Evening star., 1948-02-20
Budget Bureau Asks
End 10 Leisure-Time
Study Under GI Bill
By GEORGE Beveridqe

The Budget Bureau has asked
Congress to revise the GI bill to
wipe out leisure time" train
ing by war veterans. which Is
costing the Government well
over $2OO,OOO,O00 a year, it was
learned today.
Budget Director James E. Webb
made the request in letters to key
committees yesterday.
He slapped particularly at "avoca-
tional' flying lessons which he said
are costing 100000, 900 alone.
Courses in ballroom dancing,
music, photography and applied
horsemanship" are among others
enrolling thousands Of GI trainees
for instruction that goes beyond
the intentions of Congress, he said
Asks Limit on Courses.
Mr.. Webb urged that GI train
ing. except in elementary and hlgh
schools, colleges and universities
be limited exclusively to courses
that prepare veterans for definite
Jobs or "occupational advance
ment."
Without celebrating, President
Truman mentioned the desire fol
such legislation briefly in his re-
cent budget message.
Meanwhile, members OF Congress
who have hesitated to propose cuts
in any veterans programs, particu.
larly in an election year, now have
definite program before them
The letter, and a report made from
information supplied by the 'Vet.
erans' Administration, were brought
into the open at a hearing on flight
training today before House Vet
erans' Subcommittee.
Audience Surprised.
The Budget Bureau report came
as a surprise to representatives o.
the air industry and schools wht
appeared at the hearing to testify
against any proposed Legislative
changes in the flight training pro-
gram.
Three members of Congress alst
defended strongly the veterans fly
ing courses. They were Represen'
tatives Elston and Weichel, Repub'
licans, of Ohio, and Bradley, Re
publican, of California.
/ John H. Wilson of Chicago, chair
man of the Flight Training Com
mittee of the National Aviation
Trades Association. urged Congress!
to remove flight training from SUI
pervision of the Veterans Admin,
istration, and to put it directly
under the Civil Aeronautics Admin,
istration.
He charged that VA sis not only
inexperienced, but has deliberately
tried to kill this program by admin
istrative f1nesse."
VA Regulation Criticized.
Fred G.. Reiners. an Ohio State
Senator representing six Ohio uni
versities. criticized VA for issuing
controversial regulation last year. 1
stopped veterans from taking fligh
training as an elective in college!
and using part Of their $500 annua
tuition allowance to pay for it.
H. v. Stirling, VA education chief
said the regulation was issued be.
cause many schools were abusing
the program. Only about 5000 o,
the 10000 veterans in flight train
ing were going to college, VA Off
cials said. The others were taking
the lessons in private schools.
Committee members demanded tt
know whether VA wrote the Budget
Bureau report. Mr.. Stirling said i
did not, and that mo one in VA il
opposing flight training. We have
taken no stand on it."
Schools Shifting Emphasis.
Mr.. Webb said that, while mos
training has been going we'll unde.
the GI bill, many schools hav'
shifted emphasis from vocationa
opportunities for veterans to prom
ises of fun and enjoyment" HI
added:
"One advertisement for cours'
in ballroom dancing asks, Are Yo,
Tapped by the Best Dancers? ane
offers in few magic hours to make
veterans the darlings of the stae
line
A flight training advertisement
the report continued, urged veter'
ans to Know the exhilaration OF
flying on inspired clear days or the