The Washington herald., 1912-01-26

ana Representative Nye, OF Minnesota,
that he was attempting class legislation,
made the assertion that fraud had been
perpetrated on the District by residents
OF MARYLAND and Virginia for many
wears. By technical evasion OF the
law. said he, nonresidents had con-
sistentIy saddled upon the District the
burden OF educating their children
Finds Fraud I'm schools.
.T have been informed" said Mr.. Bur-
lesson, that under the existing law things
have been shamefully aborted and fraud
practiced upon the taxpayers OF the Dis
trIct. BY no distortion or falsification
can this be called discrimination
against the poor classes who cannot pay
taxes. II is known by every member OF
this House that the poor OF this city
viii not suffer from the adoption OF the
amendment
persons high in the official life Of
the washington schools have cited in
stances where twelve persons would buy
on a community basis piece OF prop
erty not worth more than $50. and, using
this as their claim TO be taxpayers, they
have educated their children In WASH
ington. 1t is this class whom we desire
10 keep out OF the public schools of
washington. Ny desire Is simply that
each community shall take upon itself
the education OF its own children I do
not desire, nor do I believe the other
members OF this House desire, that the
poor children Of Washington shall be
kept out Of the District schools because
OF the encroachments OF outsiders
Nye Opposes Amendment.
Representative Nye. from the Republi-
can side OF the House, was responsible
for Mr.. Burleson's charge Of fraud on
outsiders when he accused the advo-
Gates Of the Burleson amendment with
reducing the principle OF free education
10 a basis Of dollars and cents. Such a
policy, ne said, IL advocated by Congress,
would put that body In the light OF en-
acting discriminatory laws. Education,
citizen Of this country. II Congress pro-
posed to prevent certain persons from
educating their children in Washington
because they were too poor to own prop
erty here, Congress was beginning a
policy that. carried to its ultimate con-
clusion. spelled the ruin Of the American
people.
Following him came Mr.. Mann, who
protested against the drawing OF any line
either in or out Of the District which
should say who should and who should
not have the benefits of education. The
attendance I'm school. said he, is not de-
pendent upon the right Of any man TO
own property. 1t is the poor man. he
concluded. who usually raises the largest
family. and who is more dependent upon
the public schools for the advancement
Of his children than the rich man.
The Burleson amendment makes II nee
cessary for nonresidents TO own property,
the taxes on which shall be equal to a
tuition fee OF 800. before the pupil can
enter school for the year. Children Of
nonresident Washingtonians in official life
here namely. members OF Congress) are
not excluded under this bill.
Prior TO the discussion of this point,
which was carried Immediately after Mr..
Burleson's address. by a vote OF es to .,
Representative Johnson's amendments
with respect 10 the payment Of the Dis
trict militia was defeated. Mr.. Burle-
son, who opposed Mr.. johnson. pointed
out that the latters amendment Ontro-
duced after a point of order had been
overruledD, tended to make the legisla-
ton eighteen times as long" as II was
in the first instance.
johnson Plan Il Beaten.
Following the defeat of his point Of
order Mr.. johnson offered an amendment
to the existing law, which would re-
lieve Congress Of liability on the District
sinking fund. This was defeated 50 TO 6,
the Johnsonian supporters being Demo-
Gratis. Chief among those to attack Mr..
JohnsOn's construction Of the half and
half principle of payment was Repre-
sentative Cannon, who declared that the
law as enacted specifically provided for
the payment OF interest on the sinking
fund and that Mr.. Johnson's amendment
carried the withdrawal of the outstand-
ing 365 bonds beyond the law.
The big hands OF the House clock point
ed TO els when Speaker Clark entered
the chamber and heard from Chairman
Garrett that the Committee Of the Whole
had adopted the District appropriations
bill with amendments. and was ready to
present It on the floor Of the House. The
amendments were read.
Then II was that the minority leader
introduced his amendment asking $g7. 900
for school improvements. and urged that
the bill be returned to committee until
this matter could be taken up. Upon be-
voted down viva voce. the minority lead
er made a point Of no quorum. and the
roll call on the amendment began. The
measure asking for an additional school
appropriation was defeated, six members
answering present and refusing to vote.
The House bill will reach the Senate
some time next week, when It is expected
the Upper House will restore some OF the
items that the Burleson subcommittee
eliminated.