Evening star., 1940-04-16
Graduate Schools
Of u. 5. Agencies
Are Defended
Reply to Elliott Says They
Perform Service at No
Cost to Government

A critical report from Acting
Controller General Richard N. FL
lott on the operation of the Grad
uate School of the Department OF
Agriculture and smaller educational
units at the Bureau of Standards
and Farm Credit Administration
today brought a defense from DR.
Albert F. Woods. head of the Agri-
culture Department establishment
He declared that it cost the Gov
ernment nothing, and that the use
of such Government facilities as
were employed by the school was
compensated by the advantages that
accrued to the Government through
its operation.
The schools offer advanced train
ing in a variety of subjects as well
as in-service training designed to
broaden the knowledge of Federal
employees as to their jobs. Under a
cooperative agreement with the
American University and University
OF Maryland it is also possible to
get credits at these institutions fol-
the courses pursued in the Govern
ment clasSroomS. The Bureau OF
Standards courses were inaugurated
about 1918; the Department of Ag-
riculture in 1921 and the Farm
Credit Administration more recently
Elliott's Objections.
This office feels that the matters
reported should be brought to the
attention of the Congress for such
consideration and action as it shall
deem proper Mr.. Elliott said.
Commenting that the report, re-
quired Of departments under a Sec
rlon Of the Budget and Accounting
Act, made it appear that many OF
the courses go far beyond the strict
training Of employees for the better
performance of their duties" Mr.
Elliott added the following observa-
ton:
In several instances fees and tut
ton are charged for courses, from
which considerable sums over and
above operating expenses have been
accumulated, but no accounting is
made to the Government for the
moneys, funds and property handled
and on hand. Notwithstanding the
fact that the use of Government
personnel and facilities (such as
office and class room space, heat,
light, elevator service, telephone,
etc. have contributed to the earn
ings from the activities mentioned. /"
No Federal Money Involved.
In explaining the operation of
the Graduate School of Agriculture,
which now has 5000 students, DR..
Woods said that the men and
women pay $6 credit hour for their
course; that the institution has a
reserve of approximately $4,000,
and that the accounts are audited
periodically by committee that re-
ports to the Secretary of Agricul-
ture. No Government money is in
volved, he added, and consequently,
no accounting has been made to the
General Accounting ONCE.
When the school was started it
offered courses in mathematics,
statistics, economics and languages; j;
today, in response to expanding de-
mands, about $50 courses are taught,
experts from the Government being
the instructors. Glasses are after
office hours, starting at pm. DR..
Woods said the school was operated
under statute authorizing the
use of Government facilities for
educational purposes. AS head of
the school, DR.. Woods, a former
president of the University of Mary
land, receives $500 annually. He
also draws retirement pay of 1924
from the Government, having left
active service in the Bureau of Plant
Industry in September, 1898. He
still continues to handle plant pat
ents for the bureau, however.