Evening star., 1943-10-27
|PresidentAsks
Billion 10 School
War Veterans
Congress Is Told Men
Must Be Prepared
For Postwar Jobs

mended to Congress today by
President Roosevelt, who said
that lack of money should not
prevent any veteran of this war
from equipping himself for the
most useful employment for
which his aptitude and willing
ness qualify him."
Mr.. Roosevelt, in a message. said
ne believed the Nation was morally
obligated" to provide training and
education and necessary financial
assistance to service personnel. that
1t was an obligation which should
be recognized now, and that "legisla-
ton to that end should be enacted
as soon as possible
I'VE must replenish our supply of
persons qualified to discharge the
heavy responsibilities of the post
war world" Mr.. Roosevelt said. I'VE
nave taught our youth how to wage
war; we must also teach them how
to live useful and happy lives in
freedom, justice and decency."
Two Main Proposals.
Based on the preliminary report
OF a special committee on educa-
tlonal rehabilitation headed by Brig
Gen. Frederick H. Osborn, the Pres
ldent set forth these two principal
proposals:
l. The Federal Government
should make it financially feasible
for every man and woman who has
served honorably for minimum
period (six months in the armed
forces since September l6, 1910 (ef-
fective date OF selective service to
spend period up to one calendar
year in a school, college, a tech
meal institution, or in actual train
ing IN industry so that he can fur
ther his education, learn a trade or
acquire the necessary knowledge and
skill for farming, commerce, manu-
featuring or other pursuits"
z. In addition, the Federal Gov
eminent should make it financially
possible for limited number of ex-
servicemen and women, selected for
their special aptitudes, to carry on
thelr general. technical or profess
sional education for a further pe-
riod OF one, two or three years"
Funds Are for Maintenance.
The President added that this
assistance from Government should
include not only cost of instruction
put q certain amount of money for
his the beneficiary's) maintenance
The money invested in this train
ing and schooling program will reap
rich dividends in higher produc-
tivity, more intelligent leadership
and greater human happiness"
Inc message is the second dealing
with veteran rehabilitation that the
President has sent to the Hill in the
last three months. The earlier mes
sage incorporated study by a spe-
clai committe which recommended
certain severance pay and other al
lowances for veterans.
The education-study committee
was appointed by Mr.. Roosevelt last
November when he signed the bill
authorizing the drafting of ls and
10 year old youths.
May Benefit One Million.
IL was estimated that the total
cost OF maintaining an individual in
an educational institution for one
year would be approximately $500 as
compared with $500, exclusive of
ordnance and overhead, required to
MAINTAIN an enlisted man on active
duty for a year.
On the basis of an armed force of
$4,000, 900, the committee figured that
minimum of 100000 persons
might be expected to be interested
IN resuming courses interrupted BY
the war or in undertaking new
studies.
In his message the President ex-
planned that while the Government
should provide the money and see
that 1t is spent wisely the control
OF the educational processes ard the
certification of trainees and students
should reside in the States and To-
calities."
Want State Cooperation.
The committee suggested that the
President call on the Governor of
each State to set UP an agency that
would assist individual institutions
TO develop programs which best
would meet the needs of the ex-
service personnel and in other WAYS
seek to foster the program.
The committee said it believed
that the administration of the first
year program can and should be
kept simple. While the States. it
explained, should be responsible for
certifying those to get the training
the only requirement need be that
each person designated shall have
mad the six months service and
shall have been admitted to an an
proved educational institution.
Choosing the individuals to re-
ceive financial help from the Federal
Government beyond one year will
necessarily be more complicated, +"
the committee said.
This will involve the establish
ment OF national quotas, the assign
ment Of subquotas to the States on
an equitable basis and the selection
by the several States of individuals
who have demonstrated their ability
and whose further education gives
promise of contributing to the elm
lnation of the educational gan
caused by the war"
Early Survey Urged.
In this same connection, the COM
mittee said the Federal Government
should undertake to gather informa
ton as to the desires of service peo-
pie for further education, and it ex-
pressed the opinion that those with
"clearcut and feasible plans to get
ahead with their education after
discharge should be given as much
preference as possible in securing
this discharge"
Correspondingly, it was added, ar
rangements would have to be made
for the early discharge OF instruc-
tors.
The President said in his message
that while there may be differences
as to some Of the details (of the
propossD I am confident that the
(see EDUCATION, Page A-zJ