Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-27
District School
Tuition Plan
|sUnder Study.
Non-Residents Pupils
Cost D. G. $273, 032,
Congress Is Told

A proposal that children of non
residents, including those of men,
bers of Congress and officers or
enlisted men in the Army stationed
In Washington. be required to pay
tuition while attending the public
schools here. was taken under con-
sideration today by the House sub
committee in charge of the 1912
District appropriation bill.
Several previous efforts to re-
1uire the payment of tuition by
nonresident children have failed.
School officials. through ques-
tionnaire sent to them by one of
the members of the subcommittee,
are said to have revealed that edu-
cation of nonresident children
from Maryland and Virginia and
those of members of Congress and
men in the military services is cost
ing District taxpayers $273,032 a
year.
1856 From Two States.
The QUESTIONABLE, it was re-
ported, shows there are 1896 chill
dren of non-residents in Maryland
and Virginia, and 146 of members
of Congress and men in the Army,
Navy and Marine Corps who are
attending public schools without
paying tuition.
The breakdown shows there are
s020 children of non-residents liv-
ing in Maryland attending the pub
lie schools here at cost of s188, 1896
a year, and 676 from Virginia,
whose cost to local taxpayers is
e70,646 a year.
The total number of children of
members of Congress and the mill
tary service being educated free in
the public schools is listed at 146,
and the total cost Of their tuition
at s14,OS9.
The subcommittee member, who
recommended that children of nom
residents pay a tuition fee, be-
lieves the revenue derived from that
source would help the present ailing
District budget which may be car
ried into the red by demands for
municipal services in the newly
developed areas into which national
defense workers are congregating.
DIR. Rutland Testifies.
Hearings of the subcommittee to-
day concerned estimates of the
Health Department. DR.. George C.
Rutland, health officer, was the
principal witness.
The subcommittee, headed by
Representative Mahon, Democrat, of
Texas, hopes to bring the budget
hearings to a close Thursday. On
that day it is planned to take the
testimony of representatives of var
ious civic and business organiza-
lions who have asked time to
testify.
Chief witness before the subcom-
mittee yesterday were Maj. Ernest
w. Brown, superintendent of police,
and Stephen T. Porter, chief en-
gineer of the Fire Department.
During the testimony of Maj.
Brown, it developed speed limits in
Potomac, Rock Creek and other
public parks were lifted about six
months ago without the knowledge
of either the Commissioners or the
Metropolitan Police Department.
Coordination Held Lacking.
Some mention, it was said, was
made of the lack of coordination"
between the metropolitan and park
police forces, and one member Is
reported to have suggested a con-
solidation of the two forces.
Representative Bolles. Republican,
OF Wisconsin, a member OF the
House District Legislative Commit
tee. has for several weeks been
drafting a bill designed to bring
about unification of all of the sepa-
rate police forces in Washington
Capitol, White House, Park, Metro
politan and guards in the Govern
ment departments. 1t Is his OBJECT
to place all of them under one
head or director"
Mai. Brown is understood to have
told the subcommittee that since
lifting of the speed limit In the
public parks, motorists who drive
40 and so miles an hour in these
places are not aware of their speed
when reaching streets and highways
patroled by members of his force
where the limit is either Is or 80
miles an hour.
Since lifting of the speed limit in
the public parks the subcommittee
was said to have been informed fast
drivers, who are not careful, are
given tickets for reckless driving
Mai. Brown appeared before the
subcommittee to support budget
estimates which would increase his
force by so in the coming fiscal
year beginning July l. He had
originally recommended appoint
ment of 100 more officers, but the
Commissioners reduced the figure
to 20, and subsequent estimates ap-
proved by the Budget Bureau and
President Roosevelt raised the num-
Der to so. 1t is understood Com
missioner Young, acting chairman
of the Board of Commissioners, told
the subcommittee he believed loo
more officers should be added to
the force at this time in view OF
the rapid expansion of the District
due to the influx of national de-