Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07
RIGHTS OF SOLDIERS
PROTECTED BY LAW
On Notice That Man in Service Is
Interested, Court Will Stay
Proceedings.
PROTECT INSURANCE PREMIUMS
Government War Risk Bureau, on
- Proper Notice, Will Prevent Sol
dicr. From Losing Rights Under
Policy.

IS StWide protection for soldiers and
sailors OF the United States is afforded
by the soldiers and sailors civil re-
lief act. which recently became Fed
eral law. and in order to generally ac-
quaint every one with details OF the
LAW, the judge acknowledgement Of
ice has prepared brief summary
SLOWING what the law means and how
it works.
The act is aimed to protect soldiers
and sailors from undue hardship. due
to their inability to bring CT defend
lawsuits and TO attend to their bust.
ness obligations or property rights dur
ing their absence in military service.
"A soldier or sailor may owe money
on a note" says the summary. cor he
may have bought CIR leased land or
tools or furniture on which installmcnt
is yet due. or he may have mortGaEed
his home, and be liable to foreclosure
for uonpaymcni. Or he may have
started homestead or mining claim
and be unable to continue the ncccs-
Sary occupation in tho required period
OF tirc. Or he may have carried life
insurance for several years, and now
be unable to keep UP the premium pay /
mcrts. Or he may have money claim !
against. some one. and during his alb
scnce the lapse Of time may raise q
legal bar against suing for IL when lie /,
returns. Or he may he sued on some
oia!m in his absence and may be unable
70 defend the suit effectively while
absent.
oRJECT OF NCT Is
TO RELlEYE HARDSHIP
lin these and other ways lie may
S.ffer undue hardship. The object OF
,his act Is TO give relief from much .
hardship,
The provisions OF the act are too
numerous 10 set forth III full, but its
main principle is as follows:
Il. Let some one, on behalf of the |
soldier or sailor, notify the court that /
Inc party concerned is a soldier or
sailor. Then the court will make
prompt inquiries into the merits Of the
case; If the case merits Il. the court
has power to stay tho other party from ,
further proceedings. or to give other /,
remedy that may be appropriate. The
court ma" also appoint an attorney TO
rcprese.; the soldier or sailor in the (
lanSuit.
SHOULD NOTIFY COURT
OF INTEREST or SOLDIER
40 If a lawsuit has been begun al
ready liz some court against the SOL
der sailor SO to that same cour;
and give tho notice above mentioned.
II no lawsuit has yet been begun, bu:
some landlord or other person is pre-
pairing 10 sell out or TO take possession
ct propert" In which tho soldier or
sailor Is interested. go 10 the court in
whose jurisdiction the property is and
ne,!fy ,hc court as above aud ask
The court to summon the other party. j.
Nj such persons arc forbidden BY law b
20 take property III tina; way without
first applying 10 court for order. b
but some persons may attempt 10 take .
possession without doiuS %, in isnov-
ancc OF tho new law.
IS. II tho soldier or sailor had AN in
surancc policy or fratc-na! bencnt
membership before September /, 1917,
and fears that he may not DC able TO
keep up his payments. he should write
20 tho War Risk Insurance Bureau ut
Washington, and ask them for a form
OF application Cor ask posi- adjutant
81 the camp. The government on Ger
tain conditions, will guarantee tho pay
ment % tho premiums, so that the .
policy or membership will not be for
!c!ted during the soldiers or sailors /
absence; l>c will then have year after I
his return in which 10 pay UP and save !
his policy or membership. This relief /
does not apply 10 all policies or mem
ho:ships. tho details cannot be given /
here. but on SLING out the application |
aud sending ~ 10 the War Risk Insur.
Gnce Burc.fii Il viii be duly taken care
OIL ii X i, the Kind OF insurance that
IS protected by this act.
-. Copies 81 the act are being sent .
20 about 2Q.oou lawyers. TO all Superior !
courts, aud 10 all local boards; and .
The boards have been asked 10 hand
copy 20 the nearest magistrate. Thus
the courts ought TO bc already we'll
Informed as TO the provisions Of the
new act"