New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-08
CANNOT SUE men
Fighting FOR U. S,
Soldiers and Sailors Afforded
Legal Protection by Government

Hartford, April 8.-The protection
Civil Relief Act recently passed by
congress is outlined briefly by the
Connecticut State Council of Defense
in a statement being sent to its war
bureaus and town committees
throughout the state. This has been
done on recommendation Of the coun-
cirs legal committee of which Arthur
l.. Shipman of Hartford is now chair
man, succeeding Lucius F. Robinson
Of Hartford, who was added to the
mem bership Of the council itself by
appointment by Governor Marcus H
Holcomb.
Local agencies of the council have
been asked to distribute copies of the
act and copies of a statement out
lining Its provisions prepared by Ma
jor Wigmore of the staff of the judge
advocate general of the army. These
copies are to be supplied to trial JUS
tees and judges of city courts as
we'll as legal members Of the draft
exemption boards and members Of
the legal profession who are identified
with the war bureaus and town COM
mittees.
The councils communication to its
local agencies says: plans should
be developed and carried out for a
local legal committee to care for the
interests Of soldiers and sailors and
their families affected by the act"
A brief outline of the provisions Of
the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act
as prepared by Major Wigmorc is as
follows:
THE Soldiers and Sailors Civil Re-
lief Act, recently passed by congress,
aims to protect soldiers and sailors
from undue hardship due to their in
ability to bring or defend lawsuits
and to attend to their business obli-
cations Or property rights, during
their absence in military service.
"A soldier or sailor may owe money
on a note. Or he may have bought
or leased land or tools or furniture
on which an installment Is yet due.
Or he may have mortgaged his home,
and be liable to foreclosure for non
payment. Or he may have started a
homestead or mining claim and be
unable to continue the necessary oc-
cupation to the required period Of
time. Or he may have carried life
insurance for several years and now
be unable to keep up the premium
payments. Or he may have a money
claim against some one and during
his absence the lapse of time may
raise a legal bar against suing for it
when he returns. Or he may be
sued on some claim in his absence
and may be unable to defend the suit
effectively while absent.
"In these and other ways he may
suffer undue hardship. The object of
rx;1 toe J1o1
hardship.
THE provisions of the act are too
numerous to set forth accurately here.
Enough to point out that its main
principle is as follows:
"G) Let some one, on behalf Of
the soldier or sailor, notify the court
that the party concerned is a soldier
or sailor Then the court will make
prompt inquiries into the merits of
the case; if the case merits it, the
court has power to stay the other
party from further proceedings, or
to give other remedy that may be
appropriate. The court may also ap-
point an attorney to represent the SOL
der or sailor in the lawsuit.
"(2) If a lawsuit has been begun
already in some court against the sou
der or sailor, go to that same court
and give the notice above mentioned
If no lawsuit has yet been begun. but
some landlord or other person is pre-
pairing to sell out or to take posses
sion of property in which the soldier
or sailor is interested, go to the court
In whose jurisdiction the property is,
notify the court as above, and ask the
court to summon the other party. All
such persons are forbidden by law
to take property in that way without
first applying to court for an order
but some persons may attempt to
take possession without doing so, III
ignorance of the new law.
"(3) If the soldier or sailor had an
insurance policy or fraternal benefit
mem bership before September /, 1917,
and fears that he may not be able TO
keep up his payments, he should
write to the War Risk Insurance bu-
reau at Washington and ask them for
q form of application Cor ask his post
adjutant at the camp. The govern
nent. on certain conditions, will guar
antee the payment Of the premiums.
so that the policy or membership will
not be forfeited during the soldiers or
sailors absence; he will then have q
year after his return in which to pay
UP and save his policy or NJ EN- bership.
This relief does not apply to all poll
cjes or berships, and details can
not be given here: but on filling out
the application and sending it to the
War Risk Insurance bureau 1t Will be
duly taken care Of If it Is the kind of