Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-11-15
Protecting Uncle Sans
Sea Skirmishers
(By the Hon. L. S. Rowe. Assistant
S~ecreatry of the treasury

tstu NOT ledNt lhem DtnHle~~, even III ne.
would. Months ago the government real
lied that these merchant sailors were the
country's real advance guard. it, sen ,kir-
mi~h line. sent foxth. first of all. in ad-
vance of the army and even of the navy,
to draw the German fire. daily and hourly,
without uniforms and without cheers. a.
a mere matter of duty. II decided that
|ihe men who did this were really a much
a part of the national service n were the
army and the navy. and il made prompt
provision for the care of their families IN
ease. they were lost or captured. Only two
months after war was declared congress
wrote into law a merchant sailor -inSur-
ance clause under which the treasury de-
partment stands ready 10 lessen. a. far
n money can. the effects Of their loss,
upon their families. This provision pa~Se6
almost unnoticed by the country. whose
attention was centered on the insurance
of the ships rather than on that of the
sailors. But the families of the u men
who nave since persisted have reason TO
note the difference and Ia bless the law.
n has also the wife Of Captain Oliver.
VI nv ~itdfh~hiH tsAHIAitss VIZ NAN ST
RED away 10 Germany a n prisoner. For
all of these il spells the difference between
comfort and penury.
Under the government plan = blanket
policy J. written providing for the In~ur-
ance Of the master. the officers. and the
crew of every ship that sails from an
American port 10 the war zone. and vice
yer. ~ an .usnnrf a,,,al ~ ID ,,ura- thar
monthly wages plus all bonuses, and pro-
vidin. further that mo- individual Insurance
shall BE- for l.~~ than $500 or more than.
5000. The policy also provides that the
full amount shall be paid not only for death.
but also for permanent disability. ar for
the los Of both hands. arms. feet. legs. or
eve~. For lesser injuries from IL 10 65 per
cent of the principal sum j. to he paid.
Nor are the prisoners forgotten. Uncle
Sam recognizes hi~ liability to families
that are temporarily deprived of their
breadwinnerS ~ much a. Ia those that
are permanently deprived. No American
sailor need eat hi heart ont III prison
wondering how his family j. managing 10
live. Uncle Sam viii pay them hi full
wages until such time a. the total amount
paid shall equal the principal sum for
which he wa~ insured.
Death awards are paid IL the estate Of
the insured for distribution "a hi family
free Of all liability for debt. Awards for
injury are paid only TO the insured himself.
and awards for imprisonment are held for
him. unless he himself has directed to
whom they are 10 he paid. No attorney or
claim agent i necessary e. aid IN the col
lection of Uncle Sans insurance. and none
l. entitled ~ receive any payment for helm
ing to collect il. except where the liability
i contested by the Government and j. tried
in a United State Hi-trict court. Then the
nudge may award h" attorney not more
than 10 per cent of the amount secured.
The provision n 10 contested eases j.
necessary. though Uncle Sam ha- M
thought Of conte~ting death losses. lii
whole intention j. eactlv the Opposite. Bn,
everybody knows that there are cases
where men nave disappeared NJ sea and
have turned mp later with marvellous ialc~'
Of their escape. Since the war hcgan not.
4 few sailors and passengers from tor
pedoed ships have come back after W. inr|
given M for dead. and - l.rc n. human.
nature remains what II j. there will al
WAYS be n few men VINO voull re-. hc~i-
tate TO impose on their dear avuncula"
relatives VI occasion offered and 10 STAY.
away from home until their insurance had
been collectcd-and spent. j. n for Snrh.
eases "a these .,iat Uncle SIM j. forced 20
be prepared.
N he tire thi- article va- written.
however. no such ease had even been suS-
pected. Only two ships h,v. been ~nnr
with loss of life since the 'aw went into
effect. One of these. the Kar-an. sank
in seven minutes with the loss of four men.
insured for a total of $1,000: anl there T.
no question a. 10 their fate. IT, othcr
steamer, the Montana. was iorpcdocd in
broad daylight and sank in one minute.
Insurance j. compulsory. II i not left
Ia the memory Of men who wight forget
sam considers that ~hIpowncr~ who are
getting rich ont at the enormous freight
rates they are charging owe -omcthin. ia
the families of the men who d" the work
for them when these men are ~"scuppered
and left in the lurch."
The law provides that il the owners
Of any vessel traver~in. the war zone fail
10 insure the master. officer and crew
before the ship goes 10 sea the secretary
Of the treasury may TAX ont insurance for
! them with the bureau Of war-ri~k in,nr-
ance and NAV further fine the owners not
more than $1,000 10 help them to remen-
H
Der net time and may also charge hi IN
ierc~t both on the premium and on the