Evening star., 1942-12-06
kcCarran and Cappe|
To Speed Action on
D. {. Nursery Schools
Subcommittee Hearing
Brings Agreement to
Cut WPA Section

A favorable report tomorrow on
the bill to open District public
schools as nursery schools was
promised by Senator Capper, chair
man of the Senate District SUBJ
committee on Nurseries at a packed
public hearing yesterday.
Chairman McCarran of the Dis
trict Committee, substituting for the
absent Senator Holman, earlier had
told the crowded hearing that he
would rush" the measure through
the full District Committee and onto
the Senate floor for vote If Sec
ton 3 of the bill was eliminated.
Section caused the only disagree
ment in the afternoons hearings,
during which more than a dozen
advocates of the measure ranging
from Commissioner Guy Mason to
the Washington Industrial Union
Council, CIO, presented testimony
favoring the immediate establish
ment of nursery schools in public
schools.
The controversial section of the
bill Oh. r. 1922 provides that WPA
funds can be used for nursery
schools in the District. This has
been forbidden since 1899.
WPA'S End Cited.
Senator McCarran and Commits
sioner Mason both said that the
Presidents order Friday to liqui-
date WPA projects by February /,
made that section unnecessary. -
They claimed that no WPA funds
for nursery schools would be avail
able.
Mrs. Izetta Jewell Miller, regional
supervisor of the Washington metro
politan area for the Federal Works
Agency, which administers Lanham
Act funds and WPA nursery schools
said that until such time as Lanham
funds are applied for by the Dis
trict to operate nursery schools, the
WPA funds could be used.
A lively interchange of remarks
by Mrs. Miller, Commissioner Mason
and Senator McCarran followed
Commissioner Mason blamed the
F'WA for slow processing of Lanham
fund applications. Mrs. Miller tolc
reporters later that the District ap-
plication for Lanham Act funds fol
nursery schools has not lever
reached her desk" which means that
1t is still in the hands of District
officials.
Agree to Omission.
Senator McCarran finally asked
Mrs. Miller and others who objected
to the elimination of the WPA sec.
ton of the bill, if they would sacri.
flee the whole bill for that section
Mrs. Miller and Miss Alice Mend.
ham, spokesman for 20 District or.
ganizations supporting H. R. 1922
said they would rather see the sec.
ton deleted.
Senator McCarran then emphatic.
ally stated that with Section de.
leted he would see that House anc
Senate conferees would meet 81,
hours after passage of the bill tt
get agreement on the omission o
WPA nurseries.
Others who testified at the hear
ing included: Miss Thelma Nickel
vey, principal assistant of women
program of operations at the Wa
Manpower Commission; Mrs. Eu
gene Meyer. Mrs. Mary Wheeler
of the Council of Women's Auxiliar
les. CIO; Mrs. Rose Alschuler, chair
man of the National Commission 70
Young Children; Miss Margaret
Hickey, chairman, women's advisor
committee of the War Manpowe
Commission; Miss Dorothy Pears.
director of the OCD day care ad
ministrative Office of the District
Mrs. Basil Manly, of the Distric
League of Voteless Women Voters
Corporation Counsel Richmond
Keech; Assistant Superintendent c
Schools r. l.. Haycock; Mrs. Louis
Ramirez of the Stanton Park are
Civilian Mobilization Division; Mr.
Albert Henderson. employe counselo
of the Navy Department. and Jac
Mink, secretary Of the Washingto
Industrial Union Council.