Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-22
Deliver Bills, in Aid of Schools
and Colleges, Favored.
SENATE Committee ACTS
Provide $12, 500, 900 for Agricultural
and Mechanic Art Courses.
TO BE DIVIDED AMONG STATES
Measures Are Designed to Supple
ment the Provisions Of the
Morrill, Land Acts.

Favorable action has been taken by the
Senate committee on agriculture on Sen
ator Delivers two bills proposing to ex-
tend federal financial aid, to the extent of
$12. 100000 annually to public schools and
colleges to promote courses in agriculture.
the mechanic arts and home economics.
The bills are designed to have included
in the courses OF study in the public
school systems throughout the country
instruction in manual vocations and
home making. Cooperation. between the
states and federal government. with a
view to insuring proper training of the
youth Of the nation for the productive in
dustries and home-making, is another
aim.
The bills provide that the federal gov
eminent shall cooperate with the states
by giving to each its proportionate share
OF 100000 for agriculture high schools.
100000 for high school work in the
trades and industries Of the cities, 81. 0OO.-
600 to be used by the state normal schools
in preparing teachers for these vocational
subjects and 81 10000 to establish exten-
sion departments in the state colleges of
agriculture and the mechanic arts.
To Cover Five Years.
II will be at least five years before the
full s12,50o.0Oo year will be expended
by the federal government for the promo
ton Of this instruction in agriculture.
mechanical arts and home economics.
Even after that time this full amount
may not be expended, as each state is re-
Quired to accept the federal aid and
provide the necessary school buildings
and equipment in the way of utensils and
lands before It can receive the money.
The te1-million-dollar appropriation for
high schools does not become available
until three years after the passage Of the
bill, thus giving the states time to pro-
vide the necessary equipment. The fund
for the extension work Of the colleges is
only $4,000 at first and is increased each
year until the fifth. when 1t reaches the
full limit Of s., 10000 The normal school
fund alone Is available in full from the
first year, because it is desired that the
training Of teachers for the vocational
courses should begin at once.
The bills. which the committee decided
to combine into one measure. have re-
ceived hearty Endorsement from many
parts Of the country and from many or
organizations, and associations of women
interested In improving the homemakins
OF both city and farm residents.
Division Among States.
The division Of the funds among the
states is to be in proportion sto their
population in the case of the funds for
normal and high schools where instruc-
ton in the mechanic arts and home eco
nomics is given. and in proportion to the
number engaged in agricultural pursuits
in the case of the money to be given to
agricultural schools and colleges.
The District Of Columbia and the ter
ritories are placed on an equal footing
with the states as benefciaries OF the
proposed measure. The local technical
high schools. it is the intention, will
benefit from the measure. if it is passed.
To receive its portion of the funds for
agricultural schools. however, the Dis
trict must establish a secondary agricul-
tural school and a branch experiment
station.
In these measures Senator Dolliver
sees a solution Of the problem Of the
increasing cost Of living in this coun-
try. In his view the placing of
trained men on farms will greatly in
crease the size of crops from farms,
without proportionate increase in the
cost Of production.
They will supplement the Morrill, land
acts, which were passed many years
ago and which have proved Of much
benef1t in the establishment Of agri-
cultural and engineering colleges in
many of the states OF the Union.