Evening star., 1949-08-24
Lack Of Quorum
BaIks Action on
Education Bills
il Attend, Committee
Chuirmun and Others
Stoy Outside Room
Rv Pohayk Y wnieh
By Robert K. Welsh

Committee on Federal aid to edu-
cation bills failed today for lack
of a quorum and the inability of
opposing members to agree on a
suggested regular meeting late
next month.
Only II of the 13 members who
yesterday filed petition for to-
days meeting showed up for the
session. A half dozen others on
the 25-member committee spent
most of the time In adjoining
rooms and finally went into the
committee room early this after
noon. to late for any action under
the rules.
Chairman Lesinski was among
those who finally entered the
committee room after refusing for
two hours to join the signers of
the petition that was circulated
by Representative Sims. Demo-
crat. of South Carolina. When
he did go in MFR. Lesinski refused
to- preside and contended that
there had been no regular meet
ing. :.
Urge Late September Meeting.
The reason for the petition. Mr..
Sims said, was that the chairman
had delayed unduly long in call
ing meeting for action on the
highly controversial measures
which, among other things, have
created bitter dispute on a re-
ligious issue involving a proposal
to extend the suggested Federal
funds to parochial schools for
services such as bus transporta-
tion.
Included among the bills is the
Barden bill, prohibiting payment
Of Federal funds for nonpublic
schools. -.
Several Republican members.
including Representatives McCon-
nell of Pennsylvania. Gwinn OF
New York. Kearns of Pennsyl-
vania and Nixon of California,
conferred in a nearby room and
went into the committee room
after IL O'Clock. They said they
would support a recommended
move for a meeting Of the full
committee September ~ for posi-
BILE action on the half dozen bills
on the Federal aid subject.
Nothing Accomplished.
When the meeting broke up
shortly before1 pm. Mr.. Lesi1-
ski. Mr.. Sims and others said
that nothing was accomplished. "
They declared that the opposing
groups were unable to agree on a
formal meeting of the full COM
mittee for any specific date. They
also said there was no discussion
Of any bill.
In their efforts to obtain a
quorum, the petition signers sum-
moned Representative Bailey.
Democrat, Of West Virginia from
a. vacation in California. MFR.
Bailey landed at National Airport
shortly after IL o'clock and hur-
ried to the House Of1ice Building.
That still. left only ii members
present instead Of the 13 required
for q quorum.
The two petition signers who
did not attend were Representa-
tives Morton. Republican, of Ken
lucky and Powell. Democrat. OF
New York. Mr.. Powell sent word
he favored a compromise bill
sponsored by Representative
Burke, Democrat. of Ohio. re-
stricting the proposed Federal
funds to payment of teachers in
public schools in the various
States.
Religion Is an Issue.
Before today's attempt to meet,
members cited the following main
reasons why committee members
might not be able to agree or
might prefer to let the whole
matter ride until the next ses-
sion.
The religious issue controversy
which has flared over the ques-
ton Of giving proposed funds for
transportation and other "auxil-
larry" services for nonpublic school
children.
The difference of opinion. in
volving a States rights" argu-
ment, as to the kind and extent
of control over the distribution Of
Federal money allotted to States
for improvement of education.
Finally, the opposition Of some
members to any kind of Federal
aid of this kind. >or at least to
all States.
The touchy subject of possible
use Of Federal money for parochial
school uses caused another flare
up yesterday after the close Of \
two4day round table" discussion
ofcommittee members and spokes-
men for organizations interested
in the legislation.
baptist Spokesman Withdraws.
pf. Joseph M. Dawson, public
relations director for the Baptist
Conference Committee. stated last
night he was withdrawing from
those discussions. He asserted
that Chairman Lesinski. a Catho-
licyicut him off yesterday when
heattempted to read from a book
letEEindicating that the Rev. VIII
liam e. McManus. assistant direc-
torllpf the educational division Of
theM National Catholic Welfare
Conference. advocated full aid
toNatholic schools.
T8o far In this controversy"
Or. Dawson asserted, "it appears
tosbe the strategy OF the Catholics
toslkiil free speech and constitu-
tiolaal action by hurting the