New Britain herald., 1917-06-28
'GOVTI|'. ID INSURE: 1. \ 5 1 \
 TROOPS IN FRANCE
Conference of Company Repre-
 sentatiYes to Be Held July 2

Washington. Juno 2s-Government life insurance for the omcers and mon of the United States army and navy who serve in France will be discussed at conference of life insurance ex- perts to be held at the once of sec- retary McAdoo hero July ?.
 Tho secretary has signed call on the leading life insurance companies doing business in the United States to send representatives, to the meet ing. This action was taken to over- come . condition about which thare has been much complaint. It has been found practically impossible for men who expect to 90 to the firing line to get insurance. old line com panies decline to write such risks owing to the hazard due to subma- rtnes and the intensive trench nght- tng that marks the military opera tions In Europe.
 Hitherto there has been only com parative difficulty in getting insur- ance for officers and men in the reg uiar army or navy. Rates have not dbeen considered unduly high, and but for the inconvenience of the rule that permits must be obtained for service in tropical countries army men have Jared reasonably we'll at the hands of the insurance companies. In addi- ton to the opportunity to take out insurance for the benefit of families of army and navy men there has been for the last ten years the further ad- vantage of the benefit system main- tained by the government which off, cers and men are entitled, in case of death in the line of duty, to a pay ment of an amount equal to half their yearly pay at the time of death. It Is not proposed to alter or repeal the benefit law, in arranging new insurance.
 The war risk Insurance bureau of the treasury department" said Sec retary McAdoo, lis insuring the lives of masters, officers, and seamen of the merchant marine of the United States, and the question has arisen as to how insurance on the lives of the officers and enlisted men of the army and navy can be effected most advantageously, through an {exten- sion of the powers of the war risk insurance bureau or through the combined agency or cooperation of the life Insurance companies of the United States. It is expected that tAC uAoCOSSAOu dI lIl0 coming COnT0r. ence will prove of great value in de- termining the wisest policy, to be adopted.
 This Is great problem, and 1t ap- tpeals immediately and instinctively to the highest thought and purpose of the country. 4 Certainly everything possible should be done to give psp- tection to those who are dependent upon the men who give their lives for their country, and to ameliorate the rigors and horrors of war; No or ganized effort has ever been made by any government to provide this sort of protection and comforting assur- ance to it's fighting men. Why should not America take the lead in this noble and humane action?
 1T earnestly hope that as a result of the measures thus intimated a great system of insurance will be de- vised which will give to every officer. soldier and sailor in the service of the United States the assurance that some provision is made for the loved ones he leaves behind if he b called upon to make the greatest sacrifice that a patriot can make for his coun- try"