The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-13
Soldiers, Sailors and War
Personnel To Be Well
Cared For
COST MUCH LESS
THAN OLD LINE
Benefciaries of Those Who
Died in Service May
Commute,

Washington, Nov. 13.-Prepara-
tons by the government for reipsur-
ing the lives of soldiers and sailors
on their return have been fastened
by the signing OF the armistice. Al
though regulations have not yet been
fully drafted. it Is certain that each
Of the 4,250,000 men in the military
or naval service now holding Yolun-
taTy government insurance will be
permitted within five years after
peace is declared to convert 1t with
out further medical examination
into ordinary life, twenty-payment
life. endowment maturing at the age
of So oSf5ther prescribed forms of in
sssAE Reduced Cost
This insurance will be arranged by
the government and the cost is ex-
Bected to be at least one-fourth less
Nate agencies. The low cost will re-
suit from the fact that the govern
ment will pay all overhead admin
istration expenses which for private
companies amounts to about IL per.
cent of premium rights and will save
the usual solicitation fees and in
addition bear the risk resulting from
the Woundfng or weakening of men
while in the service. Private COM
panes would not write insurance on
many wounded men or their rates
would be unusually high.
Details of Plan
The government will arrange to
collect premiums monthly or for
longer periods in advance. This may
be done through postoffices. The
maximum amount OF insurance to be-
issued probably will be $1,000 and
the maximum $4,000, with any
amount between those sums in null
tip1es Of $500. There will be provi-
sion for payments in case of disabil-
ity as well as death, according to the
tentative plan. The insurance may
be purchased by any soldier, sailor or
marine. officer or enlisted man and
by women members of the army or
navy nurse corps. providing they all
ready, hold goyernme ent; yolnn tary life
ifIstsr A1ce. IA AbpfIt 9 s per cent of the
d,560s000 men in the service are cove
cred by this Insurance which exp Tres
after they 20 back to i civilian life
and cease paying premiums. This is
the system devised to replace the old
pension plan OF providing for ex-
soldiers and sailors.
Greatest Insurance Co. in World
Thus will be created out Of the
governments emergency war insur-
ance bureau the greatest life insuh
ance institution in the world for
peace times. with more policy hold
ers. and greater aggregate risks than
a half dozen of the worlds biggest
private companies combined. Out
OF the experience gained may event.
uaIly develop expansion of govern
lnent insurance to old age, indus
trial and other forms OF insurance
in the opinion OF officers who studied
the subject. Regulations for REIN
surfing returning soldiers and sailors
are being framed by an advisory
board TO the military and naval sec
tion Of the war risk bureau consist.
ing OF Arthur Hunter, actuary of the
New York Life Insurance Co.; w. "A.
Fraser Omaha, OF the Woodmen OF
the World. and F. Robertson Jones
of the Workmens Compensation
Publicity Bureau. New York.
Other Provisions
Plans also are under consideration
for allowing benef1ciaries OF men
who have died or been killed in the
service to choose between taking
monthly payments over a period of
twenty years or to commute these
payments In a lump sum.