Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-23
Bv Frederic J. HaSkin
7 ASHINGTON, D. c., May 9.-While
other bureaus created for war pur-

NX ASHlNGION, ID. e., May 9.-W nile
wv other bureaus created for war pur-
poses are dWindling or being abol-
ished the bureau Of war risk insurance has
grown to be the largest Of all government
departments and the largest enterprise Of
its kind in the world. 1t has recently moved
into new and permanent quarters in big
building which was originally intended for
Washington's most gorgeous hotel.
This government war baby is with us to
stay for a long time. In fact, it is peTma-
nent part of the government; for its obliga-
lions will not be discharged until the last de-
pendent Of an American soldier killed in the
war has died. and some of those dependents
have Just been born. They will give the war
risk bureau mission in life for seventy-fve
or eighty years. If we do not have another
war during that time, the bureau will possibly
go out Of existence
The big business of the bureau for a gem
GRAFTON is going to be handling the perma-
nent insurance policies for men who have
been in the service, which have now been
authorized by congress. This means simply
that any man who took out insurance a
soldier or sailor may continue that insurance
with the government as a civilian, by con-
verting his policy into one of a different type.
The insurance will be less expensive than that
issued by private firms, because the govern
ment will bear the administrative expense.
There is every indication that a large pro-
portion of the men who were in the service
will take this opportunity to obtain cheap life
and endowment insurance Some observers
believe that this will lead to the extension Of
government insurance to civilians generally.
With possibly several million Americans en-
joying government insurance at low rates,
they say, a demand will spring up among
American citizens generally for the same
benefits. Old age insurance for government
employees is being urged in connection with
the proposed reform of the civil service.
Government health insurance is also being
widely discussed, and several state legisla-
lures are considering such measures. State
or government health insurance means that
by paying a certain amount year to the gov
ernment you would to assured of medical at
tention, hospital service, and support while
incapacitated. The advocates Of such q meas
IRE point out that medical and hospital serV-
ice would then be standardized by the govern
ment, and that proper medical attention
would be within reach of many who are too
poor to afford it now. Such measures are
opposed by many persons, who argue that
our great insurance companies are all dis
charging such functions with great efficiency
and that it would take the government
long time to learn how to do as we'll.
This is probably true, but the government
is now getting some fine practice in running
an insurance business. The amount of in
surance which the war risk bureau has issued
is greater than the total amount of insurance
in force for all American insurance COM
panies. The statistics about their business
which they quote you at the war risk bureau
are impressive. They are now doing bust
ness with thirty million Americans. including
over four million fighting men and over TWEEN
ty-fve million dependents To these depend
ents has been paid more than four hundred
million dollars. In order to make all this
real to you some genius has figured out that