Evening star., 1939-04-11

when they find a group applauding
program under which that group
would benefit financially 1t would
be surprising, but none the less
founded in reason, if the educators
stood forth and opposed the bill for
the dangers that lurk within it
the menace of Federal control over
education, an essentially State func-
ton.
We are treadfng on dangerous
ground. Ignoring for the moment
al the serious questions of finance
d taxation and the dangerous
consequences that are entailed there
in. the measure itself is fundamen-
tally bad. 1t is my conviction that
if the gates are opened by the Fed
eral Government in the matter OF
education, there will be no way to
prevent it from entering into any
purely local enterprise.
There is no more reason for the
people of Rhode Island paying for
the education system of the people
OF Florida than there is for that
State paying for the costs of the
fire departments throughout the
State of California. One seems tc
be justified no more than the other
Each is absolutely contrary to every
conception that has existed of the
functions Of our State and national
governments. To those who sug-
gest that it is of national interes:
that the people in all the States be
given equal education opportunities
and equal fire protection, 1 say it
is decidedly in the national interest
that the several States control and
pay for their own education. and
that the municipalities have fire de-
partments and that they themselves
pay for the upkeep.
Relatively Modest Start.
The present education BILL some
what like its predecessors, calls for
relatively modest start. The first
appropriation would be for s75 ,00O.-
600. In the sixth year, however
the cost would be 208 million. Does
any sensible man think that there
after the costs will be lowered? Is
it not more to be expected that il
will be increased and that these in
creases will continue until all pre-
tense OF grants is abandoned. ano
the Federal Government eventually
will take control? This may not
be the inevitable consequence, but
it is the very probable one.
The sponsors of these education
bills. well aware of the hostility ir
the public mind to Federal control
OF the schools, follow the procedure
of making a request for a relatively
modest grant, as a start, and minim-
ize all suggestions of Federal super
vision. But in the background there
is the idea that with Federal aio
once given, conrol eventually must
follow. Beware the bureau bearing
gifts. To become eligible for the
grants, the States must make GER
tain commitments, and so even al
the beginning. with the sponsors
denying Federal control, Washing
ton, holding the purse. is to decide
whether the gift is to be made OF
withheld Call this cooperation, OF
call it control. in either case the
ultimate power is in Washington
and away from the people. If the
money is not to be squandered, Fed
eral officials, with reason. feel that
they must have check Given that
check. the Federal Government is
exercising control over the fund
There is no alternative conclusion
Ingrained in the minds of our
people is the conviction that edu-
cation is purely local function. tc
be administered by the people in the
community with the State exercis-
ing general supervision. If this bill
is enacted, that principle, little by
little, will be destroyed, and the
authority will not be in the com
munity but III Washington. So i,
is. I say, that apart from all ques-
tions of costs and unjust taxation
the adoption of such a proposal is
dangerous and vicious.
Let me devote little time to some
of the features of the national health
bill. With some of its objectives
there is no one not in sympathy
to improve the health of our people
to give better care to mothers and
children and to assist the crippled
All of these have universal appeal.
They were not just thought of by
those who have recently Joined a
social reform program. But under
the bill, vast sums are to be spent