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Se SN War RRANGEMENTS for the insur- A ance against war risks of mast- ‘ers, officers and crews of Ameri- can merchant vessels have been made by the bureau of war risk insurance of the treasury: department in accordance with the provisions of the act approved June 12, 1917. Policies thus protecting the seamen of the American merchant marine have been issued by the bureau in connection with vessels sailing from the United States on and after June 26 and with vessels sailing from abroad to the United States, on and after July 10. The new law permitting the granting of war risk insurance on the lives of officers and seamen of our merchant ships, just as the government grants war risk insurance on the hulls and cargoes of the vessels themselves, was enacted ‘on the recommendation of the secretary of the treasury, approved by the Presi- dent. “Must Protect Seamen — Seamen sailing on American vessels to the war zone are at the present time ex- posed to loss of life and personal in- jury, and it is manifestly necessary and just, Secretary McAdoo said; that these men, on whose service so much depends at this time, should be protected and assured by the government of proper and reasonable indemnity in the event of loss of life, or personal injury by war risks and compensation in the event of capture and detention by the enemy. The law provides that when it shall appear to the secretary of the treasury desirable in the national interest, he may require vessel owners to effect such in- surance at their expense. Exercising this authority, the secretary announced that it would be mandatory for owners of all steam vessels to insure against war risks, beginning with the dates men- tioned above, the masters, officers and crews of all American steamships plying between the United States, the ports of Europe and the ports on the Mediterran- ean coast of Africa, and that such in- surance will be permissive in regard to all other parts of the world. Under the law, vessel owners may take out insurance with the bureau of war risk insurance or with insurance companies; but in connection with the Rulings on Marine Matters ‘both hands, UOC Hints to Navigators latter such insurance must be on terms satisfactory to the secretary of the treasury. To carry out the enlarged operations of the bureau of war risk insurance, the secretary organized the seamen’s insurance division of that bureau, and appointed John J. Crowley, Hartford, Conn., as an assistant to Director De Lanoy. Mr. Crowley, who has charge of the details of the new division, is a life and accident insurance expert, and is well fitted for his. new duties, having been with the Travelers Insurance Co., Hartford, Conn., for 14 years. The plan evolved for carrying out the new work contemplates using virtually the same machinery which operates the insurance on hulls and cargoes—that is, ‘the collectors of customs in all ports of the United States are agents of the bureau in this country in receiving applications for insurance and quoting rates, fixed by the bureau in Washington, with the approval of the secretary. In regard to the sailings from abroad to the United States, American consuls perform the same function. This permits the efficient. and expeditious operation of the new di- vision at a minimum of expense. In case of death, permanent disability preventing the person injured from per- forming any and every kind of duty per- taining to his occupation, or the loss of both arms, both feet, both legs, or both eyes, the policies will pro- vide for the payment of an amount equivalent to one year’s earnings, or to 12 times the monthly earnings of the in- sured, as fixed in the articles for the voyage, but in no case shall such amount be more than $5000 or less than $1500. Loss of Limb, Eye, or Hearing In case of any of the following losses, the policies provide for the payment of the percentage indicated: One hand, 50 per cent; one arm, 65 per cent; one foot 50 per cent; one leg, 65 per cent; one eye, 45 per cent; total destruction of hearing, 50 per cent. In case of detention by an enemy of the United States following capture, the policies provide for the payment during the continuance of such detention of compensation at the same rate as the earnings just preceding such detention. 280 Improvements to Waterways : . tt Vee Owners of vessels will be required to take out the insurance and pay the premium, but the payment for losses will be made only to the master, officer or member of the crew concerned, except in case of loss of life, when payment will be made to the estate of the insured for distribution to his family free from liability of debt, and payment on account of detention by an enemy, following cap- ture, will be made to dependents of the person detained, if these are designated by him. Penalty for Failure to Insure The law provides that in event of the failure of the owner of any vessel to effect insurance of the master, officers, and crew prior to sailing, the secretary of the treasury is authorized to effect such insurance with the bureau of war risk insurance at the expense of the owner of the vessel, and the latter wil! be liable for such expense, in addition to a penalty not exceeding $1000. The amount of the premium with interest, and of the penalty and all costs will be a lien on the vessel. No claim agent or attorney, under the law, will be entitled to receive any com- pensation whatever for services in the collection of claims against the bureau of war risk insurance for death, per- sonal injury, or detention, except in cases of proceedings before a United States district court in connection with dis- puted claims, when the judge will de- termine the amount of such compensa- tion not to exceed 10 per cent of the amount recovered. The following are the rates, subject te change without notice, which the secre- tary has approved for the insurance of masters, officers and crews: Rate per $100 Sailing vessels Steam- or aux- ers iliaries Between ports on Atlantic Coast, -» and— Atlantic United States ports. ..$0.03 $0.06 Gulf United States ports. .05 ei) Halifax, St. John and St. Law- rence ports ... wiotecceus OS 16 Bermuda, Porto “Rico, ‘Cuba, San Domingo, United oh Virgin Jsland .. 0683 22 Other West India ports. e038 .16 Mexican Gulf ports. face steels) mY) Pataca e side Meo ee eiete oS US .16 North coast South America (not south of Trinidad)..... .11 22