Evening star., 1928-02-22
NONRESIDENT FEES.
IN SCHOOLS URGED.
Simmons Says PortabIes
Could Be Closed if Out
Sjders Paid.

The Injustice OF making District tax
PAYERS pay for the education in District
schools OF $500 children from Maryland
and Virginia was discussed in the House
late Yesterday. with Representative SIM
mons of Nebraska in sharp exchanges
with Representative Linthicum OF Mary
land. declaring that If it were not for
this unjust burden the much condemned
portable school buildings now in use
could be abolished. He explained that
the District appropriation bill now
under consideration contains a provision
that the nonresident children now in
the Washington schools may remain. but
that hereafter no other NONRESIDENT
pupils may enter.
The cost to the District now to give
free education to Maryland and Virginia
is 1928. 1000 a year" he said. ''One new
school building could be built each year
If Maryland and Virginia paid tuition.
They do not In justice to the District
taxpayer and the District children the
present situation should be brought 70
an end The committees proposal Will
cause no hardship on any one.
Simmons Urges Cramton Bill.
Mr.. Simmons spoke III favor Of leg
islation as proposed in the Cramton
bill. TO allow nonresident pupils to be
admitted on payment OF tuition. out
forcefully pointed out that Maryland
member of Congress is chairman OF
the committee through which this bill
must pass. In reply to questions by
Representative Clifford Of Massachu-
setts, Mr.. Simmons said:
II suggest that the gentleman at
tend prayerft,lly before the DlStrlct
legislative committee and ask that COM
mitfee to hold hearings and report out
two tuition bills now pending before
that committee-one bill introduced by
the gentleman from Michigan tMr.
Cramton). IF that were done. we could
handle this thing as ii should be ham
died: but q Maryland member of Con-
gress (Mr. Zihlman) is. at the head
OF that legislative committee and no
tuition bill has come or will come. IN
my Judgment. out Of that committee.
The reason why We are letting the
children remain who are now IN the
District schools is to meet situation
that was brought up two years ago.
and that is that If We shut the doors
OF the schools completely at once these
OUTLYING districts might not be able TO
take care of their children at once.
we 90 1lUt Ndl Va 0CPAAfS "a ~~AAAN ~
the right of going to school. Therefore,
we are not going to shut the doors TO
those children, but we are saying 10
MARYLAND and Virginia. if this bill is
adopted, that hereafter they Will nave
10 take care of their own children
Takoma Park Schools Cited.
In further explaining the situation
In reply to questions by members OF
the House. Mr.. Simmons SAID:
Two years ago we had delegation
planning about the depioratle condi-
tons Of that school. The spokesmen
Of that delegation were Maryland citi-
zens and they asked us to build schools
n the District of Columbia for their
benefit. The territory in Chevy Chase,
7 take il, is not q poor mans country.
Take Takoma Park: Two years ago |
they had a new school with two rooms |
standing idle. when the Takoma PARK
.. c.. school had better than half OF !
..s classes coming from across the line
tn Maryland. About two weeks ago
o-1e of the Washington newspapers re-
oferred 10 the dep!orable condition in
the District schools and carried pic
tures of the portables at Takoma Park.
D C. They pictured the fine school
building in Maryland. II Maryland Will
take its children out OF the Takoma
Park. D. G. school, We can smut the
po-tables there tomorrow morning. and
II they will take their children out OF
the z. Y. Brown School, We can close
those portables tomorrow morning"
REPRESENTATIVE CrantCn. Republican.
OF Michigan. called attention TO the
failure 70 get his nonresident tuition
bill reported saying that all this de-
bate emphasizes how unfair 1t is for
the Distric, committee to refuse 10
bring Out legislative bill on this SUBJ
sect and let the House express its
views with reference 70 II, because
snere are parliamentary complications
sn connection with an appropriation
bill that DO not permit provision foF
al the angles in connection with this
question Of payment OF tuition.