The Omaha guide., 1939-02-11

Funds to Receive Federal Grants
Washington, D. G., Feb. 9-Pro-
lection of the rights of Negro
school children is provided for in
the bill introduced by Congressman
William II. Larrabee of Indiana on
January 81, to provide federal
funds for education in the several
states.
The bill, II R. 3517, provides for
an initial sum of s4o,000,0O0 for
the year ending June 30, 1910,
with increased amounts for each
subsequent year until n maximum
of $140,0 600, 900 annually is reach
cd. The bill provides for the dis
tribution of this money among the
several states for the purpose OF
eoualizing education opportunities.
The Larrabee bill with it's COM
panion bill to be introduced in the
Senate by Senators Pat Harrison
and Elmer Thomas. contain the
safeguards necessary for the pro-
lection of Negroes which have been
urged upon congress by the N. A.
A. c. p. since the introduction Of
tho first federal education bill in
1887. The bill, first introduced,
SAFE, did not provide safeguards
Tor minority groups. Since that
time the NAACP. and the National
Cooriinating Committee for equit-
eblo Distribution of Federal Aid to
Education has been maintained a
sustained campaign to amend the
isderal education bills to safeguard
Negroes.
The new bill has been drafted
20 as to provide for an equitable
distribution of funds to Negroes in
states which have separate schools
established by law. Il provides
that in order to qualify for receiv-
ing funds appropriated, a state
must follow certain rules, one of
which is that Estates where separ-
ate schools are maintained for sep
arate races (must) provide for a
just and equitable apportionment
Of such funds for the benefit Of
schools and neutrality-suspicious. in
ititutions maintained for separate
races, without reduction of the pro-
portion Of state and local monies
expended during the fiscal year
ended in 1888 for schools or teach
er-preparation institutions for min
GRITTY races, excepting monies ex-
pended for construction or equip
ment Of school buildings"
Similar provisions appear in the
several sub-sections of the bill,
each requiring an equitable distri-
button of funds where separate
schools are required. In the sec,
ton of the bill providing for gen
eral and miscellaneous provisions
the following definition is set out;
"A just and equitable %apport.on-
ment or distribution of the sever
al funds, provided under this Act,
fcr the benefit of a minority racial
group in a State which maintains
by law separate educational facil-
tiles for such minority racial group
G any plan of apportionment
or distribution which results in the
expenditure, for the benefit of
such minority racial group, of a
proportion Of said funds not less
than the proportion that each min
GRITTY racial group in such State
bears to the total population of
that State"
Walter, White, secretary and
Charles II. Houston, special eoun-
sci Of the NAACP., have attended
several conferences in Washington
with government officials and 9TH
ers interested in federal aid to ed
ucat'on urging that safeguards be
included in the bill to protect Ne
groes as a part of the associat-
ions campaign to equalize educa-
tional opportunities. They have
requested opportunity TO appear be
fora committees considering these
bills.