The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-22
Amendments to War Risk Act Would Allow From 100
 to 166%o Additional.
BOTH PARTIES
 FAVOR CHANGE
Dependents of Men Would Be Helped As Well As
 Disabled Fighters.

about to come into US own III tAo fullest sense of the word. As organ ized 1t was better than any pension system ever designed by any govern ment, planning for the "doughboy's' future as we'll as the chances of war, to a remarkable extent. Weak spots developed, of course, but they arc now largely ironed out. Curiously enough, the hardest work ahead of this enor- nous section of Uncle Sam's war ma chine Is persuading the soldiers that they cannot afford. from a business standpoint, to cancel their insurance.
 The House of Representatives TO- cbntly spent a profitable day in dis cussing the war risk insurance bu- reau. and, finally passed a bill rec tifying some of the obvious errors There was no politics In the debate, both Democrats and Republicans join Ing iu helpful suggestions. The Re- pubHcans conceded that the Wilson administration had done a big thing fin planning and organizing the War Risk Insurance Bureau, and Demo crats agreed with Republicans thai it's career had shown need of some changes. Both sides of the House agreed that abolition of the enterprise was impossible from every viewpoint
 Because of the criticism of the bu- reau. much of which was unwarrant- ed, Representative Scott Ferris of Oklahoma, Democrat. presented the achievements of the organization in condensed form. So forceful was the argument that increased allowances for the soldiers wero provided for without objection Said Mir. Ferris:
 'I have always been proud that the Congrusa- enacted the war risk in- surance law and created under it a bureau whose duty 1t shall be to look after, first. soldiers insurance; sec oud, dependent families. and, third, soldiers who were disabled during the great conflict
 '~rhore have been times when this great bureau has appeared to be moving slowly and ponderousty in the discharge of its duties, but I doubt if the general public Is aware of the onormfty of this great undertaking. The writing of insurance for practi- cally all the 4,5OO,OOO soldiers, sail ors and marines who enetered this war will of necessity disclose what a monstrous task 1t was at the very be- ginning The further fact that 13,- 500 employees, many of them untrain- ed, were necessary to conduct this great bureau makes it apparent what a monstrous task it has been The amount of money passing through tho War Risk Insurance Bureau last year was s55O, O,OOO.OOO. The governments liability for outstanding insurance through the bureau is more than s39, ,OOO,OO ,OOO.
 ''The enOrnity of the task of the War Risk Insurance Bureau is shown
 
 estimates of expenditures of the bu- reau since it's creation-
 More than S241, 1000, 900 has been distributed by the bureau to depend ent families of soldiers as family al lowances-
 There has been paid by the bu- reau S14,4SS. .983.77 to disabled sol diers as compensation.
 Insurance awards already have caused the expenditure of S51,672,- 197.99, and it is estimated that the total liability of the bureau on insur- ance to be paid on awards already made. reaches the astounding total Of SLIPS, 900, ,OOO.''
 Under the present law, Mir Ferris pointed out, while the disability is total and pending the time when the soldier Is nursed back to usefulness either in part or ip whole, the month ly schedule of compensation is as fol- lows.
 Ca) If the disabled person has neither wife nor child living, ssO.
 (b) If he has a wife but no child living, S45
 (e) If he has a wife and one child living. S55.
 (d) If he has wife and two chiI- dren. ss5-
 Ce) If he has a wife and three or moro children living. SIS.
 (f) If he has no wife but one child living. $40. with s1O each for each additional child up to two.
 (g) If he has a mother or father either or both dependent on him for support. theu- in addition to the above amounts, s10 for each.
 Under the proposed law it was shown that the amount paid each of the disabled soldiers, as their reIa- tive rights appear, while the disabil- ity is rated as total and temporary the monthly compensation will be as follows:
 (a) If the disabled person has neither wife nor child living, $50.
 Cb) If he has wife but no child living. s9O.
 NSJ II hS ItsAS al WIG ana one CnlfC living, S95.
 (d) If he has a wife and two ol more children living, $10O.
 (e) If he has no wife but one ehiIt living. 800. with 8 for each addi. tional child up to two.
 (D If he has a mother or father either or both dependent on him fol support then, in addition to the abov, amounts, $1O for each parent so de. pendent
 The proposed law further provide, that in addition to the increase jus mentioned the director shall allow S2O per month to a disabled persol who is so helpless as to be constant, in need of a nurse or attendant.
 Members here and elsewhere vii proclaim that we are paying the dis abled soldiers a sum out of all pro portion to any pension, bounty O disability allowance ever given be fore" said MT. Ferris. For me ant >rnine that Is not alarming. If in al the wide world there is one class O fhaN .t-.-.