Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-31
by W. S. Gard, Houston Post Staff
Correspondent

80 much written about the government '.in-
surance' act which has been Of Il largely
technical character that the public mind
has been more or less confused on the
subject and doubtless the same is true of
the soldiers and sailors themselves.
The insurance law so-called, is more
than an insurance bill. In realty il makes
Uncle Sam Il sort of fiduciary agent for
every man under arms ~ well ~ the mem
hers of his family dependent upon him
for support. This law compels provision
for dependents and where there are no de-
pendents assures a saving ont Of the sol
dier's pay which will give him a NEST esg''
when he returns To civil life. The compul-
sorry deduction from the soldiers monthly
salary for the support OF dependents can
not exceed one-half of his pay nor can
il be less than SO per month. la ease OF
n divorced wife the allotment retained from
the soldiers pay can not exceed her ali
mony. II the soldier has no dependents.
will bear 4 per cent interest during bis
term of service and be turned over 10 him
when he j. discharged from the army or
navy.
Family allowances begin November l.
and after that from the time al enlist
ment to death or one month after dis
charge from service, but not for a LONGER
period than one month after the termina-
|tion of the present war. These allowance,
or direct payments to dependents of en-
listed men can not exceed $50 per month.
and there must he a written statement filed
with the insurance bureau giving the family
dependents who are To receive this money.
Blanks and regulations governing this
feature are now being prepared.
Under the family aid section Of this new
law the following payments are to be made
by the government
To a wife SIS a month. with one child
'S25: with two children S32.50; each add
|%tional child -.
To a mothcrle~~ child IS 4 month: two
children $3.50: three $50; four $50: each
additional child IS.
One dependent parent SO: two 500: for
each dependent brother. sister or grand
child -.
III td~t bl IedtH"l 10 WIDOW 30 n III
month: with one child SIS: with two chill
.dren Si7.50. and - for each ADDITIONAL
child up To two. To motherle<S child 500:
two children $50: three children ~40 with
- per month for each additional child M
to two. To widowed mother $40. These
payments to n widow or widowed mother
continue until remarriage and to a child
until Is years of age or marriage.
Total diSabilitv-To n single man $50
= month: il he has a wife SIS: wife and
one child s55: wife and two children SOS:
wife and three or more children ST5: one
motherle-~ child $40. with $40 for each
additional child M "a two. II = nurse or
attendant i required $40 n month add
tional. For the loss of both feet. both
hands or both eyes or becoming perman-
entity bedridden the allowance j. 500 n
month.
Partial observation-disclosures proportion
ate 70 those given for total disability ac-
cording "a the seriousness Of the injury.
Men in this class may 60 10 n school on
their regular soldiers salary and learn
trades at which they can work. \
All claims for compensation must he
filed within five years after the soldier
%retires from the service or within five
wears after hiS death. n
III death occur before discharge or rcsig-
nation from the service. the government
will pay burial expenses and cost ~ the
return of the body 10 the man'~ home.
This p%aternal law makes II incumbent
upon the government To look after pre-
miumS upon any insurance policy. should !,
the soldier or sailor 80 request. II he l.
insurance when he enters the
service of his country and he does not wish :
hat policy 10 lapse, he can arrange with !
he war risk insurance bureau to pay his :,
premium for him under special regulations !
10 he drafted by the bureau. i
Uncle Sans venture into insurance I,
j. permanent. lie IS going TO write -
all sorts Of policies with MI of the endow- \
ment and limited features of old line insur- I
nncc. for tn law provides that the soldier
Or person carrying war insurance may
il iHto any one of these long term \
within five years after the close of y
he war. During the war soldiers may ear
~ term insurance policies for successive :
of one year each and these policies q
range from $1,000 mp to $4,000, being H. /"
sued in the multiplies Of $500. The pre- \
computed on a monthly basis vary y
90 cents per $1,000 nj age Of ID :
10 1926 per $1,000 NJ age Of 65. Those
Tho may he insured are men and women n
the ages of Is and 80 in all Z
of the army, navy. marine corps,
49, ..,n ri uu go -nr taf1nnnl n "A xai 4 IA