Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-25
CAPPER ADVOCATES
SEATS FOR ALL IN
MODERN SCHOOLS
Holds Care and Education of
Children More important
Than Balanced Budget.
CONGRESS BLAMELESS
FOR LACK OF FUNDS
Declares School Authorities Under.
estimated Increase in
Grade Pupils.

to the school building situation is to
spend within the next year whatever
amount may be necessary to provide
seats in modern structures for every
pupil.
In q statement of comment on the
letter sent him Wednesday by DR..
Charles Carusi. president of the school
board. Senator Capper declared that
while sufhcient money has not been
appropriated. the appropriations COM
mittee Of Congress are not to blame
for this condition
Underestimated Increase.
Senator Capper said the school au-
thoritieS underestimate the annual
rate of increase in grade school pupils
when the flve-year building program
was being drafted. He observed that
the city has grown in localities not
anticipated at that time. He also
Congress are guided in their decisions
by the recommendations of the Com
n1issioners and the Budget Bureau.
Senator Capper's statement follows:
1T is quite evident from the In
formation furnished by DR.. Carusi,
president of the Board of Education
that one reason the National Capital
still does not have proper and adequate
school facilities is failure on the part
of Congress to appropriate suficient
money.
TT would be unjust, however, to lay
the blame for this condition on the ap-
preparations committees of Congress.
They are guided in their decisions by
the recommendations of school on
Gals, the District Commissioners and
the Budget Bureau. There is bound to
be confusion and uncertainty under
such condition, and the result is
that the children of Washington are
deprived of the school facilities they
ought to have.
Congress Not ut Fault.
Furthermore. that Congress is not
altogether at fault is apparent from
the figures submitted by the school au-
tl1orities. When the five-year school
program was adopted they estimated
an annual increase of pupils In the
grades of 800. AS a matter of fact,
that estimate was wrong. The actual
increase in each of the four years since
the program was adopted has averaged
1,l43. Instead, therefore, of 80 new
claSsrooms being needed in the four
year period merely to take care of in
creased enrolment, there were ia
actually needed. The school authori-
ties, therefore, underestimate the
grade school needs for new pupils by
"a classrooms.
Furthermore. it is quite evident
that the growth of the city was in d.
rections and localities not anticipated,
so that there has had to be adjustment
IN the building program from time to
time-with resultant delays and class
room shortages. On the other hand,
the increase in high school enrolment
has not been as great as was anticipated
in drafting the five-year school pro-
gram.
-.
cost of bringing District school facilities
up to proper standard was estimated
originally at $4,000, 900. To date, only
a little more than $4,000, 900 has been
appropriated by Congress for school
buildings and grounds.
Last Place for "EcOnOmizing."
"It seems to me, and to other mem
beers Of Congress, that our public schools
are the last place In the world for
'economizing' for the mere sake of saw
ing money. The proper care and educa-
ton Of the children of the Capital Is
more important than q so-called
balanced budget. or q one third to two
thirds proportion between school ex-
penditures and other expenditures. Es-
pecially is this true when 1t is con-
sidered that the District has a cash
surplus of more than $8,500,000.
ut IL my firm conviction that the
thing to do is to spend within the next
year whatever amount may be neces-
sary to provide seats in modern, proper
school buildings for every child of
school age. We do not need a new
school program half as much as we
need actual appropriations for purchase
of grounds and construction of build
ings where they are needed now. when
we get the present need filled. then we
can make proper provision for future
needs.
Refers Letter to Commissioners.
ct am bringing Dr. Carusi's letter to
the attention of the board Of Commits
Sioners, so that they may take it into
consideration in making their own reply
to my recent inquiry. I have no doubt
their recommendations will be of value
TO Congress in meeting the school needs
Of the District.
II have no doubt that the appropria-
lions subcommittee of the House and
Senate will make a detailed, school-to-
school investigation of the actual situa-
ton: and that the result will be q
decided improvement within the next
year. My own view Is that Congress
should appropriate whatever amount Il
needed to replace all portables, all old
UNIT schoolroons, and buildings, and tt
assure every child proper place fol
can be done should be done, and
believe 1t will be done"
Disagree on One Point.
DR.. Carusi expressed himself today
IS being highly pleased" with practi-
cally every view expressed by Senator
Capper, but said he could not quit
agree with the Senator's belief that thu
reason the program was not completed
was because the school officials them
selves had underestimate the annua
student increase.
II am highly pleased with the Sen
Htor's statement" DR.. Carusi said, blu
somehow / can't quite bring myself Il
agree that the reason we did not ge
the $4,000, 900 we asked for was be
cause we didn't ask for more thai
$50 ,OOO, 900, and that, 1t seems TO me,
what is suggested by Senator Cappel
am glad the Senator takes the yieN
he does concerning the surplus Distric
funds which have been piled up in tn
Treasury while the schools have pee
permitted to suffer dire needs; thin
it was wise of him to undertake t
allocate any blame for the delay i
carving out the five-year program o
all the agencies which have TO do Wit
ha zrh0Oi tnaf6. IN