Evening star., 1950-04-26
Federal School Aid
Urged TO Offset Load
Near Big Installations

uSuI DIS uiStusIUttVtIS
Congress received new demands
today to provide financial help for
communities whose school prob
lens are aggravated by proximity
70 big Federal installations.
Citizens Of II States vino at
tended a mass meeting last night
In Western High School forwarded
a resolution to the Capitol, urging
passage of two pending House
measures that would relieve their
school burdens.
Members of the Senate and
House were among those in the
audience, as speakers made out a
case for emergency aid. The mass
meeting was sponsored by the
Metropolitan Citizens Committee
for the Public Schools, with Mrs.
Agnes E. Meyer as chairman.
The spokesmen offered statistics
to show that the Government
deals some communities a double
blow in establishing certain mill
tary and civilian projects. First
1t acquires vast areas of taxable
land which, as Federal property,
are no longer source of revenue.
Then it saddles the communities
with the problem of educating
thousands of children in families
that move in to build and operate
the projects.
Like European Problem.
DR.. H. C. Byrd, president of the
University of Maryland, declared
the problems thus posed in this
country are not unlike problems
in Europe. Both, he asserted, re-
suit from big movements of pop
ulation. He said:
IF the Federal Government can
afford to spend billions of dollars
In Europe supporting population
movements, how can it refuse to
spend o few million in this coun-
try to support population move
ments of our own people?"
The educator scored those who
object to Federal aid to localities
because it will bring Federal con-
troll.
II have spent millions of dollars
Of Federal money" he said. "yet,
! have never had one person try
to control the way I spent single
dollar Of that amount"
DR.. Byrd declared the House
bills. introduced by Representative
Bailey, Democrat, of West Vir-
ginia, represent an investment in
security.
Plights of Towns Cited.
His remarks came after the citi-
Sens of several States described
the plight of their home towns.
Mrs. Wells Harrington, Mayor
OF Greenbelt, Md, said critical
school situation resulted in the
Washington Metropolitan Area
because so many workers we're
needed to man Federal installa-
tionS of all kinds.
She said Maryland has recog-
nized its responsibility in the crisis
by setting up both grants-in-aid
and loan fund available for To-
cal construction programs. The
Federal Government must no
longer delay recognition of its re-
sponsibility, she asserted.
An air depot in Midwest City,
Okla, has caused the school popu-
lation to rise from 108 in 1912 to
more than $500 in 1850, said
Manly Moore.
James K. Sims of Planeview,
KanS., said his community is
owned entirely by the Govern
ment. Ever since it was organized,
he said, the town has operated on
deficit financing. Although the
personal property tax rate has
been doubled. Mr.. Sims said, there
is not enough money to care for
the local school situation.
Hold United States Responsible.
THE responsibility for those
people (who have moved to Plane
view rests squarely on the shoul-
ders of the United States Govern
ment," he held.
Others telling their stories were
Mrs. Hermes F. Gautier, Pasca-
goula, Fla: j. E. D. Wagner,
Charles Town. w. Va, and Harvey
Montague, Mad River Township,
Ohio.
School Supt. William A. Early
Of Arlington emphasized that SIM
liar problems confront all commu-
mites in or near large Federal
installations. He and others praised
subcommitteeS of the House Ed
ucation and Labor Committee for
making a countrywide inspection
trip to study the impact of the
installations on schools.
Terms of the two Bailey bills
were explained by Henry F. Alves
and B. Alden Lilywhite, consult
ants to the subcommittee consid-
ering them. They would provide
money for construction as well as
operation of schools.
About 800 persons attended the
mass meeting. They came from
the District, Virginia. Maryland
Florida, Ohio. California, Michi-
gan, Illinois, South Carolina, Iowa
Kansas, Alabama, Pennsylvania
Indiana, Georgia. Washington
State, West Virginia and Arizona
One man said he was from Alaska
RuiIroud Death Rute Low
United States railroads Travelled
about 35A billion passenger miles