Evening star., 1949-07-23
barden Education Bill
Has Little Chance for
Action This Session

The Barden bill. storm center of
broad controversy which has in
cluded a sharp exchange Of views
between Francis Cardinal Spell
man and Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt,
actually has little chance of COM
ing up for action in this session of
Congress.
This is the situation:
The Senate passed a Federal
Iaid-to-education measure In May
This bill skirted the hot issues of
racial segregation in schools and
assistance to private and parochial
schools.
It did not attempt to enforce
nonsegregation by Withholding
Federal money from segregated
school systems. 1t provided, mere
ly, that there be fair and equit-
able" aportionment Of money as
between white and colored schools.
A $55 minimum expenditure per
pupil would be applied to colored
schools to further this aim.
Would Allow Federal Grants.
While recognizing the Supreme
Court decision holding against the
use of tax money for the support
of private and parochial schools,
the Senate decided that bus
transportation, health aids and
similar benefits could be con-
sidered grants to pupils, rather
than to the schools.
1t was provided, therefore. that
any State giving such benefits to
private and parochial pupils with
State funds also could use Federal
grants for these purposes.
A House labor subcommittee,
headed by Representative Barden,
Democrat. Of North Carolina.
then received the bill for con-
sideration
The subcommittee decided to
substitute its own version of the
aid measure. This would pro-
hibit use of Federal funds for any
services to private and parochial
pupils.
1t also would permit a citizen
who believed public money was
being spent in connection with
non-public schools to seek court
Injunction.
Called Bill Unfair.
The Barden bill has no require
ment of minimum financial sup
port for colored schools.
Cardinal Spellman and other
Catholic leaders attacked the
Barden measure as "anti-Catholic
discrimination"
He contended the bill was un-
fair in that 1t provided for inclu-
sion Of parochial school pupils in
the count of school children form
ing the base for each States Fed
eral grant. but denied these pu-
pills any Of the benefits of the
money.
Numerous non-Catholic spokes-
men defended the bill. however, as
In keeping with the Nations ira
ditional policy of church-state
separation.
Despite the subcommittee IA
vorable report, the full House
Labor Committee has pigeonholed
the Barden measure.
Chairman Lesinski has Joined in
the objections to the proposed
treatment of parochial schools. He
leans toward a plan which would
give aid only to certain poor
States and use the Senate formula
with respect to payment to non
public institutions.
Southerners Oppose Measure.
The committee considered such
bill. but members from Southern
States. intended to receive the
principal benefits, didn't like it..
Mr.. Lesinski says he sees no
chance of the committees report
ing out any bill this year.
This approach. however. has the
support of former President Her
bert Hoover and a number of edu-
Gators, including Gen. Eisenhower,
president of Columbia University.
and Harold Stassen, head Of the
University Of Pennsylvania.
The National Catholic Welfare
Conference is backing q bill Of
fered by Representative Fogarty,
Democrat, of Rhode Island. SINH
lar to the Senate bill, 1t would
provide also that Federal money
could be paid directly to nonpublic
schools for health and transporta-
tion services and nonreligious
textbooks in States prohibiting use
of State funds for benefits to
pupils In other than public schools.
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