Evening star., 1921-05-10
HOUSE IS EXPECTED
To ADOPT AL|bERAL
POLICY ON SCHOOLS
Committee Members Confer
With BaIlou on Actual
Needs of D. c. System.
FAILURE TO MAKE PLANS
COVER MORE CRITICISED
Woodruff Says Program Which
Does Not Entirely Eliminate
Portables Is Mistake.

A liberal policy toward the devel-
opment of the District school system
will be adopted by the House District
committee, If the views of several Oh
its members expressed at an informal
conference today with DR.. Frank w.
BaIlou, superintendent OF SCHOOLS
shane the course to be adopted final
ly by the committee.
The full subcommittee on schools
OF the District committee, headed py
Representative Walters, chairman
conferred with DIR. Ballou for more
than an hour on the actual schooi
needs of Washington. Several mem
bers criticised the failure of the Dis
trict authorities to provide for
larger school program, claiming thdl
one appeal should be made 10 Con-
gress which would meet not ohly
present needs, but also the needs OF
the future over a period OF not less
than ten years.
Favors Further Survey.
REPRESENTATIVE Keller stated that
ne would favor an immediate emer-
gency appropriation for additional Ia
cilities provided it was agreed that
there be a survey looking toward the
needs of the future, of which report
should be made to Congress next WIN
ter. DR.. Ballou agreed with TINS sus-
Restion, but pointed out the dlihculty
of making a comprehensive survey
during the summer months. he saio
II should be made when school Is III
session.
The school superintendent stated
that the two -million-dollar program
recommended is purely an emergency
one and does not take into account
the growing needs of the school sys-
tenn.
Representative Woodruff inquired II
the s., ,00O, 900 program would entlrely
eliminate portable school buildings
DIR. Ballou said it would not.
Making Mistake. Says Woodruff.
You are making a mistake said
Representative Woodruff, TO come 10
Congress with a piecemeal plan wnicn
does not contemplate the apoli.loh oi
the portable buildings 1t will De oif-
ficult to get a second appropriation
from Congress. The situation shoulo
be met fully through a comprehen-
ST This % statement byRepresen,atfve
TO observe that the subcommittee was
friendly to the schools and that now
fx the opportune time fully to present
the needs Of the school system IN or
der that Congress may act fully 70
rsiSsve the conditions complained OF
Ss,A 10 prevent their recurrence due
- ths annually increasing scnool
DoQulation-
FseAt Probes situation.
Chairman Focht OF the District
e,onomittee was present during the
conference and asked a numper OF
questions. indicating his interest IN
tho school situation. one OF these
was with respect to the erect on ths
school population by the exodus OF
war workers DIR. Ballou said that
If there has been any reduction in
washineton's population it is not ap-
parent in the school enrolment At
tendance in the schools. he said, has
inreas sed steadily during the past
few years averaging from to
Der cent annually.
Chairman Focht inquired as to the
number Of Maryland and Virginia
children attending school in the Dis
trict DR.. Ballou replied that about
2.4o0 children residing outside the
District attend school here without
paying tuition charges.
He called attention to the fact
that Congress had made this possible
through laws permitting the chii,
dren of government employees and
parents who earn their livelihood In
Washington to attend the District
schools on the same basis as children
residing in the District. 1t was ex-
planned by Supt. Ballou that IL these
laws were repealed substantially the
same number of children residing
outside the District would continue
to attend school here. although COM
PEELED to pay tuition.
Representative Millspaugh said he
wt0ld favor repeating the laws and
compelling all children who reside
outside Of the District but who at
tend the local schools to pay tuition.
Representative Blanton stated that
he had inspected the Johnson and
Powell schools and found little or
no cause for complaint. He said that
he favored abolition of portable
buildings eventually. but questioned
whether an extensive building pro-
gram should be entered upon at this
time with the government facing q
$4,000. 100000 debt.
sruoor. RETTERMENT IJRGEn