Denver labor bulletin., 1918-03-30
TWELVE BILLION
HELD IN WAR RISKS
UNCLE SAM OPERATES BIG
GEST COMPANY.
Nearly Million and a Half Applica-
tions Received From Soldiers and
Sailors Enlisted for the
Great World War.

Insurance of more than $4,000, ,00O,-
600 has already been written on the
lives of American soldiers, sailors and
nurses by the bureau of war risk in
surance, Secretary McAdoo an
nounces. Up to the close of bust
ness March 6, 1892 ,324 applications,
representing insurance of $11 ,256, ,44S,-
500, had been received at the bureau.
Late reports from the American
expeditionary forces, together with in
surance now in transit from distant
points, indicate that the total insur-
ance written to date is well above
2,O00, ,000,0 900, covering more than
!, 100000 persons in the military or
naval service.
Average Insurance SS,0S5.
The average amount of insurance
applied for is S8,0S5. The maximum
permitted is $4,000 and the mini
mum $1,000.
In the month of February more
than $5,000,0 100000 of insurance was
written. The lowest amount of in
surance received on a given day dur
ing the month of February was s71,-
100000 and the highest $5O1 ,6O2, 900.
In the week from February 8 to 10,
50 200, ,000,0 900 of insurance was writ
ten. This week marked the first eli
max in the nationwide campaign to
make Americas fighting forces 100
per cent insured. Insurance is still
being written at almost a billion-dol-
lar-a-week rate.
Final figures show that the United
States army, both here and abroad, is
well above 90. per cent insured. In
many camps 80 per cent of the per
sonnel is protected by government in
surance.
Biggest Company" in the World.
In the five months from October 6,
when the military and naval insur-
ance act was approved, the life under
writing section of the bureau of war
risk insurance has grown to be the
largest life insurance company in the
world. The insurance now on the
books of the bureau is more than
three times as great as the ordinary
insurance held by the largest com
mercial company in the world.
In view of the extension of time
by Congress, the vigorous insurance
campaign is continuing thruout the
country. All persons whose right to
apply for government insurance
would have expired before April IL,
1918, may make application any time
up to and including April II, 1918
All new persons joining the service
must apply within 12O days after
joining the colors. Automatic insur-
ance ceased for all men, regardless
of enlistment date, on February IL.
1t Is Wise and Humane.
When Americans give up their pri-
vate occupations and in obedience to
the call of their country and the law
of the land, often at great financial
sacrifice, face the dangers of war and
offer their lives in the service of their
country, it is but right and just that
upon the nation and not upon them
should be put the added cost of in
surance their dangerous occupation in
ours.
Secretary McAdoo says that the SOL
dier and sailor insurance is the just
est, wisest and most humane provis-
ion ever made by any nation for its
fighting forces. This opinion is
shared in by the soldiers and sailors
and by the people of the United
States. The injustice, the partiality,
the inequalities and other evils of the
old pension system are replaced by
just, fair and generous insurance
system which over 80 per cent of the
fighting forces of the nation have
hastened to take advantage of.