New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-04
Wage Reforms
Tn Government
Service Urged
Republican Advisory Com
mittee Emphasizes Need
of Efficiency and Loyalty
in Public Employees
War Risk Act Reviewed
Coordination of All Work
Affecting EN-Service Men
Recommended to Party

The Republican National Committee.
advisory committee on policies and
,lst.orm. in its abstracts released TO,
publication to-day, handles war risk
Insurance and civil service and retire
ment.
Seventy-two per cent of the insur-
snce taken on by the enlisted men in
$4,000 policies has lapsed, leaving the
men without protection, the repor,
SAYS
the difference between the premium
received under the operation of wal
risk insurance and she amount of
claims is about S700,0OOOO0, which is
the amount to be borne by the tax
PAYERS during the next twenty years
Three Main Provisions
In a few years this insurance will
cal. for annual appropriations of $40
100000 to be made by Congress to sup
port the payment of these war claims.
The report says:
Under War Risk Insurance are
embraced the three main provisions of
the war risk act:
% Family allowances to depen-
dents of enlisted men and women;
~ Compensation payable monthly
for injuries received in service, or for
death in service;
~ Life insurance.
Compensation for injuries or for
death in service. For death in the line
OF duty the following monthly COM
pensation is paid: If the man leaves a
widow, $25; widow and one eli ~
sS5; widow and two children, $3.50,
with FIVE dollars for each additional
MIA rs, 10 +uo. o1roj p,o+Lo
pendent, $50. Most soldiers who have
died carried government insurance, 50
that widows in al! cases would get, in
addition. the monthly payment under
the $4,000 insurance; namely, S5I.ol
To date, over 10000 cases, paying
over $l,1OO,O00 a month, have been
awarded on account of death in line
OF duty. The work in connection with
ali of these payments and adjudication
OF death claims is we'll up to date, and
there has been little criticism on this
account
compensation found inadequate.-
The original rates of compensation for
disability, while higher than those pro-
vided in any previous pension law,
were grievously inadequate under pres
ent-day standards of living The Sweet
bill passed in December, 1919. libel al
lied the relief given to wounded and
disabled veterans. In this connection,
the recommendation of the American
Legion were substantially adopted The
Sweet bill legislation means increas ed
payments OF about $50 900. 900 a year
Tor some years to come. The following
shows the progress made by the Bureau
OF War Risk Insurance in awarding
disability claims:
Allowed to June 80 1918. 31,7S5
Allowed to Sept. so, 1919. 71.757
Allowed to March 81, 1920, over lac, 900
"The amount of monthly payments
or the awarded cases is over S6,000,000.
The amount OF current disbursements
H. however, less than this amount, ow
Ing to the fact that over 400 of the
disabled men have died since receiving
awards and many have got bette.
and payments reduced. The number
Of cases pending at March, 1920, was
over $4,000.
Coordination Favored
War Risk Insurance-The United
States government granted insurance
to every commissioned officer and en-
listed man employed in active service
Of not more than $4,000. The insur-
snce granted was monthly term insur
snce at peace time rates, without any
addition for expenses, the government
paving all war costs and all overhead
expenses The premiums charged COW
cred only minor fraction Of the risk.
In order to give men time to apply for
Insurance, automatic insurance 120
days after enlistment was granted
free for $4,000. This feature has cost
ss50OOOo0. There have been in all
ebout $4,000 claims. aggregating over
sle0O000.000 Of insurance. Included
In the figures are over 5000 claims for
ore. Sc 900 payable to men adj
!Iaged totally and permanently dis
soied. There has been very little de-
lay IN settling these claims. Many
men felt that they could not keep up
slOo00 life insurance, and this, taken
IT conjunction with the general dis
satisfaction with the bureaus admin
,s'ratlon, has resulted in very heavy
lspse rate Of the insurance. In De-
eeMper 1919. it was announced by the
director that 70 per cent of the insur-
sace was lapsed and the men without
protection.
Kecomme ndations-(D All work af-
!ec'ng the ex-service men should be
eoordinated and responsibility placed
WIZ corresponding authority under
ohe active directing head This means
mat the work of the Vocational Train
Ms Board should be combined with
Ma' OF the War Risk Insurance Blu
la IN and the work Of the United States
.aohc Health Service coordinated with
ssau.
- Under converted policies men
ss-24ia DC permitted 10 name any bene-
ssnsfy and 10 use their insurance as
., =, and reserve should be set
IN ~ N the earnings Of which the con
's 10 po!icies will participate
promptly.
80 The establishment Of branch
and the collection Of premiums
'"i'agh The local postofices
Comprehensive Wage Policy
I'M Service and Retirement High
lizards Of achievement in the admin
,,&"on Of the work Of the govern
~ -, require to-day az never before
s.s9''12niy efficient and loyal person
- hhciency and loyalty in public