The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-11-07

" IN VA bSN
less than three years.
Include Other Relatives.
Another very important item is the
proposed enlargement Of the permitted
class OF insurance beneiciaries (spouse,
child, grandchild, parent, brother or
sister, to include, In addition to those
enumerated, uncleS, aunts, nephews,
~nieces, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-
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-called Sweet BILL"
introduced by Congressman Sweet of
Iowa In the house Of representatives
on August 20, 1919.
The whole trend Of the bureaus
recommendations manifest its desire
10 be Of the greatest possible service
TO those for whom it was c~reated-the
men who served our country in the
Great War. Not only in recommending
the adoption Of amendatory legislation,
but in every other possible way, the
bureau is doing its best TO expedite
it's service, and to carry out the letter
and spirit of the act in behalf of the
men for whom it was prepared.
In the matter of the settlement Of in
suranCe claims the bureau is practical
ly current. OF over $4,000 claims, all
but 5000 have been settled, and regu-
lar payments are being made. The
5000 unsettled cases consist Of those
in which the benefciaries live in for
eign countries or for some other rea-
son cannot be reached. A diligent eff
fort is being made to get In touch with
this comparatively small residue.
Insurance Paid Promptly.
A great many people do no realize
that there is Il wide difference between
the insurance feature of the act and
the provision for compensation. An
insurance claim is paid Immediately
tC the beneficiary but in the case of a
claim for compensation a great many
features must, under the law, be on
sidered, such as the members of the
family within the permitted class, the
extent Of their dependency, and the
extent Of the soldiers disability. This
compensation have not been settled as
promptly as insurance claims. The
compensation and claims division OF
the bureau is bending every effort to
determine these cases as quickly as
thorough and intelligent handling will
permit. A large staff Of examiners is
working night and day in making com
penSatiOn awards.
The medical division has just com
pleted a very trying and difficult task
the preparation Of a schedule Of dis
ability ratings for different injuries
and combinations of injuries, based on
500 per month as compensation for to-
tai disability. If the Sweet bill Oh. X.
S77S) becomes law, all compensation
for disability will be based upon 500
per month as a maximum instead Of
upon $50 as at present. This schedule
is necessarily very complicated, being
designed to cover all probable combina-
tions and degrees Of injuries, and
must be revised from time to time in
accordance with the bureaus expert
ence in order that full justice may be
lone in all cases.
"Unquestionably, the government in
surance contracts will be constantly
improved, as experience indicates the
need for improvements, and it is de-
cidedly to the advantage of all of us
to hold the maximum amount of this
government insurance." adds the d.
rector.
Reinstatement Of Insurance.
"A recent treasury decision has auth
orized the reinstatement of govern
ment insurance within Is months after
discharge by the payment of only two