The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-13
THE SENATE

inc ReHcTdi GppI biii
again held the centre of the stage In
the Senate yesterday, most OF the dis
cussion revolving around the amount
appropriated for the support OF the
public schools. The body split sharp
ly on the question of supporting the
Finance Committees apportionment
md il was evident when the Senate adj
Journed at 2:lo o'clock that this fea-
ture OF tho budget will be subjected
to keen scrutiny before the act is
passed.
The appropriation bill was OH tho
calendar as a special and continuing
order for 1890 o'clock When the
hour struck the Senate resumed its
consideration of the bill at the point
to which IL had progressed at tho time
OF adjournment on Wednesday, Nc
until the reading reached tho s5i5,Oo
appropriation for the support Of the
public free schools.
Mnpp Proposes Increase.
Senator Mapp opened tho long de
bate on the school appropriation with
the offer of I'm amendment which pro
poses to add TO this Item the sum OF
$4,000, making tho appropriatior
Seo5,o0o. instead of $4,000. He de.
voted twenty minute speech to a do.
fense of the Increase
Ills objection TO the present appor-
Torment. said Senator Mapp, arises
from what he regards an unfair dis
elimination I'm favor OF the institutions
OF higher ducation. as opposed to the
common and high schools.
The bill. he said. gives the higher IN
stitution a disproportionate share OF
the money available for school pur-
poses, and makes inadequate provision
Tor the insistent needs OF the lower
public schools
or the si0s.512 increase that the
present budget carries over tho total
appropriations OF the budget of 1913
1919, the common schools, said Senator
Mapp. get $4,000, or less than one
eighth The same bill, he pointed out
provides increases to eight higher in
stltutions of learning, amounting "a
sl92,S0o.
Common Schools Need Help.
My contention is said Senator
Mapp, that the common schools OF
the State stand In greater need of an
increased appropriation than the nor
mai schools and colleges. am L..
pared. ii the increase my amendmen,
asks for cannot be obtained in any
other way, 10 vote against the in
creases to the colleges. In order that
that money may be devoted TO tho
public schools.
Only very small percentage of the
college. and yet year after year we
have been appropriating vast sums To
the Improvement OF institutions which
can never serve them, except Indirect
~. I would be glad, If we had the
money, TO take care OF both, but l am
willing that the higher institutions
should remain i'll status quo for n time
while we direct our energies TO the
Improvement OF our lower schools.
of no
the University of Virginia and other
OF the higher institutions" said Sena-
tor Mapp. goes toward educating
young men from other States, who
leave Virginia when they graduate
1t costs the University of Virginia
S1S6 to educate one Virginia student
one year. The Virginia Military In
stitute spends S199 for each Virginia
student; the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute. S142, and William and Mary
College, S193. The corresponding fig
ures for the common schools are ele-
mentary schools, Si3, and high schools,
S35."
Masses Are Dependent.
From these figures, argued Senator
Mapp. it is apparent that II is to the
Interest of the State to extend as much
as possible on It's common school sys-
TEN. The pupils OF the common
schools chiefly the children of the
masses. he said, arc dependent abso-
lutely upon the facilities provided by
the State. When none is provided they
are helpless. College students. on the
other hand. he said. come largely from
the well-to-do classes. who are able to
bear the burden of education. i'm part
at least, from their own pockets.
The position taken by Senator Mapp
was warmly supported by Senator
Royal, who said no Will vote for tho
amendment offered by tho Senator from
Accomac without apology for his ac-
ton. 1t was time. he thought. that the
State give some attention to its COM
mon schools and make an effort to
raise the educational Lowell OF tho
State at large.
Senator Tavenncr thought the amend
ment was step In tho right direction
and promised to give II his support IL
1t was found possible to sccme tho
money without jeopardizing any other
of the States interests.
The amendment was attacked by
Senator Wendenburg, OF Henrico, n
member of the Finance Committee.
which drafted the appropriation bill
Ho directed attention to the fact that
the bill provided special appropria-
tion Of $4,000 for elementary. schools
To this amount, he said. Will be added
for this purpose more than $4,000 In
tho form of Increases in taxes upon
property segregated to tho common