Evening star., 1928-04-05
SENATE PUTS CURB
! ON DIPLOMA MILLS
House Subcommittee to Re-
port Same Bill Favorably
Next Week.

! The judiciary subcommittee of the
House District committee today decided
TO substitute the diploma mill bill which
passed the senate yesterday for the
= House measure and to recommend IA
vorahle report TO the fun District COM
niittee at its meeting next Wednesday
This motion was made by Representa-
tive Lanapert. Republican, Wisconsin,
The hearings today were suddenly
terminated by Mr.. Laznpert's motion
after sensational testimony by Miss
Pearl Mccall, assistant United States
attorney Lieut. Nina Van Wrinkle. in
charge of the Wonien's Bureau Of the
Police Department: Frank A. Varney, an
officer of the police force. and Mrs S. E.
Dow Of Silver Spring, Md. social
worker. Their testimony attacked the
character of Lewis s. Rapeer. presi-
dent Of the Research University.
Witnesses Are Called.
Miss Mccall had been charged by
DR.. Rspeer with persecution after she
had told the committee that DR.. Rapeer
and the other officers of his school
were under indictment In self JuSti-
fication, Miss Mccall called upon these
witnesses today to show the basis Of
information which led TO her proceeding
against Dr. Rapeer.
Mrs Van Wrinkle read TO the COM
ns:ttse the affidavit of q young woman
who made detailed charges against
Hapeer and said that on the advice of
Ralph Given, the assistant United
States attuFne~ at Police Court. she
had sent two policewomen into Dr.
Rapeer's school to see what their re-
actions would be. Their reports in
dicated that lectures by Rapeer centered
x@A -
IataorsShtps and their diagnosis of the
institution was that it was q book
agency rather than q school of instruc-
ton. She laid before the committee
also testimony of other young women
which, she said. seemed to support the
afadavit.
.E Rapeer Denies Charges.
& Chairman Mcleod advised DR.. Rapeer
that he had the right TO object to any
{ portions of the testimony. Rapeer said
sShat he approved the bill and considered
the testimony given today as part Of
The general plan TO ruin his school,
I: Rapeer denied as absolutely false
the charges made In the af1davit pre-
sented by Mrs. Van Wrinkle.
The judiciary subcommittee expressed
rs eagerness to have the diploma min
bin enacted as soon as possible to cor
rect q scandalous situation IN the Ma
tional Capital. the evil from which has
!, spread throughout the country. The
members also expressed sentiment in
fAvor OF the Norris bin as supplementary
. LEGISLATION to prevent the sending OF de-
rrees out of the United States as re-
KuIt of correspondence courses
The Capper bill. which passed the
Senate Yesterday, requires institutions
sancc-porated here to obtain q license
from the Board Of Education II they
Undertake TO confer degrees.
8 A subcommittee Of the House District
enmmittee has begun hearings on the
question. with . similar bin under con-
alteration
The senate at the same time passed
the Phipps bill 70 give the Commis-
sioners . more effective method Of coi-
lecting delinquent taxes. AT present the
District holds an annual tax sale, 81
which private individuals take over
sorne Of the property by paying the
taxes die. Ina large number OF cases.
however, no one bids and the District
must carry these properties on its books
indefinitely with the penalty accunu-
iating- a
Provisions Of BEa.
Under the Phipps bin the Commis-
sicneys could get an order from tne
District Supreme Court TO make an
actual sale Of such real estate. take out
The amount due and deposit the balance
from the proceeds Of the sale with the
properly to be returned 70 the persons
erustasoiy entitled to receive it. This
bsn also requires House approval.
In reporting the diploma mill" Dill
10 the senate Chairman Capper en-
pfaxtzed that 1t would not tnture legfu-
mate institutions. The report declared.
however. that Washington has been
made the headquarters for the tlcor-
porataon Of hundreds OF fraudulent So
called institutions Of learning. under
which the fncorporators practically have
splc degrees Of Al kinds"
Il was further pointed out In the re-
mort that the evl has not been con-
fned TO the sale Of degrees in the Dis
fract. but that the charters also have
been sold 70 groups outside the DistTict,
and that these groups. IN turn. nave
go