Evening star., 1922-02-17
GALLAUDET FUND
INcREASE.OEMED
House Refuses to Raise Ap-
preparation From S95, 900
! to 100000.

\ to S1OO,WO.
The House, considering the In
terror Department appropriation bill,
refused yesterday to increase from
$s5,000 to 100000 the appropriation
for the Columbia Institution for the
Dsaf, commonly called Gallaudet
College. Representative Raker OF
California, a director OF the institu-
tion, who submitted the amendment
for the increase, laid before the
House a letter from Percival Hall.
president of the Institution. This
led to criticism Of the offlcials of the
institution for sending letters to
members Of Congress, with Repre-
sentative Mann. former republican
leader. and Representative Cramton
of Michigan. chairman OF the sub
committee in charge of tha bill as
the principal critics. Representative
Raker and Representative Joe Sears
OF Florida made the principal
speeches in support Of the institu-
tion.
Contents Of Letter.
DR.. Hall. in his letter, said:
THE Interior Department appro-
port Of the institution, including
general expenses. $4,000. The board
OF directors agreed to ask for 100000
for the coming year. and the budget
bill provides $4,000 for repairs. The
sum of $4,000 was asked for by
our board and agreed to by the
budget bureau. Our request also in
cluded, with the approval of the
budget authorities, an item OF $4,000
for the purchase of 6.2 acres of land
stitution. which are most desirable
as institution property.
TT can be pointed out. in eonnec-
tion with our current expenses, that
our employees are badly underpaid
in many instances: eleven of our
hands, farm hands and the ONCE
force receive less than the current
wages paid IN such Institutions as
the Government Hospital for the In
sane and the Soldiers Homo. Our
$40 per year, nor will their salaries
be increased by any reclassification
bill, as such bills provide only for
the civil employees of the govern
ment. while our employees are not
classed as government employees at
all.
I'm connection with the item for
repairs for our Institution. it can be
we'll said that efficiency and economy
call for slightly additional expenses
now to maintain the buildings and
grounds in proper condition and to
during the war time. The value of
our buildings Is at least 3s0o,0eO. and
most Of them are old. They are twen-
ty.three in number and many date
back between 1870 and $780, Our
grounds comprise f03 acres. with
walks. Any one used to the handling
of real estate will agree that $4,000
Is really too little for keeping in re-
pair such a plant as ours.
"The parcel of land for which the
institution asks appropriation is a
most desirable addition to our grounds
and will complete them to streets as
boundaries. The land will no doubt
increase in value in the future. If
there is any serious objection to buy
ina the land for the Institution, it
would be possible to add a provision
that In case the land is sold the. COW
erlment should befretmhursea TO the
the purchase" -s- '-----~--'
Refers to Obligation.
Claiming that letters were sent to
himself and other members believed
to be under obligation to the insti-
tuition because they had recommended
said: - -.
Il hope that this amendment will
be decisiyely voted down. I am sure
it would have been anyway. 1t ought
to be, and further because that insti-
tuition should learn not to eirculariZe
members of Congress that they think
they hold under obligations or under
a form Of obligation. >s
Representative Mann also resented
the Implication that heswassnnder OBJ
legations and should. YSteS f6r the ap-
preparation. He said: -
'I am perfectly willing at any time
to totconsider the merits of any of these
propositions; but the only purpose of
this letter was to get gentlemen
cations to them to vote. regardless Of
the merits Of the proposition. That
is mighty poor misunderstanding Of
the position of members Of Congress,
and l make these remarks only be-
cause hope the gentleman in charge
the future. What would We think II
the head of West Point. Of Annapolis
should send a lettersto members of
Congress saying, Because you have
got an appointee in this institution
you must pay US more money, re-
gardless Of its merits"
Aisapprehension Of Motive.
Representative Raker explained the
situation. assuring Representatives
Mann and Cramton that they were la
boring under a Misrepresentation of
the motive which prompted tho letter
they received. He spoke as follows:
When this report was made to the
House, the trustees Of the institution
met. and we observed that there vas a
1eas amount provided for the work of
the institution next year than was re-
Quested by the directors when they met
last fall The fact Ii that the director
OF the budget sent two men to the insti-
tuition to investigate it, the cost and all,
OF the budget, and he recommended the
amount we are asking for here today.
It was suggested that many Of the mern-
bars OF the House did not realize that
people from their states were getting
results. and that unfortunate deaf peo-
pie were being sent out into the world
weu equipped to meet tho necessities
and exigencies Of life because Of going
Through this institution. and this letter
to them Is nothing more than calling
thdr attention to the fact that the
institution in which they and their con-
etituuents are interested SHOULD have
null and due care when the matter came
before the House.
Clearly the president Of the institu-
ton never tnttmated in his letter. never
intended and does not intend even to sug-
Ge0eto anybody to vote for this appropriS-
ton The calling Of their attention to It
is enty what Is done every day. Every
mamber gets letters from diffrent orxan-
ing attention to their needs and necessi-
tiNl These officera recomnnendad a.