Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-03

Suits by veterans of the World War,
or by their beneflciarieS in case of the
veterans decease, have recently become
one of the most prolific sources of liti-
cation involving the United States Gov
eminent. The defense of these suits
on behalf of the Government is in
charge and under the control OF AS
sistant Attorney General George r. Far
mum.
There are at present about 800 of
these cases pending against the Govern
ment in different districts throughout
the country. These suits in the aggre-
gate involve claims in excess of $780,
100000.
The policies of insurance involved in
most cases are for $4,000 and are pay
able to the veteran if he becomes per-
manently and totally disabled, or to his
designated beneficiary in case of his
death. In either event, they are pay
able in 240 monthly installments OF
$3.50 month, making total payment
by the Government on each policy of
almost $4,000.
Claims on insurance policies are first
dealt with in the Veterans Bureau. and
il is only In case of a decision against
the person claiming the benefit of the
insurance by this bureau that the case
gets into the courts. These cases in
volve many interesting points and
questions over which the Government
and the claimants have a difference Of
opinion. In case the veteran is living,
most of the claims involve the de-
termination of the question as 10
whether or not he is permanently and
totally disabled. When the case gets
into the courts. 1t is generally neces-
sary to go into the whole history Of
Y,rs all H.
war, and usually there is a good deal
Of medical testimony of physicians.
In case the veteran has died and
suit Is brought to recover the policy,
there are sometimes disputes as to who
Is entitled to its benefits. Otter there
Is sharp question as to whether the
policy has been kept alive, because il
it has lapsed before the veterans de-
cease, there can, of course. be no re-
covery upon it. This is often a more
difficult question than appears at first
because, while the veteran may have
stopped paying his premiums, there are
various technical rules of law providing
that, in case there is any unpaid COM
penSatlon or bonus payments due the
veteran which had not been collected
these should be automatically applied to
keep the insurance alive or to revive il
if 1t has lapSed.
Recently the United States Supreme
Court has held that under the adjusted
compensation act-the law under which
the graded bonus was granted to all
soldiers of the World War-the de-
Cisions Of the director of the Veterans
Bureau are final This means that no
questions arising in connection with
the payment Of the bonus can get be-
fore the courts.
But amazingly large as this litigation
actually before the courts has become
still more numerous suits are threat
Cned, which run into fabulous amounts
So many and important that the
policy of the bureau prevents detailed
information
During the last fiscal year 2l0 insur-
snce suits were disposed Of. 70 resulting
IN judgments for the plaintiffs and lac
terminating in favor of the Govern
ment These suits involved total o!
approximately two million dollars, while
the cases OH hand at the close of tins
tlscal year involved mere .nhn $4,000
coo. The judgments recovered by plain
Ilffs amounted 10 total OF $342 $50 Al
although the inurances involved anC
which may be payable in future in
Stallments totals $3.50 $3.50 The suits
resulting favorably To the Government
involved insurance to the amount O
%l,267.807
At the beginning Of the fiscal year OF
July /, 1927. there were on hand 36t
insurance cases: 425 were received dur.
ing the year. OF these 2l0 were dis.
posed Of, leaving 582 at the beginning
Of the present fiscal year. In addition
to that large number more than 90t
threatened cases were considered dur,
Ing the year, almost half Of which wer,
brought over into this fiscal year. Will