no casualty tn
peace premium would prevail.
Senate leaders began making plan
to-day to pass the soldiers and sailors
insurance bill before adjournment in &C
cordance with President Wilson's re
quest. A subcommittee will devote onl,
one day-to-morrow--to hearings. an
II is expected to pass the bill next Mon
day or Tuesday under a unanimous con
sent agreement and without resort I
| clofure