Evening star., 1942-09-03
Randolph Proposes
Restoration Of WPA
Here
House Bill Would
Make Buildings and
Funds Available

WPA nursery schools would be re-
established in the District after
three year absence if bill intro
duced today by Chairman Randolph
of the House District Committee is
passed.
~. Mr.. Randolphs bill will make pos
sib1e the mediate opening of
WPA nursery schools banned since
1899 by the omission of the words
enursery school. in that years Dis
trict appropriation. The bill will
also abolish the 10-year-old ban on
the use of public schools for nursery
schools.
The House District chairman
plans to call a special meeting OF
his committee when members return
to act on the soldiers vote bill next
Wednesday to get speedy consider
alton of his nursery school bill.
District schools have been closed
to use by children under 5 since 1882
when rider was attached to Dis
trict appropriation bill. The rider
was reintroduced in each successive
year.
Proposal Is Praised.
Passage of the bill will enable
both WPA and Lanham Act au-
thorities to open nurseries to care
for the children of working mothers
Mrs. Florence Kerr, assistant to
Brig Gen. Philip w. Fleming, In
charge of war public service pro-
grams and assistant WPA commits
sioner who passes on nursery school
projects from both WPA and Lam
ham Act funds, ,shailed the proposed
bill as "a direct contribution to the
war since it will release additional
Washington womanpower which
will be used directly in the war
effort"
The WPA obtained an appropria-
ton of $6,000,000 in July for ex-
panding its nursery school program.
Only the District of Columbia has
been disqualified from receiving part
of these funds. The Randolph bill
will make them available equally
to the District with other sections
of the country, Mrs. Kerr said.
The Randolph bill reads in part:
Notwithstanding any other pro-
visions of law, the buildings,
grounds and equipment of the pub
lie schools of the District of CO.
lumbia may be used as and for day
nurseries and nursery schools Tor
children of school or under school
age.
Provides Sponsors Funds.
"The appropriation contained In
the said Appropriation Act approved
June 27, 1912 (the District Appro-
priation Act) for sponsors contribu-
tions toward Work Projects Admin
istration non-construction projects
shall in addition to the objects
therein set forth. be available for
sponsors contributions for the es-
tablishment, maintenance and OPP
Grafton of day nurseries and nur-
sery schools for children of school
and under school age"
WPA procedure requires that each
nursery school project shall be
sponsored by local education au-
thorities. The Board of Education
of the District will consider re-
newing its sponsorship of the WPA
schools when it meets next We'd
nesday
Headquarters of the new day care
unit of the OCD Child Care and
Protection Committee, which will
help neighborhood groups and Or
CARNATIONS to get nurseries under
the Lanham Act and under WPA
funds when made available, are
at the Municipal Center, Room
6O35 Miss Dorothy Pearse, ex
ecutive director of the unit, started
yesterday on her new job of ad
vising on and organizing nursery
school plans. Her assistant, Mrs.
Adelia B. Heiney. will start active
duty with the unit September Is,
The Women's Auxiliary of the
United Federal Workers, CIO, last
night offered every cooperation"
to insure the speedy passage of Mr..
Randolph's bill.
In a letter addressed to Mr.. Ran
dolph and signed by the auxiliary
president. Mrs. Sylvia Beitcher, the
group representing more than 100
wives of Federal employees. said;
"As one of the first groups 10
advocate both these measures we
wish to send our 4 Earliest