Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-08-21
ev John DICKINSON SHERMAN

The outstanding feature of the new bill is that
1t eliminates the $100.000000 provision for federal
aid and asks simply for an annual appropriation
of $l500,000 for the Department of Education.
Another important feature is that the bill pro-
Vdes for the transfer of the Federal Board for
Vocational Education to the Department of Educa-
ton as division; previous bills would have done
away with this Independent body
The first change, it is believed, will answer
these opponents Of the movement who argue that
federal aid appropriations mean federal control.
Certainly power of control over the educational
systems of the various states is vested in the
Department of Education, in the intention of its
advocates Moreover, the temper of the times Is
evidently against further extension of federal aid
projects. The second change, 1t is believed, will
win over those who opposed to the abolish
ment of the Federal Board for Vocational Educa-
ton.
This new bill was unanimously endorsed by the
National Education Association at its sixty-third
annual meeting at Indianapolis 1t provides for
the establishment by congress of an executive
Department of Education under control of a Sec
rotary of Education to be appointed by the
President with the advice and consent of the SEN
ate. This secretary is to be cabinet officer with
the usual salary, $4,000 The idea In fixing the
salary of the assistant secretary at $4,000 is that
he Is likely to be more permanent than the Sec
rotary and the salary should be large enough to
secure an able The office of the Commits
sioner of Education Is abolished as is logical.
The Federal Board for Vocational Education Is
transferred to the Department of Education this
Board is, of course, separate and distinct from
the United States Veterans Bureau The provi-
sion for Federal Conference on Education Is
important some educational activities of the Fed
eral Government must remain where they are
examples War Department and Navy Department
The fields of research desired are specific lily
named, it Will be noted. and there is provision for
distribution of results. The annual appropriation
for the Department of Education Is $1.500000;
this does away with the $1O0000,O00 federal-aid
provision of the last bill Features of the bill are
as follows
Section There shall be in the Department Of
Education assistant Secretary of Education. to
be appointed by the President. and receive a
salary of $4,000 per annum The Assistant Sec
retary shall perform such duties may be pre-
scrbed by the Secretary of Education required
by law. There shall also be solicitor chief
clerk and disbursing clerk, and such chiefs OF
bureaus and such scientific. technical and clerical
assistants as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act and as may be provided for
by Congress from time to time.
Section 8. The Bureau OF Education and all per-
OF the Interior TO the Department of Education
The Office of Commissioner of Education is abolished
and the authority. powers and duties heretofore
conferred and imposed by law upon the Commits
sioner of Education shall be exercised and per-
formed by the Secretary of Education. The Secre-
tary OF Education shall be member OF the Board
and ex-oficlo chairman.
Section a. Except otherwise provided by this
act all authority powers, and duties held.
cised. and performed by the head OF any executive
department In and over any bureau, office. or
branch of the Government which is by this act
transferred the Department OF Education.
whether of an appellate revisory character
otherwise shall be vested in and exercised and
performed by the Secretary OF Education.
Section S. All officers. clerks and employees
transferred In accordance with the provisions of
this act TO the Department OF Education are each
and all transferred without change In elassinca-
kon compensation.