Evening star., 1951-07-26
House Group Drafts
Answer 10 DR.. Byrd
On GI Tuition Issue

The House committee exam
lining the CT education program
drafted a reply today to letter
from the University of Maryland
and at the same time worked on a
bill to prevent future "undesira-
BILE practices" at all participating
schools.
The committee has a bulky"
letter from President H. C. Byrd
of the University of Maryland
commenting on a General Ac-
counting Office survey report.
GAO investigators stated that the
university made 50 million be-
tween 1946 and 1949 through a
double tuition arrangement ap-
proved by the Veterans Admin
istration.
The text Of DR.. Byrd's letter
probably will be given out later
today by the committee along with
a reply. Committee sources said
they have no wish to take issue
with DR. Byrd or the university.
Whatever controversy exists,
they explained, seems to be main
ly between the VA and GAO in the
Interpretation of the law and
regulations. The committee will
reserve judgment until it holds
public hearings, probably within
two weeks, on the situation con-
cerning Maryland University as
we'll as many other colleges and
universities. they said.
Not Mentioned by Name.
The report. discussed at an
open hearing last Tuesday and
made available in full yesterday.
did not mention Maryland or any
other institution by name. Com
mittee Chairman league, Demo-
crat, Of Texas disclosed that
Maryland was the institution re-
ferred to in the following state
ment in the GAO survey report
of operation of the GI education
program:
"One Eastern university receiv-
ing the nonresident rate decided
to negotiate a contract providing
for compensation based on the
estimated cost of teaching per-
sonnel and supplies for instruc-
ton. However, the school was SO
successful in its dealings with VA
that it was able to collect both
the negotiated credit hour rates
and in addition its customary
fixed charge which was the only
charge made other students for
j tuition. This resulted in pay
ments of tuition in excess OF the
I costs of teaching personnel ana
I supplies for instruction allowable
under the statute.
"As a result Of favorable con-
4 tracts, Implications amounted TO
over So million during the three
y school years beginning in 1916
4 and ending in 1949."
. DR.. Byrd's letter, COMMITTEES
members said, amplitles WIN
considerable technical detail his
comments yesterday to reporters.
He declared that the university
complied strictly with the law and
VA regulations and actually re-
ceived much less money than was
necessary to educate student
veterans.
Korean Extension Opposed.
On the long-range scale the
House committee indicated it does
not favor general extension OF the
law to provide a Korean G1 Bill
'. of Rights" The deadline for en-
rollment of World War II veterans
! came yesterday.
- The committee is working on
Il possible legislation to tighten
l. present provisions. 1t is partic-
3 ularly concerned with GAO find
ings that more than $40 million
,r in overpayments were made to
% schools, and that faulty or per-
n haps improper payments for extra
= leave" by CT students totaled
J. almost SAL million. Those eSti-
ii mated were based on a compare
lively small number of schools
! surveyed in the program that has
- cost almost $l2 billion.
: Committee sources indicated
= that the proposed legislation
n would tighten up on veteran ELI
n gibility, cut the amount of out
l. right benefits and try to lower