Evening star., 1942-04-01
N. Y. A.
Continued From First Page)

ton with the manner in which the
National Youth Administration was
cooperating with his office in this
work and requested additional in
formation on milling machines. This
information is being obtained as
quickly as possible. Our investiga-
tion has indicated that very few
N. Y. A. machines are among the
categories required by the War Pro-
duction Board"
In aiding youth from low income
families his purpose is not to re-
distribute wealth, but to "redis-
tribute opportunity" Mr.. Williams
told the committee.
Senator Roster, Democrat, of West
Virginia had made the contention
that it did not matter whether the
youths receiving N. Y. A. aid came
from big cities or rural areas be-
cause the point to bear in mind
was that they came from low
income families.
Mr.. Williams agreed that "is the
crux of the problem" and cited the
small average income of some Of the
families
I'm other words, you think wealth
ought to be redistributed?" Queried
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee. Mr.. William denied that
was his purpose, but added: 'I
would like to redistribute oppor-
tunity and it costs some money to
do that"
Function of States.
Senator Roster joined in to sug-
gest the arguments being used
against N. Y. A. were raised against
establishment of public education rs
years ago and Chairman Thomas
insisted Mr.. Williams had said moth
? ing about redistributing wealth
but had advocated equality Of op-
portunity.
Senator McKellar replied that ed
ucation is the function of the
States, and asserted the States
have fine schools if the Federal Gov
ernment will let them go to school" :"
: Senator Roster wanted to know
what would be done about the
youngsters who had no shoes to
wear to school Senator McKellar
replied that condition does not exist
today, with the activity going on in
industry.
Mr.. williams said if the war in
dustry vocational training now be-
ing carried on by N. Y. A. was a
duplication of what State schools are
doing, he would be the first to sug-
gest its abandonment. He added,
however, that II per cent of the
schools doing comparable vocational
training are located in eight of the
States.
Educational Experiment.
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
said that If the Federal Government
is going to engage in vocational
training it should all be in one
agency, under the ONCE of Educa-
ton or some other one place
Senator Roster contended that the
Office of Education had been only a
statistical agency. Until very re-
Gently it was given some supervision
over Federal grants to States. The
N. Y. A., he argued, is experimenting
In field educators have been talk
ing about for years, and added that
the only hope of carrying on that
kind Of program is through the
Federal Government, because some
of the States are too poor.
Senator Taft said his only objec-
- -. 8
States is that It don't see why we
should give Ohio $5,000,OO0 it doesn't
need in order to give Tennessee
$500, 900 or 100000, Tennessee
has fine schools" Senator McKellar
rejoined, land any boy who wants
an education can get it. The trouble
is Mr.. Williams, you are taking boys
who ought to go to school and put
ting them in camps and other places
where they can't get an education"