Tombstone epitaph., 1918-06-16
ey JAMES H. COLLINS.


 On October 6. 1917. the war-risk in- surance law went into effect. prOvid- ing for protection of our soldiers. sail ory, and marines and their families. On April 6. 1918. only six months lat CT. Uncle Sam had written apprOxi- mately $14.OOO.OO.OOO of war risk in- surance on his fighting forces. cover ing upward of 100000 persons in the military and naval service. For aliOt- ments and allowances alone. apprOxi- mately l.6O0.0OO checks aggregating more than S43.OOO.00O have already been sent. It will not be long before the bureau will be sending out mil lion checks month.
 We have spoken of 1t as ''the war risk insurance law" Technically this is correct: actually. 1t is mislead- ing: for the legislation that went into a group of laws-four acts co-ordinat- ed for 6 common purpose. The first measure in this unprecedented pro- gram of protection Is the system of allotments and allowances. in which the fighter and the government are partners for the care of the families of all enlisted men in the military or naval service.
 The second measure provides for stated compensation for death and dis ability incurred in the line of duty. This is the modern American substi- tute for pensions. The compensation, which ranges from s2O to s10O a month. is paid automatically by the govern ment to certain specified beneficiaries, regardless of rank or pay. and without any cost to the recipient.
 The third measure of protection is outright government insurance against death and total permanent disability. In this. the United States is a pioneer among the nations of the world-offer. ing insurance up to $l0,OO0 to every member of its fighting forces. at net peace rates. The government assumes all overhead charges and costs of ad ministration, thus making the rates al most incredibly low. This insurance Is n supplemental form of protection stimulating thrift and strengthening self-respect.
 inmensity of Bureaus Work.
 The fourth measure Of protection embodied in the military and naval insurance act is the system of re-edu cation and rehabilitation of the men disabled in the war-in itself task of vital importance and great magni. tude.
 The figures given convey an idea of the immensity of the bureaus work The insurance now on the books o1 the Bureau of War-Risk Insurance exceeds by several hundred per cent the insurance held by the largest life insurance company in the world.
 To cope with the hydra-h headed prob lem imposed upon it. the Bureau of War Risk Insurance has been forced to expand at an exceedingly rapid rate The bureau now occupies space ir eight separate buildings, covering al area of more than i20000 square feet and has a personnel of more than 3. 300. working in two shifts. from nins o'clock in the morning till midnight.
 It may be asked why the govern ment. in addition to family allowance, and liberal compensation, should offel insurance against death and disability to its fighting men. The justification for this sweeping innovation Is simply this: The government by calling ; man to war takes him into the mos hazardous business in the world. ant thus destroys his insurabilify. In re turn, it is only fitting and proper tha the government should go into the in surance business for his benefit. Pri vate insurance companies could no possibly insure soldiers and sailors ex cept at prOhibitive rates At con ference of life insurance representa- lives in Washington when the pres