Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-03-10
Approval Seen
For Hiring 96
Extra Teachers
D. 6. Committees
Expected to Back
Wilkinson's PIon
Rv Dor e Worr,n
By Don S. Worren


that Congress will get committee
recommendations to employ g
larger number of teachers thar
now are budgeted for 1851 in q
new move to reduce the size OF
classes in eolored schools.
Awaiting action in the Senate
and House District Appropriations
subcommittee are proposals to
hire Sc extra teachers instead
of So.
If this is done the size of classes
in the colored schools would be
brought much nearer the stand
ards set by the Board of Educa-
ton, DR.. Garnet C. Wilkinson, as
sistant superintendent of schools
yesterday told the District Sub
committee of the Senate Appro-
priations Committee.
His stepped-up teacher plan
was promptly Endorsed by School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning. II
brought no contest from District
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
who said he thought DR.. Wilkin-
son had made his case"
Senator Hunt Convinced.
And one member of the Senate
funds group, Senator Hunt, DEM
ocrat, of Wyoming, told reporters
he was convinced the extra SO
teachers should be added.
The budget officer previously
had brought out that the District
Commissioners already had taken
steps to relieve the colored school
classes by making lapsed funds
available last month for the i'm
mediate hire of So additional col
ored school teachers.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, Senate subcommittee chair
man, asked DR.. Wilkinson to SUBJ
NIT a formal statement support
ing the increased teacher budget
proposal. DR.. Wilkinson said the
Bates Subcommittee of the House
had made a similar request re-
Gently.
Senate hearings on the 1851
District budget are in recess until
10 am. Tuesday, but the argu-
ment about school needs con-
tinues. "A parent living in the
Washington Highlands section said
last night Southeast Spokesman
are prepared to challenge recent
statements by DR.. Corning that it
may be possible to end all ele-
mentary part-time classes by next
fall.
Some Part-time White Schools.
A year or two ago there were
$500 colored pupils on part-tim
instruction and now there are
none, DR.. Wilkinson said. Atten-
ton now is being directed, he said,
to bringing down the diversified
classes by employment of more
teachers.
The. only part-ti time elementary
school classes remaining, the Sen
ate hearing brought out, are in
white schools.
This problem in the Southeast
area is expected to be explored
before the Senate hearings end.
When DR.. Corning returns to
the stand Tuesday, the Senate
subcommittee is expected to take
up budget plans for capital out
lay. For new school building
projects, the pending budget calls
for an outlay of more than 81
million, far short of what school
officials had requested last fall,
There was long debate yesterday
over proposals that District Audi
tor A. r. Pilkerton be given the
work of preparing payrolls and
doing accounting work for the
schools, libraries and recreation
department. as well for as District
agencies directly under the con-
troll of the Commissioners.
Asks Equipment Funds.
Mr.. Pilkerton argued for funds
for the rental of punch card and
other modern business office ma
chimes to handle this work. He
quoted Controller General Lindsay
c. Warren of the General Ac-
counting Office in support.
DR.. Corning, however, main
tanned there are solid reasons
why the schools should continue
to prepare its own payrolls. He
quoted the $4,000 Strayer report
on schools as buttressing this
position. The School Board, DR.
Corning said, had twice con-
sidered the requested change and
rejected it.
Budget Officer Fowler brought
out that the Board of Welfare
also semi-autonomous board
had agreed to give the central
auditing control plan a trial. But
DR.. Corning would not 60 alone
with the demonstration plan idea
Dent Asks Personnel Cut.
Assessor Edward A. Dem
startled Senate committeeman
by recommending that they dror
four authorized positions from
his own payroll. BY the use O.
punch-card machines, Mr.. Den
said, he found these four job,
were not needed in the sales ia,
division.
Senator Ferguson, Republican
of Michigan commented: 81 thinl
you ought to get a medal fol
that"
Tax Collector Guy w. Pearson
asked for three additional col.
lectors of parking meter nickels
This brought an immediat.
demand from Senator Ferguson
as to why policemen cannot col,
lect the money while patrollinl
their beats.
Mr.. Pearson said that, if polio.
had to do this work, they woule
have less time to spend on theil
regular duties.