The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-24
INSURANCE ACT
EXTENDS SCOPE
SWEET BILL RECENTLY PASSED
GIVES TO MEN WHO WERE IN
JURED BEFORE ORIGINAL ACT
ALL BENEFITS.

! With the passage Of the Sweet bill
many amendments are made to the
War Risk Insurance Act which are
| of vital Importance to millions of ex-
service men and their relatives, espe-
| cially mothers and wives. In order
that these changes may be brought
to the attention Of every one inter-
ested, a digest has been prepared by
| the office of the assistant to the sec
rotary Of war, service and information
branch, and issued today by Lieuten-
ant Colonel Mathew c. Smith, of the
general staff, in charge of soldier re-
employment.
Probably the most welcome change is
in the matter of compensation for dis
ability. Instead of a maximum of $50
a month for temporary total disa bill
ity the soldier now receives at least
$50 and it ranges up to sos a month
for man with four children, with an
extra allowance of SO each for de-
pendent father and mother. There is
also an allowance to man tenn
porarily and totally disabled, with no
wife living, of SIS additional for each
child, without limit as to number.
For total permanent disability the
monthly compensation is 500. But
now a man is also rated as totally
and permanently disabled if he has
lost one foot and one hand, or one foot
and one eyes, or one hand and the
sight of one eye. This is an extension
of the former ruling which defined
total disability as the loss of both feet
or both hands, or the sight of both
eyes, or helplessness.' Besides, an
extra allowance up to $40 for an at
tendant may be granted. There is
also a new allowance of 5000 for
double total permanent disability.
This is where man, for instance. has
lost both hands and both eyes, or both
eyes and a hand and a foot.
The new scale is retroactive to April
6, 1917, and payments of any amounts
due to ex-service men will be forth
coming without application to the Blu
reau of War Risk Insurance. Checks
will be sent out as soon as possible.
Compensation will also now be paid
for death or disa bility resulting from
disease or injury after induction by
the local draft board, but before &C
ceptance for active service.
New beneficiaries for insurance have
been added to the list and include
uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, broth
er-in-law, sister-in-law and persons
who have stood in place of parent to
soldiers, and children Of such persons.
L
for the payment of his insurance to his
beneficiary in the form Of instalments
in So months or more, but not exceed
ing 240 months, or in lump sum.
This is not retroactive. Also, it ap-
plies only to converted insurance. In
case the soldier has not made any
preference the beneficiary may choose
the form of payment.
There are some cases in which poll
cies were issued and premiums COL
lected where the applicant had no
right to the insurance under the form
er law. However, these policies are
now held TO be valid in case OF the
death or total permanent disability of
ths soldier, even If he did not comply
with the law limiting the period for
application.
Another new provision remedies de-
fects in the original war risk insur-
ance act and protects two classes of
men. The first class embraces those
men who were in the service between
April 6, 1917, and the passage OF the
war risk insurance act; and during
this period, died. or became totally
and permanently disabled. They had
no opportunity to apply for insur-
ance, as no insurance was provided
for, but their right to it was clear