Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
SIMMONS ATTACKS
BIG SCHOOL FUND
Says SO, 900, 900 Annual Ap-
preparation Would Mean
Heavy Tax Increase.
Continued From First Page)

Of ALLEGATION by Congress to the District
of surplus revenues amounting to
s5.257,538, of which $2,79l 900 were
used for the school building program.
Each increased expenditure OF $780,
600, MIR. Simmons said. meant an in
crease of approximately cents per
500 in the tax rate. An increase OF
81, 900, 900 consequently would mean an
increase of 25 cents per hundred.
THE report" he continued. holds
that there shall be added to the 1881
bill SO. 900 900 for buildings and grounds.
provided that the total is not in excess
of one third OF the revenues of the
District OF Columbia from all sources
Certain of the revenues Of the District
of Columbia are trust funds such as
the retirement payments, etc. water
revenues are expended solely for the
water system, gas tax moneys are used
exclusively on the streets. those three
items are not considered as general
revenues as they are not available for
general expenditures and not available
for schools. Excluding these special
revenues and basing our figures prop
erly on general revenues, there has been
expended during the fiscal years 1924 to
1929, inclusive, $150,300,0O0. OF the
above sum the percentage for education
during those five years. including the
Public Library, was 33.9 per cent, or
exclusive of the library, 1918 per cent.
1T become perfectly obvious that of
we hold ourselves to the limit Of one
third of the general revenue for pub
, lie schools that the amount for school
! building and grounds cannot. without
curtailing other District activities, be
increased in any appreciable extent
much less by $4,000 900. 1t is altogether
probable that the one-third limit, Of
followed by Congress, would result in
an actula reduction and not an increase
in the funds for schools Of Washington.
70 Per Cent Appropriated.
1.-THE chamber" he concluded, states
that the five-year building program
authorized by act of 1925, is only half
completed because the necessary funds
were not appropriated What are the
facts? The five-year building program
called for an expenditure Of approx
mately $20000,000 on buildings and
grounds. Up to and including the
1920 bill there has been appropriated
since the passage of that act. for build
ings and grounds, s14487,75o. This
Is something over 10 per cent. Of the
total, instead Of only half as the
Chamber OF Commerce declared"
DR.. William John Cooper, United
States Commissioner of Education, fol-
lowed Representative Simmons on the
speaking program with a strong plea for
more general educational background
for teachers and instructors in schools
and colleges.
He pointed out that since increasing
numbers of students are attending pub
lie schools, or working for degrees in the
institutions for higher learning, they
are entitled to every safeguard against
incompetent instructors and those whose
education does not equip them as intel
lectual leaders.
Joy Elmer Morgan, editor of the !
National Education Associations Bull
letin, called attention to the extensive
building program of the Federal Gov
eminent, providing for an expenditure
Of millions, as means OF emphasizing
the comparatively small layout on
schools and Fairgrounds in the District
He said he noticed that the vicinity
around the Soldiers Home was fast
developing as residential section, with
little to indicate that the school and
recreational advantages were keeping
pace
Another speaker was Miss Elizabeth
Mccormick Of California, chairman of
the National Education Associations
resolutions committee, who expressed
the hope that Washington would some
day be the seat Of an institution of
higher learning which would sreve as
a model to the rest Of the country add
ing that the public school system might
well be developed as a criterion for
other communities.
Zihlman and Ballou Speak.
Miss Edith Grosvenor president of
the District Association, presided at
the meeting which was also addr essed
by Representative Zihlman of Mary
land. chairman Of the House District
| committee, and DR.. Frank w. Ballou,
superintendent OF District schools.
The committee In charge Of arrange
mei1ts was composed Of Miss Annie C.
Kelliher a teacher at Curtiss School
Stephen Il. Kramer. first assistant
superintendent of schools; Miss Mary
Gilber and Miss Marie Walcott