Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-30
NO HARD. and FAST RULE
s0N.WAR CONVERSATIONS
RESTS on Earning Capacity an.
hating Is Oh Reduction OF
That Capacity.
SEEK CHANGES IN LAW
Manifest Inconsistencies in Treat
mont OF Injured and Disabled
causes War Risk Insurance Bureau
to Ask for Amendments.

WASHINGTON. u. c., Nov. 29.-The
aGl which created the Bureau Of War
prehensive pieces of legislation ever
passed, and affects millians of citizens.
Wherever one goes he will find that
war risk. matters constitute ono OF the
iaVorltc topics OF conversation among
men who have been in the service.
One, of the sections of the act being
widely, discussed at present Is that
which relates to compensatlon. This
section ttNrticlo I'D. provides COM
rensatfon to those disabled In the SER
ablcd and deceased in the service. and
isenaturally of great interest 10 those
who have been disabled.
An act which is as comprehensive as
this naturally requires a great deal Of
Interpretations. and gives rise to
great deal OF natural curiosity as to
its effect. The purpose of this state
o. the more persistent and prevalent
Inquiries that have arisen concerning
the act and its effect.
Answers One Vital Question.
The first question is one which
really does not affect compensation.
but nevertheless is one. which is OF
vital interest TO the disabled men, and
one continually arising. The man asks:
Cab ! draw Il percentage OF my in
surAhcs egIal to the percentage OF my
disabiiity?a- The answer to this ques-
The government By the insurance
feature OF the act provided for very
cheap kind OF insurance for the men
in the service, at time when the
men could not have procured insur-
ance. and shared WITH the men the
expenses OF such Insurance In other
cost OF administering such insurance
and for the added war risk, while
premiums were calculated without re-
ference to the unusual conditions
under which the insurance was issued.
Congress realized at the time, now
ever. that many men would be DIS
abled. It was realized that the sS-
rcnse of compensation for such dis
ability should be borne by tho govern
ncnt. and should not be placed upon
the Individual man in the service; SO
IL, separated what might be caiied the
acciden. insurance from the lie In
surancr. and placed II in Article III.
as compensation. However total ana
permanent disability. arising from any
cause, is also feature oil Inc govern
ment insurance policies.
All OF the men who held war FISK
insurance policies. and who are en-
titled TO payments OF insurance for
total and permanent disability. will
receive "compenaation' in addition 10
their insurance money. after discharge
from the service. They would nave re,
and regardless of whether they car
ried any war risk insurance. out thes
would not have received the insurance
mohey II they had not carried IN :
eurance policies.
Eject of Insurance.
When one carries 'anwar risk In
surance policy aud becomes toka!Ii
and permanently disabled throuEh
sickness or injury, he becomes eligible
to- receive monthly, pnyments OF IN
s,,rancc. from the date of his DIS
ability andNa as long az ne iiNes. nc
does NOT haye TO pay any more prem
iums. Every former service man or
service woman. who keeps UP ms OF
herr.govcrnment insurance WiH nave
this protection against poss,ole ,o.a.
PERMANENT disability. which may occur
10 anyone at any time from a'variety
When a member OF the military or
naval forces bought war RISK IN
surance, he purchased straight ire N
surance" with the added proSlso, m
out increase in premiums. that the IN
surancs would mature and become pa
ahln to the insured himself IN the
event that he became totally anu
nermanentiy disabled. Few people APP
near TO realize that insurance is en-.
The latter being provided irrespective
.of whether or not man purchased
insurance.
Another question which is very conf
monty asked, especially BY men VINO
have not yet been discharged. is,
what will be my rate OF scompensa
tion?" This is n question which can
not be answered on-hand. 1t is also
a question which cannot be answered
byaRnyspublished schedule of ratings.
ii tShsfs. been found that practically
c.1qs .Gasssfsra individual case. which
requjresa indy idual attention. and that
amy fixed schedule must be used merely
as a guide.
The schedule OF ratings being used
has been revised ever since it was
drawn up, and at the present time is
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