Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-06-14
BY JAMES 4. COLLINS.

BY JAMES II. COLLINS-
(From Committee on Public 1nformation)
On October 8, 1917, the war-risk IN
surance law went into efff ct, provid-
ing for protection of our soldiers, sail
ors. and marines and their families.
On April g. 1913. only six months lat
er, Uncle Sam had written approx
mately $14.O0O,O00,O0O 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
mately 100000 checks aggregating
more than S43,0O0,000 have already
been sent. 1t will not be long before
the bureau will be sending out mill
lion checks a 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 6, 1917, was really
a group a laws--four acts co-ordinat-
ed for common purpose. The first
measure in this unprecedented pro-
gram of protection is the system of
altotments and allowances, lin 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 $50 to 500 month,
is paid automatically by the govern
ment to certain specified beneflciaries.
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 $4,000 to 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 supplemental form of protection.
stimulating thrift and strengthening
self-respect.
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 a 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 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-headed prob
iem imposed upon it. the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance mas been forced to
expand at an exceedingly rapid rate.
The bureau now occupies space in
eight separate buildings. covering an
area of more than 10000 square feet
mas a PEI SOlntt VI luOIG llldn
300, working in two shifts. from nine
o'clock in the morning till midnight.
1t may be asked why the goveSn-
ment, In addition to family allowances
and liberal compensation, should offer
Insurance against death and disability
to its fighting men. The Justification
for this sweeping innovation is simply
this: The government by calling a
man to war takes him into the most
hazardous business in the world, and
thus destroys his insurability. In re-
turn. it is only fitting and proper that
the government should go into the in
surance business for his benefit. Pri-
vate insurance companies could not
possibly insure soldiers and sailors ex-
cept at prohibitive rates. At con-
ference of life insurance represents
tives In Washington. when the pres