The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-06-13
BY JAMES h. COLLINS.

BY JAMES n. COLLINS.
1Eron, committee on Public Information
On October g. 1917, the war-risk In
surance law went into effect, provid-
ing for protection of our soldiers, sail
ors. and marines and their families.
On April 6. 1918, only six months lat
or. Uncle Sam had written approx
mately S140000O0,OOO of war risk in
surance on his fighting forces, cover
ing upward Of 100000 persons In the
military and naval service. For allot-
ments and allowances alone, approx
Inately 100000 checks aggregaung
more than S43,0O000O have already
been sent. 1t will not be long before
the bureau will be sending out mill
lion checks . month.
We have spoken Of it as "the war
risk insurance law" Technically
this is correct; actually, IT is miSlead-
ing: for the legislation that went into
effect on October g. 1917, was really
a group of Iaws-four acts co-ordinat-
ed for a common purpose. The first
measure In this unprecedented pro-
gram of protection is the system OF
allotments and allowances, in which
the tighter 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 500 10 500 a month,
is paid automatically by the govern
ment 10 certain specified benetlciaries,
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 pioneer
among the nations of the wOrld-OfIer-
ing insurance up to $4,000 10 every
member of its fighting forces, at net
peace rates. The government assumes
all overhead charges and costs Of adj
miniStration, thus making the rates al
most incredibly low This insurance
is "A supplemental form Of protection,
stimulating thrift ana strengthening
self-rcspect.
immensely 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 warm itself task
Of vital importance and great magni-
tude.
The figures given convey an idea Of
the immensely Of the bureaus work.
The insurance now on the books Of
the Bureau Of WarRisk Insurance
exceeds by several hundred per cent
the Insurance held by the largest life
insurance company in the world.
To cope with the hydra-headed prob
lem imposed upon 1t, the Bureau OF
War Risk Insurance has been forced 10
expand at an exceedingly rapid rate.
The bureau now occupies space in
eight separate buildings. covering an
area If more than 10000 square feet,
and has personnel Of more than g.
300 working in two shifts, from nine
O'Clock in the morning till midnight.
II may be asked why the govern
ment in addition 10 family allowances
and liberal compensation, should offer
insurance against death and disability
10 It's fighting men. The Justification
for This sweeping innovation Is simply
this The government boy calling %
man 10 war takes him into the most
hazardous business in the world, and
tins destroys his iueurahilty In re-
turn ii j, only fitting and proper that
the government should 20 into the in
surance business for his benefit prl-
waste insurance companies could not
possibly insure soldiers and sailors ok
cgpl az prohibitiye rites. AT con
ference Of Inc insurance representa-
tivcs In Washington, when the pres.