Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-11-30
The War Insurance. Law.

The following is an address by Secretary
McAdoo to the officers and enlisted men
and women Of the army and navy of the
United States and their relatives, calling
attention to the provisions of the War In
surance law;
THE Secretary of the Treasury, through
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, has
been charged with the administration of
the War Insurance law enacted by the
Congress as a measure of justice to the
men and women who have been called to
give their lives, if need be. in the service
Of their country.
81 wish to acquaint you with the benefits
and privileges which your Government has
placed at your disposal. 1t is essential
that you and your families at home should
know Of your and their rights under this
law in order that full advantage may be
taken of them.
ITO care for the wife and children of
the enlisted man during his service, the
War Insurance law compels him to con-
tribute up to one-half Of his pay for their
support. The Government, on application,
will generously add to this an allowance
of SIS to $50 month"; according to the
size Of the family. Moreover, If the en-
listed man will make some further provision
himself for a dependent parent, brother,
sister. or grandchild. they may be included
in the Government allowance.
IF. as result of injuries incurred or
disease contracted in the line of duty. an
officer or enlisted man or an army or navy
nurse should be disabled. provision is made
for compensation of from $50 to 500 a
month to him. and should he die compen-
sation Of from $40 to SIS a month will be
paid to his wife, his child. or his widowed
mother.
in order, however. to fully protect each
person and family. Congress has made it
possible for every soldier, sailor. and nurse
to obtain life and total-disability insur-
ance. This insurance applies to injuries
received while he or she is in the service
or after he or she shall have left 1t.
Exposure to the extra dangers Of war
makes the cost Of life insurance in private
life insurance companies prohibitive. 1t
was. therefore. a plain duty and obligation
for the Government to assume the risk Of
lnsuring hundreds of thousands Of our
soldiers who are making the supreme sac
rifice. Under this law every soldier and
sailor and nurse, commissioned and en-
listed. and of any age, has the right, be-
tween now and February IL. 1918. to take
out life and total-disability insurance up
to 10000 at very low cost, with the Gov
eminent without medical examination.
This right is purely optional. The soldiers
and sailors are not compelled to take in
surance. but IL they desire to exercise the
right, they must do so before, the 18th Of
February. 1918. The cost RANGES from IS
cents monthly. at the age Of II, to $l.2O
monthly. at the age of 81, for each $1,000
of insurance This is small charge on
mans pay-small in proportion to the
benefits 1t may bring. The premiums will
be deducted from his pay. II he desires.
thus eliminating trouble on his part.
ITO provide adequate protection until
February IL, 1918. during the period when
the soldiers and sailors are learning the
details of this law. the Government auto
maticaIly insures each man and woman,
commissioned or enlisted in the military
service OF the United States. II pays the
man $25 per month during total perma-
nent disability IL he dies within 20 years,
1t pays the rest of 240 monthly install
ments of $25 each to his wife. child. or
widowed mother.
II desire to call the provisions OF this
just and generous law to the attention OF
our officers and enlisted men and women
so that they may not be deprived Of their
rights through the lack Of knowledge Full
information may be obtained from the
Bureau OF War Risk Insurance Of the
Treasury Department. Washington, d. c..
earnestly urge that the officers Of the
army and the navy give to the men under
their command all possible aid in help
ing them to understand fully the bene-
fits that this insurance may bring to their
families and the small cost at which 1t
may be obtained.
This is the greatest measure Of protec-
ton ever offered to its fighting forces by any
nation in the history OF the world. 1t is
not charity 1t is simply justice to the en-
listed men and women and to their loved
ones at home. and each and every one Of
them should promptly take the benefits OF
this preat law"