Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09
USE PLAIN SPEECH
Senators Criticise National
Bureau of Education.
ITEM IN LEGISLATIVE BILL
Comparison of Proposed Appropria-
tion With Current Allotment.
NOTICE GIVEN OF COMPLAINTS
Bureaus Classification of Colleges
Cited as Basis of Attack-Re-
garded as ''Impertinent."
NOTICE GIVEN OF COMPLAINTS

The federal bureau Of education Was
Under fire in the Senate YESTERDAY
afternoon. while appropriations for
the bureau was carried in the legis-
latiye appropriation bill We're being
considered. Attempts Of one Of it's
officials TO classify the colleges OF the
country were the basis for the at
lacks The classification was pro-
nounced by one senator 10 be utterly
ineNcusable." IL was said also that thu
senate subcommittee on appropriations
for the bureau was .'bewildered by the
startling amount" OF the appropria-
tion requested.
Senator GallinGer began the discus
sion by asking how the total amount
Of the appropriation proposed for the
bureau compared with the appropria-
tons for the current year senator
Warren. in charge of the bill, explain
ed that the House had granted $4,000
more than last year. and that the bureau
officials had requested double the amount
OF last year.
The subcommittee, Mr.. Warren added.
was beniideied ny the startling n,Hount
OF the appropriat on asked and didn't feel
like entering into the enlargement
Urge Careful Consideration.
Senator Root as well as senator Cal
linger. said he had received many letters
about the work OF the bureau and they
made him feel the Senate ought 10 con
slider very carefully the enlargement or
the scope of the bureau.
There is a good deal of possibility that
the nureau VIII duPneate work done ~
other agencies" he added. 1T could
| a x,,s 81 a III.
" hen ASKED ny senator Poindcxter fai
the specific basis of the complaints. sen
ator Root mentioned the class iication os
/ colleges. One OF the letters. he said,
characterized the work of the bureau
along that line as pure impertinence.
! Others seemed to indicate the work had
been attempted without justification OF
knowledge"
Senator HolSe Smith said he had ex-
amined the classification with others and
that lit is utterly ineXcusable."
Senator Oyerman. expressing sympathy
with the critics of the classified ton plan.
| said that Senator Burton planned to Offer
an amendment TO put a stop To that work.
He said the official responsible ''misun-
derstands his functions
Adopts New Line of Criticism.
Senator Williams took up a new line
OF criticism when provision was reacl
ed appropriating 800 for books for
library. current educational periodicals.
other current publications and complet-
ing valuable sets of periodicals. includ-
ing payment in advance for subscriptions
to publications"
'tThe habit is growing up in the de-
partments OF collecting small libraries O.
current magazines for the edification or
amusement of the employees. Senator
Williams said. A few years ago. he
added, the agricultural appropriation hill
vestigated and found in the library mas
azines of fun and stories. having nothing
TO do with agricultural work
"They were part OF the scientific
equipment OF the department" he added.
with a smile.
The same thing is true of books. he
said, in department libraries. He gaNs
ments TO the bin to put a stop to such
practices.
Lodge Suggests Change.
Senator Lodge made n suggestion later
that the Office of the superintendent OF
the Capitol building and grounds. ought
to be taken from the Jurisdiction of the
Interior Department. where il il now
placed, and left for the Congress itself 10
care for.
Much progress was made with the bill
yesterday afternoon, and Senator Warren
hopes to complete its consideration to-
morrow afternoon. There are stil TO
come up, however. the troublesome aues-
lions of the adjustment of the Commerce
Court and the limiting of the tenure OF
office OF government clerks to five years.