Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-09
COLLECTION OF
WAR INSURANCE
NOT DIFFICULT
Beneficiaries Can Get it Without
Employing Claim Agents or
Pension Attorneys.
ASSISTANCE GIVEN FREE

There is no necessity for the employ
ment of claim agents or attorneys tor the
collection of the benefits granted 10y the
. War Risk Insurance act, because the
process of such collection is exceedingly
simple and the Bureau OF War Rrsk
: Insurance stands ready to render any
and all assistance required rs un-
Scrupulous persons are approaching the
dependents OF soldiers and sailors, the
American Bar Association suggests that
patriotic lawyers advise claimants Tree
of charge of their rights under the law.
John Lowell. chairman OF the special
committee for war service ot the Amcri-
can Bar Association. has written to the
chairman of each Legal ADVISORY Board
III Delaware. saving:
1T has come to the attention OF the
American Bar Association that unscru-
pulous claim agents and pension attorneys
are notifying bcneticiarics who have oc-
cason to make claim under the War Risk
Insurance act that they must employ
counsel in order to be sure OF obtaining
payments from the government. In
MANY instances bcnchCIarlCS have been
induced 10 advance substantial sums ot
money % these agents III return for the
promise of = service which IN all prob
ability will he unnecessary.
These activities arr Ill direct viola
ton OF the spirit Of the War Risk In
surancc act and are iu the highest degree
reprchcnsibc and unpatriotIc, Mess
they are promptly and effectively checked
they will result IN gUcvous abuse and
Will produce the same undesirable con
difions which brought such dlscrdu upon
our previous war pension system.
Pending tho passage Of m amendment
lou. hp al ~
10 protect bcneficiarics from the mis-
chicvous activities of these professional
claim chaSerS The lawyers Of the country
arr in a position 10 afford this protection
TN volunteering their services to bcnc-
ticiarcS IN tho preparation and filing Of
their claims " hlic these services Will
i, of an extremely simple nature they
viii not only be of great value to the per
sons receiving them but viii solve a prob
em Of national Importance and long
standing We believe that every pa
trotic member OF the bar will gladly come
10 the assistance Of the government and
give this and to the dependents OF the
men IN the service.
Some one IN each community must
take the lead IN this matter You, as
chairman Of the Legal Advisory Board,
which once before has called together the
lawyers ot the district Tor not dis
similar service. arc naturally fhc one to
take the lead in your district We sug-
Ccst aS a first step that Nnu again call
upon Your associates for cooperation IN
order that the work may bc distributed
and made Is light As possible for cach
individual Next that YOU enlist such
forms of publicity IS are al Your disposal
50 that no beneficiary IN your community
49, III have
SEEK il outside OF YOUR ranks Thirdly,
that YOU proceed to AID gratuirouSly all
benetclaries unable without assistance
TO prepare their claims and that YOU con
tiuuc such Craiuitous service until cir
clnStanccS no longer require II. Lastly,
that YOU send to the American Bar
Association, 17l2 Eye street. y. ",
Washing on. the name Of every claim
agent pension attorney or other person
known by YOU to be violating the spirit OF
the War Risk Insurance act IN the manner
above described
Local legal committees of the state
Council of Defence or Home Service
Section or the Red Cross already en-
gagged in giving free legal advice to drafted
men or their dependents should. of course,
bc utilized in carrying out the work herein
suggested
n g. NcAdoo. secretary Of the trca-
sl!ry. also mas written 70 the charmen al
the Legal Advisory Boards. saving
The American Bar Association desires
to cooperate with the Treasury Depart
mcnt IN combating illegal and -eprehen>ibi
activities on the part OF certain ciam
agents. pension attorneys and other per
sons in seeking TO obtain employment IN
connection with the collection or prcpara-
ton OF claims under the War Risk In
surance act,
There is no necessity Tor the employ
ment OF claim agents or attorneys Tor the
collection of the benefits granted by the
War Bisl, Insurance act, because the
process OF such collection is exceedingly
sirnpe and the Bureau OF War Risk
Insurance stands ready 10 render any and
all ass stance required. \ great Servio,
can be rendered by making these facts
clear TO the dependents of soldiers and
sailors who are being approached by
unscrsIpuIous persons The suggestion
of the American Bar Association that
the patriotic LAWYERS Of the country adj
wise claimants free oi charge OF their
rights under the law is deeply appreciated
By the Treasury Department aud affords
a splendid opportunity for service 10 the
nation and 10 the men vino are facing the
fire Of battle for "a
i earnestly nope that sou and your
associates viii respond . the enclosed
appeal.
The Legal Advisory Boards viii meet
soon Tor the purpose ol considering the
appeal