Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14

!
GEN. FRAN
/ disability compensation, since 1t intro
duced new basis for military pension.
| However, the original war risk insur-
ance act. together with its amendments
and corollary legislation, has brought
other important privileges and BENEFITS
! to the veteran.
/ Government Aided Families.
| It recognized that during the period
of the war families of soldiers would be
! deprived to some degree OF support
! from their fighting men. So the Gov
eminent offered to supplement any
! funds which the soldier desired to allot
from his pay for the care of his family.
| Our soldiers allotted total OF $780,
100000 to be sent directly to their
| homes, and our Government added
| $685., 900, 600 for their dependents.
1t further recognized the fact that
men entering the military service Of
the Nation would be compelled to sac
riflce their right to protection afforded
| by commercial life insurance companies,
/ either through cancellation of existing
contracts or prohibitive premium rates.
Yearly renewable term insurance, to
maximum amount of $4,000, was pro-
vided at rates within the power OF all
to pay, with both death and permanent
| total disability provisions. And the
! Government Immediately entered into a
vast insurance business. Forty billion
dollars worth of insurance was applied
for. Think of the tremendous scope of
this protection - approximately twice
the amount of old-time legal-reServe
life insurance in force in the entire
United States at that time on terms
which, because of the hazards Of war,
| could not hope to be self supporting.
But with the armistice the need for
this protection, in the minds Of our
veterans, was quickly diSSipated and
hundreds of thousands Of policies were
dropped, although this term insurance
was continued until July 2, 1927 - but
the Governments obligation under its
contracts continues. Premium receipts
! for this insurance Appropriated $452,-
| 000, 900, while the committed value OF
allowed claims exceeds 81 SOC, 100000.
Insurance May Be Converted.
1t was also provided that this term
| insurance might be converted to United
States Government life insurance, and
even now all veterans In good health
who were eligible for term insurance
l
thus providing for their old age and
their dependents. I know of no more
| desirable method of creating an estate
or meeting this obligation than through
Government insurance. The premium
rates are most advantageous, since they
are net rates without overhead expense,
the Government bearing all the cost Of
administration; and the policies are is
sued free from all restrictions as to res
idence, travel or occupation, and in
clude a permanent total disability
clause which is without limit as to the
age before which disability must occur.
Today 64S,9l3 policies are in effect, to
a value exceeding three billion dollars.
Your government next recognized the
fact that because of disability suffered
many of our returned veterans would
! not be able to carry-on in a gainful
! occupation, and therefore furnished,
| without cost, courses of vocational re-
Mobilization, so that they might be
able to overcome their vocational handi-
caps This was tremendous expert
| ment for any government to undertake,
and while 1t is now finished, its results
we're far reaching not only In bringing
to many veterans the means Of a sue
cessful livelihood, but also in raising
the educational standard Of large
part of our veteran population. One
hundred and Seventy-nine thousand
veterans actually entered training, and
the training of about $4,000 veterans
was successfully completed. While the
expenses incident to instruction were
met in all cases, for the great majority
also the government provided main
tenance and support allowance to the
veteran and his dependents. This pro.
gram cost our Nation $645 ,0OO,O 600, anc
0cnfloF0AY-T C0nn0eni
that this sum, great as 1t Is, represents
a most profitable investment, the re-
turns on which can be measured In In
creased earning power and contentment
Many Trainees Win Medals.
Many of our trainees have not only
successfully completed the course;
selected but have come through WIZ
colors flying, winning prizes, medals
honors, and in other significant way:
manifesting the same spirit, courage
and determination which carried then
: through the horrors of the war, itself
There comes to mind the cobbler'i
son. who, during his art course at YaiC
won the coveted PriX de Rome for one
of his paintings, the successful author
7 whose course in journalism and writing
was contaminated by the publishing o.
: a serious novel which came to be classec
! among the six best sellers" for tina
: year, and several others who won
Pulitzer travelling scholarship II
journalism.
e Within a year after the armistice
:, Congress provided a cash bonus OF $6l
Y to all veterans discharged from thu
}, service. This action was not considered
: adequate, and in 1924 there was passed
n over the Presidents veto, the Worl'
= War adjusted service compensation
( act, obligating the Government over tn
= next is to 20 years to an expenditure
;. exceeding SO, 500, O0O, 900, and involving
S annual appropriations of more thai
: $500 100000 each year for the purpos
: of creating an adequate fund to NEE
h this obligation. Already, because o
r death. claims under this act have beef
!. settled at a cost approximating $l20,
n 100000
: The most recent legislation confefrin
q additional benefits to q group OF Worl
i War veterans. also passed over tn
% Presidents veto, was that authoriZin
: the retirement of emergency ofdcer
= disabled by service to permanent de
= gree Of 80 per cent or more at three
# quarters of their pay at discharge, !
= lieu of compensation. Approximate
e 5000 officers have thus far been retire
:. with pay.
" disqualification Provided.
n have thus far outlined the financis
D. assistance which Congress has, wit
ID increased liberality. extended to on
5. veterans. l regret I do not have Tn
ly time to discuss all those other service
i which the bureau affords TO its bene
e ficiaries, such as our kuardianship wor
De with its $1,000 wards. There Is, how
ever, o further service rendG1ed, whic
IA cannot accurately be measured IN do