The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-03-19
STRONG PROTEST ON SCHOOL BUS ENTERED
Federal Officials Says Leg
 islature's Action Will Cripple Palmer Colony
|U. s. HAS NO FUNDS
 FOR TRANSPORTATION
Territorial Senate Censured for Cutting ,000 Item
 from Appropriation Bill

|
 Vigorous protests by Federal au- thorities against action of the Ter ritorial Legislature in eliminating appropriation for transportation of school children and appeals that re- consideration of the matter be giv- en at the special session which con- vened today are being received daily by Gov. John w. Troy.
 Federal officials are directing their protests against the condition which will result in the Matanuska colony as it is understood the Fed- eral government has no funds with which to provide transportation and if the Territory does not supply such money it is declared that it will ser- iously cripple the colonization pro- ject at Palmer.
 An item of $65,000 for school transportation was approved by the Territorial House at the regular ses- sion but cut out by the Senate with the result that there is no money available during the next two years for transportation. In view of the action of the Legislature Commis- sioner A. E. Karnes has suggested that each community effected take immediate steps to incorporate as school districts and raise funds through taxation to pay for trans portation, or to construct and main- tain a separate school.
 No Funds, WestbrOOk Says
 Declaring that there will be no transportation for children in the Palmer colony unless the Territory co-operates, Col. Lawrence Vest brook, assistant administrator of WPA, in a message to the Governor said:
 T am advised the Territorial Sem ate has cut S65,000 from education appropriation for transportation of school children which would have the effect of stopping operations of school bus within the colony. The Alaska Rural Rehabilitation Cor operation has no funds which can be used for this purpose and unless the Territory supplies funds it will be impossible for children to attend school. In view of the fact that the Federal government constructed the school and other facilities in Matanuska without cost to the Ter ritorial government and has for feited development which will re- turn important tax monies to the Territory, certainly think the Ter ritory should bear this expense. understand special session of the Legislature is called for Friday. I would greatly appreciate it if you would present this matter, urging reinstatement of sufficient funds to provide transportation of Matanus- ka children"
 DimOnd Enters Plea Delegate Anthony J. Dimond in message said:
 Ross Sheely, General Manager of ARRC, has wired me about dis tressing conditions faced by school children in that region through ac- tion of the Territorial Senate in cutting $65,000 off education ap- |propriation for school childrens transportation. If members of Leg islature think thaS EZRA would supply transportation they are en- tirely mistaken since it is impos- sible in my judgment to get any more money for Matanuska Colony and EZRA erected school house without cost to Territory of one cent. If economy must be prac- ticed it would be much better to reduce term for all school children in Territory one half month or so and thus economize on all children equally. It appears that cut in transportation imposes greatest bur den and penalty upon poor chil- dren who live on farms or have homes some distance from school house and whose parents are unable to furnish transportation. In Pal mer colony, particularly, we cannot | (CoYt;p,,oH o,. Daoa Ttun1