Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-23
DR., bAL[0U URGES
11TH-HOUR APPEAL
FOR SCHOOL Relief
Sends Letter Asking Com
missioners to Beseech
Congress Again.
EMERGENCY PROGRAM
is GENERALLY IND0RSED
"What the People Want They
Should Get" Declares
One Official.

Another move to have Congress
grant the revenues needed to carry
out the board of education's emer-
gency school building project was
made today by Supt. of Schools Frank
W. Ballou.
The superintendent drafted a letter
TO be sent 70 the Commissioners. urg-
ing them to make an eleventh-hOur
appeal to members of the Senate Dis
trict committee on appropriations, in
an effort to have the addi tional 3d.
100000 necessary to provide 1873 class
rooms to alleviate overcrowded con-
ditions in the school system included
in the appropriation bill. The COM
munication also indicates the funds
allowed for the school building pro-
gram in the appropriation measure,
pointing out that it will fall far short
OF allowing adequate accommodations
for children now enrolled in the
schools.
School officials today feel hopeful that
the Senate will increase to considerable
extent the money allowed for more
schools in the appropriation bill, as
result Of their hearings yesterday be-
fore the Senate District appropriations
committee. However, they do not intend
to discontinue their campaign in the
interest Of more and better schools, even
if the committees does not grant the ad
ditional revenues requested
Emergency Pr0Efam Endorsed.
The emergency school building pro-
gram which school authorities yester-
day submitted to members of the Senate
committee has the Endorsement Of vir-
rually every civic organization in WASH
ington. For this reason alone. they
state, their pleas for a larger appro-
priation for the schools should be given
serious consideration by members of
Congress.
What the people want" said one Of
fcial today, they should get. Therefore.
if the people of Washington want and
are willing to support the proposed
building program. Consress should make
every effort to carry II out"
1t was stated that school authori-
ties have considersa the question of
economy, and are only asking for
funds to satisfy imperative necessi-
ties. "In the pressure for economy
in appropriations said DIR. Abram
simon, president Of the school board.
1T must never be forgotten that In
adequate appropriations for public
education never represent real econ
omy Money appropr.saed for edu-B
penditure. Without adequate hnan-
cial support . system. Of average edu-
cation can never become efficient.
without sufl1cient money the best
school system must deteriorate.
The District appropriation measure
now before the Senate committee car
ries fund Of about 100000 in ex-
cess Of that granted for the current
fiscal year. But school officials de-
clare that the increase is not near
the amount required to supply half
the needs of the schools. although
the pay increases proposed for school
workers have been eliminated en-
tirely.
The question of the availability of
the use Of the Districts surplus reve-
,nues. amounting to more than So
oee, 200, now lying idle in the Treas
ury. was raised by Senator Curtis at
yesterdays hearings before the Sem
ate appropriations committee. School
officials indicated today that they are
not fh~ ones to dictate how the money
needed to run the school system shall
be raised. and therefore could not
easily indorse its use. They stated,
however. that they are not particu-
lar how the appropriations needed
are accrued, just SO it is accumulated.
Utilization Of these surplus revenues
already has been indorsed by numer-
Gus civic organizations and trade
bodies
Unless Congress does grant the ad-
ditional funds needed to carry out
the proposed emergency building pro-
gram. officials pessimistically forecast
a more deplorable situation in the
school system next year than ever
before.