The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-06
SOLDIERS MAI KEEP
INSURANCE ALIVE.
secretary Glass Issues a
Statement Regarding
War Risk Policies.

owing to the fact that FREQUENT
Inquiries are being made at the Home
service department of the Red Cross
regarding War Risk insurance poll
cies OF returned soldiers and sailors,
MRS. Joseph Roster. chairman Of The
: department, communicated with
Winston Russell, assistant director of
the War Risk bureau, and in response
Mr. Russell sent the following letter
which Is self explanatory:
Washington. Jan. %, 1919.
Mrs. Joseph Roster.
730 Benoni Ave.
Fairmont, W. Va.
Dear Madam:-Your letter Of jan
nary 7th has been received.
Under the War Risk Insurance act
soldiers and sailors may continue
their present policies at substantially
the same rates for a period of five
years beyond the close of the war.
A little later information will be
sent with the notices of monthly pre-
miums. showing policy holders how
they may convert their present poll
ctes to permanent policies. The con-
verified policies will be carried by the
Government and will be issued at the
age Of the insured at the time the
change is made No credit for pre-
miums paid upon present low rate
term policies is made upon new poll
cies. The rates will be considerably
lower than those of private compa-
MES. The policy contract will con-
tain provisions more liberal than any
private company.
In the meantime the regular
monthly premiums of the present
term policies should be sent on the
hrst Of each month (after man is
discharged from the serylce) to the
Disbursing Clerk, Bureau of War
Risk Insurance, Washington. D. c..
and II checks or money orders are
sent, these should be made payable to
the Treasurer of the United States.
Very truly yours.
WINSTON RUSSELL,
Assistant Director.
The following information from a
statement made by Secretary Glass
will also be of help to soldiers and
sailors seeking information as to
their rights under the War Risk In
surance act:
Considerable confusion and much
misunderstanding seems to prevail
among the relatives and bzneRciaries
Of men in the military and naval ser
vice as to their rights under the War
Risk Insurance act. Many mothers
and fathers named as benehciaries Of
ten Government insurance applied for
by their SONS have gained the impress
sion that they must prove depend
ency In order to receive payments Of
Insurance. This is an entirely erro-
neous impression, probably due to a
confusion of the ms. ance and COM
pensation provisions Of the Act Of
Congress of October 6, 1917, and to
mistaken assumption that the
terms insurance" and "compensa-
ton" are used Interchangeable
whereas they represent two entirely
sepa- and distinct benefits.
Insurance is payable regardless Of
any dependency and a beneficiary
designated in an application for gov
eminent insurance If within the per-
!tted class of spouse. child. grand
child. parent. brother or sister is en-
titled to receive the insurance in
monthly installments without proving
any. dependency upon the insured.
Compensation" however, which is
separate and apart from insurance
and takes the place Of the pensions
provide under the old pension system.
is payable only to wife. child, de-
pendent mother or dependent father
of a man who is disabled or dies as a
result of injury suffered or disease
contracted in tho line of duty while
employed in the active service. Com
epnsation may be payable in addition
to insurance. but mother or father
must prove actual dependency in or
der to receive monthly payments Of
compensation. although they will re-
ceieve the insurance in monthly in
stallmnest if named as the benef-
ciary thereof whether they are de-
pendent or not.
No dependency need be shown by
any beneficiary in order to receive
the government insurance, but q.
mother or father must prove actual
dependency upon their deceased son
for the necessaries of life in order to
receive the additional payment of
compensation.
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