The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-10
(By Hon. L. s. Rowe. Assistant Sec

rotary Of the Treasury
No sailor who risks his life on I'm
Gle Sans merchant fleet of today or
on his far greater feet of tomorrow
need fear that he will leave those de-
pendent on him penniless. Uncle Sam
has decreed that he can not leave
them penntiess, even if he would.
Months ago the government realized
that these merchant sailors were the
countrys real advance guard, its sea
.Rlxirmish line, sent forth, first of all,
In advance of the army and even Of
the navy, to draw the German fire,
daily and hourly, without uniforms
and without cheers, as mere matter
of duty. 1t decided that the men who
did this were really as much a part
of the national service as were the
9Emy and the navy, and it made
prompt provision for the care of their
families in case they were lost or cap
tured. Only two months after the
war was declared Congress wrote into
law observation-disclosures
clause under which the Treasury De-
partmsnt stands ready to lessen. as
far as money can, the effects of their
loss upon their families. This provi-
sion passed almost unnoticed by the
country, whose attention was centred
on the insurance Of the ships rather
than on that Of the sailors. But the
families of the FL men who have since
persisted have reason to note the diff
ference and to bless the law, as has
also the wife of Capt. Oliver, of the
steamship CamDana, who was carried
away to Germany as prisoner. For
ali OF these it spells the difference
between comfort and penury.
Under the government plan blan-
Het policy ts written providing ror the
Insurance of tho master, the officers,
and the crew Of every ship that sails
from an American port to the war
zone, and vice versa, in an amount
e1ual to IL times their monthly wages
plus all bonuses, and providing that
no Individual insurance, shall be for
The policy also provides that the full
less than 1880 or more than $1,000.
axnount shall be paid not only for
death best Also for permanent dfeabai-
fty. or for the loss Of both hands,
arms. feet, leGA or eyes. For lesser
fnfuxzes from 5 20 e5 Per cent. sof the
prfno1pal sun h TO be paid.
Nor arc prisonsrs forgotten. Uncle
Sann reeognizes hfs liability to fam
dies tlaak are Temporarily deprived of
the1r breadw1nners as much as to
those that are permanently deprived.
No American sailor need eat hts heart
out IN prison wondering how his fam
fly IN managing to i've. Uncle Sam
win pay them his full wages until
SUCH time as tho total amount paid
SHALL equal the principal sum for
whioh he was Insured.
Death awards are paid to the es-
taAs Of tho insured for distribution to
his fAuffy tree Of al liability for debt.
Awards for injury are paid only to
the insured himself, and awards for
ftupr1sourneut are held for him, un-
less he himself has directed to whom
they arc to be paid. No attorney or
claim aEont is necessary to aid in the
collection OF Uncle Sans insurance.
and mono I'm entitled to receive any
payment for helping to collect it. ex-
ospt where the liability - contested
by the govexnment and ls tried In a
United Htates district court. Then the
Judge may award the attorney not
more than 10 per cent of the amount
secured
, The provision as to contested cases
e. necessary. though Uncle Sam has
NO thought Of oontesttng death Losses.
His whole intention is exactly the op-
pos1<a. But everybody knows that
szppsn<ed 1T sea and have turned UP
1atsv with marvellous tales OF their
escape. Since the war began not g.
few Sailors and passengers from tor
pedoed ships have come back after
bea1g given up f0r dead, and so long
az human natuBe remains what it LIZ
thsrs WA always be q few men who
womzd not hesitate to impose on xnetr
deax ayuncular relative II occaston Of
fsred and TO stay away from home
11nkn their Insurance had been collect
iedLand spent. It 10 Cor such cases
~ these that Uncle Sam Is forced to
Do prepared
At the time this article was writ
ten, however, NO such cAse had even
bsen suspected. Only two ships have
besn SUNK with loss Of lie since the
cav went into effect One of these.
with the loau of four men, insured
for total OF ~. zoo; and there is no
question as to their fate. The other
steamer, the Montana, was torpedoed
in broad daylight and sank In one
minute.
insurance ts compulsory. 1t La not
left to the memory of men who might
forget or be unwilling. But 1t is not
"a GIFT Uncle Sam considers that ship
owners who are getting rich out OF
the enormous freight rates they are
charging owe something to the fami-
lies OF the men who do the work for
them when thsse men are -scuppered
and left In the lurch."
Tho law provides that II the owners
Of any vessel traversfng the war zone
fail to fnsure the master, officers, and
crew bsEore the ship goes to sea the