The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-27
CHANGES IN WAR INSURANCE WILL AID Ex- SOLDIER Passage of Bill Means In creased Compensation for
 Disabled Vets. ALL POLICIES
 MAY BE RENEWED
 IN IS MONTHS No Examination Need Be Taken; Soldiers Word Is
 Enough.

Washington, D. C.. Oct. 25.-In- creased advantages under the War RISK Insurance have just been made available to the soldier through a decision of Secretary of the Treasury. Carter Glass. Chief among these is the blanket provision entitIing men who have been out of service for more than eighteen months, the period set by the government for lapsing insurance, to take up their insurance again before the last day of the present year. There is also decision that valves physical exam 1nation for men desiring to take up their insurance again within the eighteen month period, on the sworn statement from the soldier or ex-ser- vice man that he is in practically the same state of health as when he last paid his insurance premium
 In addition to these advantages the recommendations of the Bureau Of War Risk Insurance, contained in what is known as the Sweet Bill are now up before the Senate for consideration. Should they pass, as is expected, and become a law the gov ernment will be enabled to be of vast ly greater service by way of none tary compensation to the men injured ST disabled in the war This is the bill that will make possible the rais- ing of the total disability pay to wounded men so that they will get $50 month instead of $50 as the law at present provides
 In every way the government, through the War Risk Insurance Bu. reau, which is practically the agency or mouthpiece for the insured and wounded ex-service man, is doing -l,S
 sate the men for the losses they suffered during the war.
 Several months ago Secretary Glass issued a decision which permitted men to take up their insurance again within a period of eighteen months on payment of premiums for the last month Of the original insurance period and for the first month of the new period in which it was desired to be reinstated. It was required under that decision that all men so rein stated would be required to undergo q new physical examination. This was found to be impractical from the viewpoint of the men and d1scourag- ing them. Under a broadening of that decision, just issued, the Secretary has decreed that men who desire to renew thter insurance, and whose health has remained the same or practically the same as it was on discharge can renew their insurance by simply forwarding a statement. as to their health. For men who wish their insurance within a period of three months from their discharge from service no statment will be re- quired.
 The chief benefit the Insurance Bureau will have obtained for the wounded men when the pending eg- islation finally passes through Con- gress will be the raising of the dis ability compensation figures. Under the new provisions now in the bill total disa btlity will draw compensa- ton at the rate of $50 a month in stead of the $50 1t now draws. A totally disabled man with a wife will. get $9O a month instead of $45 as now provided. With a wife and one child he will draw $95 a month tn- stead of the $55 as now provided. Also the Bureau has argued for the enlargement of the totally helpless class, so that if the new bill is pass ed as it stands not only will men with both hands, feet or eyes gone be classed helpless and receive the S1Oo monthly compensation, but also men who have suffered the loss of any two limb, or of one eye in addition to one limb will be brought within this class and will secure the com pensation.
 Every effort is being made by the Bureau to reach the soldier who really needs or wants his insurance opportunities. but is too uncertain to go through the channels of renewing his policy. Much propa ganda has gone over the country with the ap- parent political purpose of be1ittling the Bureau, with the result that the interests of the soldiers have been Jeopardized because these attacks have tended to discourage the sol dier from pursuing his own ad- Tantages.