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verted, without medical examination, into such form or forms of insurance as may be prescribed by regulations and as the insured may request. Regulations shall provide for the right to convert into ordinary life, twenty payment life, endowment maturing at age sixty-two and into other usual forms of insurance and shall prescribe the time and method of payment of the premiums thereon, but payments of premiums in advance shall not be required for periods of more than one month each and may be deducted from the pay or deposit of the insured or be otherwise made at his election. Sec. 404, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 410).

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1932. Payment in installments.-* The insurance shall be payable in two hundred and forty equal monthly installments. * Sec. 402, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 409), as amended by sec. 21, act of June 25, 1918 (40 Stat. 615).

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Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the payment of the monthly installments authorized to be made under the provisions of said War Risk Insurance Act, as originally enacted and subsequently amended, up to and including the second calendar month after the passage of this Act: Provided further, That all awards of insurance under the provisions of the said War Risk Insurance Act, as originally enacted and subsequently amended, shall be revised as of the first day of the third calendar month after the passage of this Act, in accordance with the provisions of the said War Risk Insurance Act as modified by this amendatory Act. Sec. 13, act of Dec. 24, 1919 (41 Stat. 375-376).

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1933. Payment of installments of automatic insurance.If he shall die either before he shall have received any of such monthly installments or before he shall have received two hundred and forty of such monthly installments, then $25 per month shall be paid to his widow from the time of his death and during her widowhood; or if there is no widow surviving him, then to his child or children; or if there is no child surviving him, then to his mother; or if there be no mother surviving him, then to his father, if and while they survive him: Provided, however, That no more than two hundred and forty of such monthly installments, including those received by such person during his total and permanent disability, shall be so paid. The amount of the monthly installments shall be apportioned between children as may be provided by regulations: * Sec. 401, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by

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sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 409), as amended by sec. 12, act of Dec. 21, 1919 (41 Stat. 375).

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1934. Alternative methods of payment.-* Provisions for maturity at certain ages, for continuous installments during the life of the insured or beneficiaries, or both, for cash, loan, paid-up and extended values, dividends from gains and savings, and such other provisions for the protection and advantage of and for alternative benefits to the insured and the beneficiaries as may be found to be reasonable and practicable, may be provided for in the contract of insurance, or from time to time by regulations. Sec. 402, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 409), as amended by sec. 21, act of June 25, 1918 (40 Stat. 615).

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That the Bureau of War Risk Insurance may make provision in the contract for converted insurance for optional settlement, to be selected by the insured, whereby such insurance may be made payable either in one sum or in installments for thirty-six months or more. The bureau may also include in said contract a provision authorizing the beneficiary to elect to receive payment

of the insurance in installments for thirty-six months or more, but only if the insured has not exercised the right of election as hereinbefore provided; and even though the insured may have exercised his right of election, the said contract may authorize the beneficiary to elect to receive such insurance in installments spread over a greater period of time than that selected by the insured. Sec. 17, act of Dec. 24, 1919 (41 Stat. 376).

1935. Payment of war risk insurance by the United States.-That the United States shall bear the expenses of administration and the excess mortality and disability cost resulting from the hazards of war.

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Sec. 403, added

to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 410).

That there is hereby appropriated, from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $23,000,000, to be known as the military and naval insurance appropriation. All premiums that may be collected for the insurance provided by the provisions of Article IV shall be deposited and covered into the Treasury to the credit of this appropriation.

Such sum, including all premium payments, is hereby available for the payment of the liabilities of the United States incurred under contracts of insurance made under the provisions of Article IV. Payments from this appropriation shall be made upon and in accordance with awards by the director. Sec. 20, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 400).

1936. United States Government life insurance fund.-That all premiums paid on account of insurance converted under the provisions of Article IV of the War Risk Insurance Act shall be deposited and covered into the Treasury to the credit of the United States Government life insurance fund and shall be available for the payment of losses, dividends, refunds, and other benefits provided for under such insurance. Payments from this fund shall be made upon and in accordance with awards by the director.

The Bureau of War Risk Insurance is hereby authorized to set aside out of the fund so collected such reserve funds as may be required, under accepted actuarial principles, to meet all liabilities under such insurance; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to invest and reinvest the said United States Government life insurance fund, or any part thereof, in interest-bearing obligations of the United States and to sell the obligations for the purposes of the said fund. Sec. 18, act of Dec. 24, 1919 (41 Stat. 376). 1937. Bureau of War Risk Insurance. That there is established in the Treasury Department a Bureau to be known as the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. * * * Sec. 1, act of Sept. 2, 1914 (38 Stat. 711), as amended by sec. 1, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 398).

The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was established in the Treasury Department by the act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 399), which extended the marine insurance act of Sept. 2, 1914 (38 Stat. 711), to provide for persons in the military and naval service. Provision was made by sec. 14 of said act for an advisory board of three members skilled in insurance to assist in fixing premium rates and adjusting claims for losses under contracts of insurance. Sec. 313 of the same act provided that "nothing in this section shall be construed to impose any administrative duties upon the War and Navy Departments." 1938. Surgeons of the Army to assist the Bureau of War Risk Insurance.-The bureau shall, by arrangement with the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, respectively, make use of the services of surgeons in the Army and Navy. * Sec. 14, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 399).

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1939. Compelling testimony. That for the purpose of this Act, the director, commissioners, and deputy commissioners shall have power to issue subpœnas for and compel the attendance of witnesses within a radius of one hundred miles, to require the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence, to administer oaths and to examine witnesses upon any matter within the jurisdiction of the bureau. The director may obtain such information and such reports from officials and employees of the departments of the Government of the United States and of the States as may be agreed upon by the heads of the respective departments. In case of disobedience to a subpoena, the bureau may invoke the aid of any district court of the United States in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence, and such court, within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on, may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpœna issued to any officer, agent, or employee of any corporation or other person, issue an order requiring such corporation or other person to appear before the bureau, or give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

Sec. 15, added

to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 399).

1940. Fees and mileage of witnesses.- * ** * Any person so required to attend as a witness shall be allowed and paid the same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States. Sec. 15, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 399).

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1941. Bureau of War Risk Insurance to assist and represent policyholders.— That the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, so far as practicable, shall upon request furnish information to and act for persons in the military or naval service, with respect to any contracts of insurance whether with the Government or otherwise, as may be prescribed by regulations. Sec. 24, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 402). 1942. Record of insurance.-Said bureau may upon request procure from and keep a record of the amount and kind of insurance held by every commissioned and appointive officer and of every enlisted man in the military or naval service of the United States, including the name and principal place of business of the company, society, or organization in which such insurance is held, the date of the policy, amount of premium, name and relationship of the beneficiary, and such other data as may be deemed of service in protecting the interests of the insured and beneficiaries. Sec. 24, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of Oct. 6, 1917 (40 Stat. 402).

1943. Citation of the war-risk insurance act.-That this Act may be cited as the war-risk insurance Act. Sec. 30, added to the act of Sept. 2, 1914, by sec. 2, act of June 25, 1918 (40 Stat. 610).

CHAPTER 30.

The Soldiers' Home:

Established, 1944.

Members

Admission, 1945.

Pensioners, 1946.

THE SOLDIERS' HOMES.

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National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers-Continued.

Board of Managers-Continued.
Report, 1974.

Assistant general treasurer and assist

ant inspector general, 1975.
Officers of the board, 1976.
Expenses and salaries, 1977.
Officers of the Home

Appointment, 1978.

Veterans preferred, 1979.
Pay and mileage, 1980.
Treasurers to give bonds, 1981.
Funds-

Appropriations, 1982.
Estates of inmates-

Balance of pension, 1983.

Personal property, 1984.
Receipts from sales, 1985.
Deposit, 1986.
Expenditures, 1987.

Purchase of supplies, 1988.
Medical supplies, 1989.
Funds of branches, 1990.
Accounts-

Quarterly return, 1991.
Supervision, 1992.

Audit, 1993.

Annual report, 1994.

Intoxicants prohibited, 1995.

Headquarters, 1996.

Branches

Location, 1997.

Condemnation of sites, 1998.

Construction of buildings, 1999.

Repairs, 2000.

Southern Branch, 2001.

State Homes for soldiers aided, 2002.

1944. The Soldiers' Home established.-All soldiers of the Army of the United States, and all soldiers who have been, or may hereafter be, of the Army of the United States, and who have contributed, or may hereafter contribute, according to section forty-eight hundred and nineteen, to the support of the Soldiers' Home hereby created, and the invalid and disabled soldiers, whether regulars or volunteers, of the war of eighteen hundred and twelve, and of all subsequent wars, shall, under the restrictions and provisions whick follow, be

members of the Soldiers' Home, with all the rights annexed thereto. R. S. 4814.

Deductions from the pay of soldiers for the support of the home, formerly required by R. S. 4819, have been discontinued as directed by act of June 12, 1906 (34 Stat. 242), and by act of May 11, 1908 (35 Stat. 110). See 1956, post.

R. S. 4117 provided that the commissioners of the Soldiers' Home, by and with the approval of the President, shall procure for immediate use, at a suitable place or places, a site or sites for the Soldiers' Home, and if the necessary buildings can not be procured with the sites, to have the same erected, having due regard to the health of the locations, facility of access, and economy, and giving preference to such places as, with the most convenience and least cost, will accommodate the persons entitled to the bene fits of the Soldiers' Home.

1945. Veterans entitled to the benefits of the Soldiers' Home.-The following persons, members of the Soldiers' Home, according to section forty-eight hundred and fourteen, shall be entitled to the rights and benefits herein conferred, and no others:

First. Every soldier of the Army of the United States who has served, or may serve, honestly and faithfully twenty years in the same.

Second. Every soldier and every discharged soldier, whether regular or volunteer, who has suffered, or may suffer, by reason of disease or wounds incurred in the service and in the line of his duty, rendering him incapable of further military service, if such disability was not occasioned by his own misconduct.

Third. The invalid and disabled soldiers, whether regulars or volunteers, of the wars of eighteen hundred and twelve and of all subsequent wars. R. S. 4821.

Insane inmates of the Soldiers' Home were entitled to admission to the Government hospital for the insane by act of July 7, 1884, post, 2051.

1946. Rights of pensioners as members of the Soldiers' Home.-The fact that one to whom a pension has been granted for wounds or disability received in the military service has not contributed to the funds of the Soldiers Home shall not preclude him from admission thereto. But all such pensioners shall surrender their pensions to the Soldiers' Home during the time they remain therein and voluntarily receive its benefits. R. S. 4820.

See sec. 4, act of Mar. 3, 1883, ante 1847, which has been construed as requiring no longer a surrender of pension under any circumstances as a condition of admission to the home.

Notes of Decisions.

Surrender of pensions.-Under this section only the invalid pensioners who had not contributed to the funds are bound to

surrender their pensions. U. s. v. Bowen (1879), 100 U. S. 508. 512, 25 L. Ed. 681, affirming 14 Ct. Cl. 162.

1947. Discharge from the Soldiers' Home. Any soldier admitted into the Soldiers' Home for disability who recovers his heaith, so as to become fit again for military service, if under fifty years of age, shall be discharged. R. S. 4823.

1948. Exclusion of ex-convicts from the Soldiers' Home.-The benefits of the Soldiers' Home shall not be extended to any soldier in the regular or volunteer service, convicted of felony or other disgraceful or infamous crimes of a civil nature after his admission into the service of the United States; nor shall any one who has been a deserter, mutineer, or habitual drunkard be received, without such evidence of subsequent service, good conduct, and reformation of character, as is satisfactory to the commissioners. R. S. 4822.

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