Evening star., 1949-04-08

Hamilton, U. S. A., formerly a
member of the District Board Of
Education, and others.
Seeks Increase.
DR.. Corning asked for an in
crease in the contract authorize
tion for the Spingarn project,
from it's present $2.505,000 to
SO, 800, 900, and restoration of the
previous appropriation of $1,187,-
399. which the House had rescinded
and thus made unavailable.
He said Congress had recognized
the need of this school for six
years, that the only three colored
high schools in the city now were
in the central part of the city. all
overcrowded, with one running
triple shift. Unless the overcroWd-
ing and shortage Of facilities were
relieved by the new school, he
predicted a tragedy and serious
! injustice" would result, particularly
in the danger of losing accredita-
ton.
Senator Saltonstall, Republican,
of Massachusetts asked how the
Spingarn School could be built
without revenue from the new
revenue bill.
Mason Proposes Loan.
Commissioner Guy Mason sug-
gested short-term loan, author
lied by Congress, to which Com
missioner j. Russell Young agreed.
Engineer Commissioner Gordon
r. Young said he recognized the
need, but would not favor a loan
unless he was assured the city
would have sufficient revenue to
amortize it.
Senator Hunt asked the Com
missioners whether they all felt
sales tax was preferable"
They all nodded assent.
Col. Hamilton charged that If
Congress fails to appropriate for
the Spingarn School, it would be
breaking faith with the citizens
of the District" and added "it
would be dishonest"
DR.. Strayer laid before the SUBJ
committee an analysis of his 800
page survey of District schools,
which had been made public pre-
viously. He stressed the greater
need for colored schools.
Emphasizing the low salaries
paid teachers here. he said the
District stood number 18 in a list
of 20 large cities in this partic-
ular. The $3.50 pending raise. he
said, was his first and funda-
mental recommendation"
Sick leave for teachers was
strongly urged by DR.. Strayer.
When asked how much it would
cost annually. he replied about
$188, 900 a year. DR.. Corning an
nounced legislation to give teach
ers 10 days of sick leave each year,
cumulative to go days had been
approved by the Board of Educa-
tion and the Commissioners, and
now was before the Budget Bu-
reau.
Chairman McGrath of the Sem
ate District Committee recon-
mended the item Of $188, 900
should 60 into the pending city
supply bill.
~''I think it should" DR.. Strayer
responded.
DR.. Corning, asking for restora-
ton of several items eliminated by
the House from the budget,
charged the House did some
cruel cutting If the cuts stand.
he predicted that service of the
schools will be seriously impaired"
Questions Bell School Fund.
Senator Hill asked about an item
of $225 900 for Bell Vocational
School, not in the budget or re-
quested restorations, but about
which some one had inquired of
the subcommittee.
DR.. Corning explained that the
item had not yet cleared the Dis
trict commissioners. but had been
proposed to build a wing on the
Powell School. Some vocational
students already have been moved
from the Bell Vocational School
at Seventh and o streets NV. The
Bell building is so old it should be
torn down. DR.. Corning said. He
said it was planned eventually to
move all the vocational students
to the Powell building and vacate
the Bell building to make way for
a new colored school.
Mr.. Fowler, asked by commit