Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-25
BELL INSURANCE
CLAIM IN TANGLE
Application of Generals Wild.
ow for LIMP Sum in Con-
fIict With Law.

The question OF whether the 66-year-
old widow OF the late Maj. Gen. George
Bell. jr., commander OF the SD
Division overseas is to receive her
husbands Government insurance in
lump sum, as she desires. or whether
she must take il at the rate Of $3.50
a month. as the Veterans Bureau has
decreed. probably will be taken TO the
courts for decision. it was learned
here today.
Mrs. Bell at Rockford. H.. has been
making fight TO obtain the remainder
Of her money in q lump sum. but The
Veterans Bureau here. according TO
General Counsel Maj. William Wolff
Smith. has carefully gone over all the
facts and the law in the case, and
has determined that under the present
circumstances the money must be paid
at the rate of $3.50 per month. in
order TO keep within the law and intent
OK Congress. The bureau. however.
Maj, Smith said. already had indicated
that ii would be agreeable 10 a friendly
suit at court to try the case. and if
Nossible under the law would be glad
% pay the lump sum.
Mrs. Bells Income Cited.
Mrs. Bell. according 10 dispatches
from Chicago. now is dependent on the
$3.50 month She receives from the
Government and very small income"
left by her husband. In addition 10
the insurance money from the Veterans
Bureau. she receives $50 month be-
cause OF the SpaniSh-American War
service of her husband Already, it
was explained at the bureau. she has
been receiving the equivalent Of $3.50
per month. since April IL, 1926, al
though part OF this was paid in lump
sum later in 1926 when decision was
reached by the bureau she could not
be paid at once the entire $4,000 in
surance Of her husbands Government
policy.
The facts in the case as revealed
from the official files of the Veterans
Bureau today show that Gen. Bell had
an original $4,000 term insurance
policy with the Government. In May
Of 1926 he applied for conversion of
this policy into an ordinary life policy
which would have made his insurance
payable at death in a lump sum This
he received. effective as of June !. 1926
He died October IS. 1926. medical
records show. from 'pernicious anemia"
Of duration OF eight months and three
Gays, according TO his own doctors
diagnosis.
Status Fixed by Records.
When investigators looked into the
request for payment Of the entire
$4,000 insurance fund at once they
found, according TO Mai. Smith, that
these medical records placed the case
IN the category OF veteran permanent
~ and totally disabled for a period prior
10 the date Of his conversion OF policy
from term to ordinary life Under this
situation, Mai Smith explained. it
would be impossible for the bureau TO
make payment for the ordinary life pol
cy IN one lump sum, as the bureau
.ould not consider the new policy eff
;ectiye because the general was in fact
suffering from permanent and total dis
ability when be applied for the change,
although IL was entirely likely that he
ras not aware Of it,
In answer to question as TO
whether he was injured or Ill at the
anne he applied for the lump-sum ordi-
aary life policy. the general replied.
No"
Issue for Court TO Decide.
II the court decision upholds the
veterans Bureau position, Mrs Bell or
aer estate viii be paid at the rate Of
$3.50 monthly for 20 years, making
total Of $4,000. II the contention
u Mrs. Bell for lump-sum payment
6 upheld, she viii receive the balance
u the $4,000. or what will be left
after subtracting from that total the
smount she has already received under
he present arrangement
The case has been under long con-
sioeration by the bureau. Mai. Smith
SAID. special investigation from
headquarters here at Washington was
MADE OF the case at Chicago and the
papers are all here now. The decision
0, the bureau against a lump-sum pay
rlent has been confirmed by the board
~ review and by Director Frank r
Tines himself. Maj. Smith said.