Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-25
UNCLE SAM PAYING
WAR RISK INSURANCE
Claims Aggregating $6,266,5S0
Being Paid to Vermont Fam
lilies of III Men Whose Aver
age Policy Was $8,74O-Com-
pensation Claims also Being
Settled

Vermont families are being paid $6,266,5S0
in war risk insurance claims by Uncle
Sam. He is making restitution to those
whose sons and husbands died In the ser
vice of their country during the greatest
war Of all times.
There are III insurance claims being
paid in Vermont through the Bureau OF
War Risk Insurance to benefciaries
named at the time application for insur-
ance was made by soldiers, sailors and
marines, now dead. The average policy
carried by these III men was $s74o.
Disabled soldiers as well rs widows
and children and dependent parents OF
those who have died, are being made
comfortable by the government which is
having 265 compensation claims to resi-
dents Of Vermont.
| In addition to the insurance and COM
pensation claims now being paid In Yer
mont there are 200 Of both these classes
Of claims under investigation These
cases, however, are rapidly being ad-
justed following an investigation by Blu
reau representatives.
| The Bureau Of War Risk Insurance which
administers these affairs has been es-
tablished by the government as a per-
manent institution in recognition OF the
services veterans of the World War rem
dered their country.
| The insurance which veterans are able
to carry as the result of this act of
an appreciative government will be a con-
slant reminder to them OF the part they
took in the war; whether 1t has been
matter Of accomplishing a deed of valor
as performed by Sergeant Alvin Cullum
York Of Pail Mall. Tenn, or that OF the
newest recruit who only underwent the
discomforts of barracks lifee. and was
deprived Of overseas service by the ar
misticee.
Records in the Bureau show that this
has been young mans war and
mothers war. More than AZ per cent of
the men who carried government in.
surance made mothers their benefici-
aries. Fathers were named by approx
lately 16 per cent. of the men.
The average age of the men killed in
France was % years.
An examination Of the records in the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance shows
that large percentage of married men
in arranging for the future protection
of their families planned for insurance
to be paid to their mothers, while their
thought, in arranging their compensation
benefits. was for their wives.
About 80 per cent. of the men who car
ried War Risk Insurance named their
wives in making arrangements for COM
pensation. Mothers were named by q
per cent. while the wife and child"
were named by IA per cent. This Is the
natural consequence of privileges granted
by the War Risk Insurance Act. They
felt it their first duty to provide for the
immediate needs of their family, maxi
ing, at the same time, through applca-
ton for insurance, provision for their
IN, hair diva inc
Insurance claims which the Bureau will
be called upon to pay amount to more
than s1,,012, 1000. The amount of pre-
miums received from all service men and
which was deducted from their pay dur
ing the active period of the ap-
proximates only S2O0.0O0.000 or less than
one-ffth of the amount of insurance
claims. The excess above premiums will
be paid by the government.
More than 100000 men who were born
and raised on farms in the United States
and who served in the army. navy and
marine corps during the recent World
War carried approximately S10,4SS 600
of war risk insurance. Records show
that large percentage of this sum was
made payable to their mothers, fathers
and others who reside on farms
According to an estimate made by the
man power to farms as the result of
former service men giving up farm life
for the city upon their return from the
war. eventually, after the general rest
lessness brought about by the war has
subsidized will be about 100000.
Records in the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance, compiled during the rapid de-
mobilization, covering the period from
January !, 1919 to June 1st last, show
that more than half the men change
their residence after being mustered out
Of the service.
A certain percentage of the veterans
of the World War are keeping up their
government insurance. In order to reach
those who temporarily have allowed their
insurance to lapse, the Bureau Of War
Risk Insurance has organized a volun-
tary field force which will endeavor to
converse az much as possible of the
nearly $4,000, 100000 OF insurance carried
by men in the service.
This nationwide field force consists
of organizations interested in the well
fare of soldiers sailors and marines
among them, the Red Cross, Y. Nj. c.
A.. War Camp Community Service, X.
of c., Y. NJ. II. A., and other associa-
lions. In addition, the voluntary serv-
ices of more than $1,000 life insurance
agents have been enlisted. The volun-
teer roll further includes thousands of
bankers, doctors, lawyers. manufactu-
rers, other business men and represent
tatives of all associations which come
in contact with discharged service men
and their dependents.
Until recently the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance was housed in l6 buildings in
Washington, ranging from garages to
the New National Museum. At present
there are about 1900 people who are
Of World War Veterans. If the women
workers of the Bureau stood finger tip
to finger tip, they would extend more
than 10 miles.
There are more than 10000 900 individ-
ual records in the Bureau. this large
number being necessary in order to keep
the data on every mans insurance up
are required to hold these records
Some idea of the magnitude Of $40, OO0,-
100000 may be gained by figures compiled
by the Actuarial Section OF the Bureau
showing that II this amount were in dol
lar bills. end to end. the line thus formed
would extend to the moon more than
IA times.
: To July LIST there had been II, 1925, AS
checks mailed. If these were in a line
end for end. they would extend 1891
miles. During the first six months Of
1919, there were more than 10000 let
tiers received by the Bureau. An army