Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-03

WY ASHINGTON, D. c., Nov 2S.-The war
Nv apparently is over, but government
insurance is not. In a few months.
American soldiers and sailors will begin 20
turn in their guns and uniforms to be gov
eminent arsenals, and return to their old
undisciplined, necktied existence, but they
will keept the insurance policies written for
them by the war risk bureau. They will if
they are wise, that is.
For this government war risk insurance
is the best and cheapest written by any Insti-
tuition anywhere in the world. That the men
themselves appreciate its opportunities is
shown by the fact that our army and navy as
whole have applied for it, with the excep-
ton of few conscientious DIRECTORS.
In all fairness to these men who have stood
between it and destruction, the government
feels that their insurance should go on. Many
men who are fortunate enough to have
escaped injury in the war, will never get any
return on the premiums they have paid if their
policies lapse when they again become civil
ians. Others who have been weakened or
disabled in the conflict will have great diff
Guilty in getting private insurance companies
to insure them. A man returning from the
front with tuberculosis or heart trouble, for
example, could obtain insurance only upon the
payment of a very high premium.
But the government intends to continue the
insurance of its soldiers and sailors, regard
less of disability. The men will not even be
asked to pass a physical examination.
Furthermore the men will be permitted tG
change their present straight life policies into
more attractive forms of insurance. The war
risk bureau has gone into the matter eX-
haustively, and has finally declared that with
in five years after the war is over, as de-
clared by presidential proclamation, every
American soldier and sailor will be permitted
to exchange his government life insurance
policy fer a twenty-payment life or endow-
ment policy, payable after a certain number
of years or for any of the various kinds of
policies written by the large private insur-
ance companies. The premiums on these
policies will be on the same inexpensive scale
as those on the present war risk policies.
Government insurance is always cheaper than
civilian insurance, because the business is not
operated for profit.
The war risk bureau is now about to launch
a campaign to advise American soldiers and
sailors, as we'll as all the American people of
this change of policy. The American men can
leave the ranks without continuing their in
surance if they really feel that they do not
care to take advantage of the new oppOr-
tunity, but they must not leave the ranks
ignorant of it.. The war department and the
navy department have both detailed officers
in every garrison and cantonment to eXpalin
the proposition to each disbanding company,
and every effort will be made to give it pub
lcity throughout the country. All relatives
give the matter their earnest consideration
men to retain their government policies. For
the relatives are always benefciaries of in
surance. An insurance policy is often the
only thing that stands between relative and
the duty of supporting a suddenly orphaned
family.