Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-08
ASK CHANGES IN
WAR RISK ACT
Important Amendments in Bill
Are Asked of National
Lawmakers.
REVISE SCHEDULE UPWARD
Increased Compensation for Disabled
Ex-Service Men Is Urged-Bureau
Seeks to Give Fullest Possible
Service to Those Affected.

Washington.-"O work in conduct
ing the affairs of the bureau must be
guided by the counsel of the soldiers,
aim is to be of the fullest possible serv-
ice to those affected by the act"
Thus Colonel II. 6. Cholmeley-Jones,
director of the bureau of war risk in
SuranCe, in the course of q talk to
wounded soldiers at Walter Reed hos
pital, Washington. y, c., epitomizcd
the motives behind the action of the
bureau in requesting congress, through
the treasury department, to enact sew
pral important amendments to the war
risk insurance act. These may be di-
vldcd into two general claSses--thoSe
affecting the compensation features of
the act, and those concerning war
risk insurance.
a very important proposed amend
mcnt, and one which meets with wide
spread approval, is the upward revI-
sion of the schedule of compensation
payable to disabled GX-Service men.
Under the present schedule 4 man to-
tally disabled Is entitled to $50 a
raises this by $50 making $50 pay
able under these circumstances. If he
has wife but no child living he gets
SIS; the amendment provides 500. If
he has wife and one child, he draws
at present, $50; the amendment gives
him $50.
Extend the Provisions.
The law now provides that if man
loses both hands, both feet, or the
sight of both eyes, or becomes helpless
and permanently bedridden, he shall
receive 500 a month compensation.
Experience has shown that many men
who have lost an arm ana leg, or one
limb and the sight of one eye, are just
rs badly crippled as men who have
lost both feet or both hands, and SO
the bureau has recommended that in
addition to the injuries al present en-
titling a man 20 compensation AT the
rate of 500 month. the following
shall be included: The loss of one foot
and one hand the loss of one foot and
the sight of one eye. These are deem
ed total and permanent disability by
the express wording Of the amend
ment. There is also a provision that
for double total permanent disabi)-
lty," meaning cases in which men are
manned so seriously that their injuries
Include two of these asSitications, the
compensation shall be $500 a month.
The bureau has found n very wide
spread sentiment among ex-Service
men in favor of having their policies
made payable In "A lump sum, or in In
stalments covering short period of
time, at their option. To meet this
demand Director ChOlmclcy-Jone has
urgently recommended modification
Of the war risk insurance act to permit
making provision in the contract for
converted insurance for optional set
Elements on the part Of the insured,
making such insurance payable either
in one sum or in installments for thir-
ty-six months or more.
If the insured has not exercised his
right of election, under the proposed
amendment the beneficiary may elect
to receive the insurance In monthly
installmcnts covering period of not
less than three years.
Include Other Relatives.
Another very important item Is the
proposed enlargement of the permitted
class of insurance benefiCiaries Spouse
child, grandchild, parent brother or
sister, to include, in addition 30 those
enumerated uncles. aunts, nephews,
nieces, brothcrs-in.law and sisters-n-
law.
All of the amendments described
above, together with several other pro-
posed measures of less general inter-
est, but of much Importance, are incor'
porated in the So-cnlled "Sweet bill
introduced by Congressman Sweet or
Iowa in the house of representatives
on August 26, 1919.
The whole trend of the bureaus
recommendations manifest Its desire
to be Of the greatest possible service
to those for whom It was Great e1:---t-h1c