Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-10
LAYTON
ATTACKS TOWNER BILL
Claims lts Provisions Would
Destroy individuality
of Nation.

Declaring that II threatened the
principles embodied In tho Constltu
tion OF tho United States. Congress
man Caleb X. Layton yesterday
afternoon vehemently denounced the
Towner- Smith bill. which provides for
Federal control OF education. In ad-
dressing the teachers Of the city In
tho auditorium OF Wilmington High
School.
Congressman Layton was intro
duced by Superintendent of Schools
David A. Ward, who explained that
inasmuch aa the teachers had heard
the views OF Representative Towncr.
promoter OF tho bill. some time ago.
II was only fair that they should hear
the opposite side of the question. and
become familiar with all It's angles.
In addition To tho Towner- smith
bill. Congressman Layton also at
tackled n number of other bills that
have been submitted TO tho United
States Senate. including those which
suggest tho institution OF national
news bulletin. the formation OF n de-
partment Of physical education and
n department OF social welfare, etc
| In presenting his views on tho
Towncr- Smith blll the speaker said
that In the first place the creation OF
the office OF n secretary of education,
to be member Ct the Presidents
cabinet. would mean tho placing OF
too much responsibility on ono man.
lf the secretary 40 appointed was head
of the whole school systcm Of the
country. II is evident. he said, that his
Views OF important matters would be
placed IN the standardized text books
of the country.
| The Standardization of education.
Congressman Layton said, would de-
stroy tho individuality OF tho nation.
Schools. he said, - il reflect the
diversified Views Ct People I'm the
communities in which they are located
and IL tho methods of instruction are
standardized the result will be ma
tion Of people who lack originality
and individuality. He said that in
sending out 1000 questionnaires on
the subject to the leading educators of
the country no found that the ma
jority strongly disapproved OF the bill
Among these were tho presidents Of
Harvard, Princeton. Columbia.
Muhlenberg, Tordham, st. Johns Col
lcgea.
Congressman Layton said In part .
Representative Towner in recent
fspeech before you laid Great s,resa
upon the menace of illitcracy in the
United States. dosire 10 positively
deny this statement in view of the
figures have already presented |
have found I'm other legislation such
as tho Maternity Bill tho same disre-
gard OF facts. Tho proponents OF this
sort Of legislation. paternaliHtic and
|, soclalistic altogether in character, seen
to make the wish the father 20 the
thought whenever they resort 20 eithel
declarations. or show n etrange dis
regard Of official figures when the,
stand in concerned, and especially M
! her illiteracy has declined without ma
tional aid 20 SO rs shown ny the cen
sus OF 1920.
THE plan Is Unnecessary hecaus,
the people of the various. states ant
communities expend already sufficient
'ly enormous sums for education {,
, meet all rational purposes. Delaware
eXpends tho sum of sI,676.5Os per an
mum. This is a per capita tax Of $3.50
, Massachusetts has per capita tas
. of s10.6l for a population of a very
foreign character, and with a greater
ability TO support schools by reasoi
, of her enormous wealth.
THE plan would destroy local con
, troll Of education and local keen lntor
/, est in all school matters. The plar
would rob the people OF their contro
, over the amount OF taxation, as wei
3 as deprive them Of the power TO ex
!. pend It. The appropriation is made
quate. Even hundred millions OF dol
I lars would not be a drop I'm tho buc ke
I for the carrying out Of such a schem
IL enacted into law in view Of the his
tor!cal and inevitable expansion OF al
7 government departments and bureaus
I Moreover, billions are now spent 70
I this purpose by the various communi
- ties and states OF the federal Cnior
G NO matter how desirable within
n reasonable limits such Legislation
n might be. / cannot avoid q, persona
a feeling of surprise that this legisla
ton should be asked for at time whei
= the country is staggering under al
n Indebtedness that is fairly appalling
y and especially when national restora
< ton on the farm, In the factory. 81
n the forge and the mine depends upol
Il the reduction OF taxation TIL
.