Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-27

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Federal Aid 10 Schools
In Backward States
Congress had before 1t today q
warning from former President
Hoover that the pending Federal
aid to education bill would
almost Immediately bring abou,
the beginnings Of Federal bureau
cratic control"
Mr.. Hoover suggested that elm
mating nonbackward States from
the srants-in -aid could cut In halt
the proposed appropriation OF
$500, 600. 900. He said this would
not only limit both Federal and
State costs Of government. but
would also limit unnecessary
bureaucratic expansion.
The former Presidents discus
sion OF the bill was contained In
q letter to Representative McCon-
nell of Pennsylvania. ranking Re-
publican member Of the House
Education Committee. Mr.. Nc
Connell had written Mr.. Hoover
requesting his views on the meas
ure which has passed the Senate
and Ii now before the committee
OF which Mr.. Mcconnell is 4
member.
Agrees with Eisenhower.
II agree wholeheartedly," Mr..
Hoover wrote, with some Of Gen.
Eisenhower's recent observations
In which he pointed out that this
act will become another vehicle
for the believers in paternalism
and additional national GEN.
tralisation of power. and that the
very attempts at safeguards are
admission Of the dangers inherent
IN it."
While the bill gives special at
tention to the backward States,
Mr.. Hoover said, 1t is based on
involved economic calculations in
stead Of upon certain specific
standards Of education which
should be established.
He suggested these standards
could be based on "the average
educational performance of. say,
30 Of the most forward States"
The standards. he added. should
include teachers fitness and sal
aries. hours Of attendance, facili-
ties and "an additional standard
"'' Of nondiscrimination with
reference to race or religion"
Would Curb Drives.
In addition TO limiting the cost,
the elimination Of the nonback-
ward States, MIR. Hoover said.
would:
l. Keep the camel's head out Of
probably 80 per cent Of the Ma
tons educational tents.
2. BY focusing public opinion,
stimulate backward States which
have resources to meet the Ma
tional standards.
8. Curb Nationwide drives upon
Congress for new and 13rter
grants-in-aid by special groups
and interests. He said such drives
are inevitable from any general
srants-in-aid method Of Govern
ment operation.
TO place q Federal bureau
eracy over the whole system will
be, in my mind, q disaster to edu-
cational progress" Mr.. Hoover
seld.a-------- -s-ssssa-sssssyzrs'n'1
Increased Grants Noted.
The former President assailed
the grants-in-aid system general
~ which, he said. had increased
from 100000, 900 to $1,000, 000.-
900 in 20 years. He said the sys-
TEN makes inevitable the placing
of q Federal bureaucracy into die
tatorship over State and local adj
ministrations, and puts the
camel's head Of Federal control
either under the tent Of local
self-government or close to It,"
IT we are to attempt to cure
education Ills by the Federal
grants-in-sid method. then the
problem ID how to do 1t with the
least evil consequences" he de-
elared.
He criticised the Senate passed
bill as making, In one section.
drastic provisions against Federal
bureaucratic idictations, and in
later sections making require
ments of the States which would
almost Immediately bring about
the beginnings of Federal bureau
sratic control"
While the bill tries to direct
the major aid to backward States,
he said, 1t ALSO has the pork
barrel appendage Of % for every
child In the economically strong
States % we'll"