[S. J. Res. 128]

Joint Resolution Granting to certain persons in the active war service an extension of time within which application for insurance may be made under section four hundred and one of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time within which application for insurance may be made as set forth in section four hundred and one of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, is hereby extended, with respect to every person in the active war service as to whom the time for making application would expire before the twelfth day of April, nineteen hundred and eighteen, so that every such person may make application for insurance up to and including the said twelfth day of April, nineteen hundred and eighteen: Provided, That nothing herein shall be construed to effect an extension of the automatic insurance provided for in the said section four hundred and one beyond the twelfth day of February, nineteen hundred and eighteen.

Approved, February 12, 1918.

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[S. J. Res. 133]

Joint Resolution Authorizing the granting of insurance under the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, on application by a person other than the person to be insured.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That insurance under the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended by the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, shall be granted by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance on application made by the person to be insured or, subject to such regulations as the bureau may prescribe, by any person within the permitted class. as specified in section four hundred and two of said Act: Provided, That the person to be insured has been taken a prisoner of war before April twelfth, nineteen hundred and eighteen: And provided further, That no one but the insured may designate a beneficiary, and nothing in this resolution shall be deemed to change or affect the permitted class of beneficiaries or impose any obligation on the insured against his will.

Approved, April 2, 1918.

[H. R. 11245]

An Act To amend an Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, and an Act in amendment thereto, approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section thirteen, article one, of the Act approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department,' be, and is hereby, amended by striking out the following words in the last sentence: "to regulate the matter of compensation, if any, but in no case to exceed ten per centum, to be paid to claim agents and attorneys for services in connection with any of the matters provided for in articles two, three, and four," and insert at the end of the sentence the following words: "Provided, however, That payment to any attorney or agent for such assistance as may be required in the preparation and execution of the necessary papers shall not exceed $3 in any one case: And provided further, That no claim agent or attorney shall be recognized in the presentation or adjudication of claims under articles two, three, and four, except that in the event of disagreement as to a claim under the contract of insurance between the bureau and any beneficiary or beneficiaries thereunder, an action on the claim may be brought against the United States in the district court of the United States in and for the district in which such beneficiaries or any one of them resides, and that whenever judgment shall be rendered in an action brought pursuant to this provision, the court, as part of its judgment, shall determine and allow such reasonable attorney's fees, not to exceed five per centum of the amount recovered, to be paid by the claimant in behalf of whom such proceedings were instituted, to his attorney. "Any person who shall directly or indirectly solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, or who shall attempt to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or compensation, except as herein provided, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each and every offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment," so that the section as amended shall read as follows:

"SEC. 13. That the director, subject to the general direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall administer, execute, and enforce the provisions of this Act, and for that purpose have full power and

authority to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes, and shall decide all questions arising under the Act, except as otherwise provided in section five. Wherever under any provision or provisions of the Act regulations are directed or authorized to be made, such regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, shall or may be made by the director, subject to the general direction of the Secretary of the Treasury. The director shall adopt reasonable and proper rules to govern the procedure of the divisions and to regulate and provide for the nature and extent of the proofs and evidence and the method of taking and furnishing the same in order to establish the right to benefits of allowance, allotment, compensation, or insurance provided for in this Act, the forms of application of those claiming to be entitled to such benefits, the methods of making investigations and medical examinations, and the manner and form of adjudications and awards: Provided, however, That payment to any attorney or agent for such assistance as may be required in the preparation and execution of the necessary papers shall not exceed $3 in any one case: And provided further, That no claim agent or attorney shall be recognized in the presentation or adjudication of claims under articles two, three, and four, except that in the event of disagreement as to a claim under the contract of insurance between the bureau and any beneficiary or beneficiaries thereunder an action on the claim may be brought against the United States in the district court of the United States in and for the district in which such beneficiaries or any one of them resides, and that whenever judgment shall be rendered in an action brought pursuant to this provision the court, as part of its judgment, shall determine and allow such reasonable attorney's fees, not to exceed five per centum of the amount recovered, to be paid by the claimant in behalf of whom such proceedings were instituted to his attorney, said fee to be paid out of the payments to be made to the beneficiary under the judgment rendered at a rate not exceeding one-tenth of each of such payments until paid.

"Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, or who shall attempt to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive any fee or compensation, except as herein provided, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and for each and every offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment at hard labor for not more than two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment."

SEC. 2. That Article IV of said Act, approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," is hereby amended by striking out section four hundred and five thereof.

Approved, May 20, 1918.

[S. 4482]

An Act To amend an Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second subdivision (4) of section twenty-two of the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department," approved September second, nineteen hundred and fourteen, as amended, relating to the definition of the term parent," is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(4) The term 'parent' includes a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, father through adoption, mother through adoption, stepfather, and stepmother, either of the person in the service or of the spouse."

SEC. 2. That four new sections are hereby added to Article I of said Act, to be known as sections twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twentynine, and thirty, respectively, and to read as follows:

"SEC. 27. That whoever shall obtain or receive any money, check, allotment, family allowance, compensation, or insurance under Articles II, III, or IV of this Act, without being entitled thereto, with intent to defraud the United States or any person in the military or naval forces of the United States, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

"SEC. 28. That the allotments and family allowances, compensation, and insurance payable under Articles II, III, and IV, respectively, shall not be assignable; shall not be subject to the claims of creditors of any person to whom an award is made under Articles II, III, or IV; and shall be exempt from all taxation: Provided, That such allotments and family allowances, compensation, and insurance shall be subject to any claims which the United States may have, under Articles II, III, and IV, against the person on whose account the allotments and family allowances, compensation, or insurance is payable.

SEC. 29. That the discharge or dismissal of any person from the military or naval forces on the ground that he is an enemy alien, conscientious objector, or a deserter, or as guilty of mutiny, treason, spying, or any offense involving moral turpitude, or willful and persistent misconduct shall terminate any insurance granted on the life of such person under the provisions of Article IV, and shall bar all (33)

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