The Monmouth inquirer., 1918-08-15
USE SMALL SUM
FOR SOLDIER VOTE
No Effort Win Be Made to Have
Enlisted Men Now Over
seas Ballot in Primaries.
NO NEW LAW is NEEDED.
Governor Edge and Democratic Lead
ers Have Determined No Parti-
sanship Shall Interfere With
Voting of Men in Service.

Trenton. New Jersey will spend ap-
proximately $4,000 to give soldiers
and sailors of the state in this coun-
try an opportunity to vote in the COM
ing primary and general elections and
the state's fighters abroad the facili-
Ties Tor voting in the general election.
Secretary of State Thomas #. Mar
TN appeared before the State. House
Commission and outlined the nlans he
has made for voting the soldiers and
sailors and asked for $4,000, in ad-
dition to the $4,000 appropriated by
the last legislature, to carry out the
provisions of the soldiers and sailors
voting scheme. The additional S1O.-
600 was assigned for this purpose from
the governors revolving fund.
Mr.. Martin believes that no law
could be enacted that would add to
the strength of the present law pro-
vidlng for polling of the soldiers and
sailors votes in the primary, particu-
iarly those men who are overseas. Ev-
cry effort Is being made to have the
soldiers and sailors in the United
States participate in the primaries,
but no effort will be made to have the
men overseas vote In the primaries,
because it is a physical impossibility
to comply with the primary system Of
nominations with respect to the for
eign service men.
For the general election every pos
sible facility viii be given to the SOL
diers and sailors overseas to vote, and
In this the war department will CO.
operate with New Jersey. There will
be little or no trouble about the gem
eral election voting of the men who
are In the service of the United States
Secretary Martin says it is still an
open question whether it will be ad-
visable to send election commission
ers abroad to get the general election
votes of the men there One of two
plans will be adopted for the over
seas men-viz., commissioners will be
sent abroad or ballots will be mailed to
the soldiers. The secretary also says
that Governor Edge and the Democrat
&c leaders have determined that no
partisanship shah interfere with the
! taking Of the votes of men in the serv-
ice.
Change in War Insurance.
The New Jersey State Council of
Defense has been asked by the Coun-
ell of National Defense to endeavor to
familiarize the people of Nesw Jersey
with the recent changes in the law and
administration of allotments and al
lowances to soldiers and sailors de-
pendents under the war risk insurance
act 1t is stated by the Council of Ma
tional Defense that there is certain
to be much public misapprehensfon
and anxiety unless the people are thor
oughly informed on this matter.
The following report prepared by a
member Of the staff of the State Coun-
ellis section of the Council of National
Defense furnishes the complete and
accurate information that is needed:
Some 250000 people will be wonder
ing next month why their allotment
and allowance checks from the Bu-
reau of War Risk Insurance are re-
duced in amount.
Every enlisted man In the active
military or naval service is under duty
to allot SIS month from his pay to
his wife and children. To these com
adds family allowances ranging from
| So month for a motherless child and
! $15 for a wife without children up to
maximum of $50. The compulsory
allotments are the same for al enlist
ed men regardless of rank or pay.
In addition to the compulsory allot-
ments, the enlisted man may also make
voluntary allotments to his parents,
grandparents, brothers, sisters or
grandchildren. and if they are depend
ent upon him for support the govern
ment may add certain monthly family
allowances.
If the enlisted man is already max
ing a compulsory allotment to his wife
and children he need allot only 50 ad-
ditional to his brothers, sisters. par
ents, grandparents and grandchildren
If he claims a family allowance for
them. But If he is not making a COM
pulsory allotment he must allot S15 TO
such other relatives to obtain a gov
ernment allowance for them.
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance
win pay allotments only when they
carry with them government family
allowances, ind then only in the
amounts rep ired to support such al
lowances. Al other allotments will
be paid by the branch of the military
or naval service in which the man is
enlisted.
The essence of the whole change In
dollars and cents is simply this:
Herei ofore when an enlisted man
allotted more than the required
amount the Bureau of War Risk In
surance included this excess in the
check which 1t sent to the relative.
Now this is changed All excess al
lotments will be paid by the army, the
navy, the Marine Corps and the Coast
Guard directly.