Evening star., 1953-04-24
Two Candidates
Agree on Aid
For Education
Fenwick and Stanley
Differ on Method s
For Bottle Fund use
By Alex R. Preston
Star StoH CorrespeRdsns

Both Democratic candidates for
governor centered their primary
campaigns in the Roanoke area
today after promising more aid
to education, but by different
methods.
State Senator Charles r. Fen
wick of Arlington, followed up
an appearance before the Vir-
ginia Federation Of Women's
Clubs with a handshaking tour
Of Roanoke city and county and
was to deliver what he promised
would be a fighting speech on
radio and television here to-
night.
His opponent. former Repre-
sentative Thomas B. Stanley,
was cloSeted with his campaign
leaders in this area this morning
before returning to his home
in Henry County.
Discuss Battle Fund"
In talks before the Women's
Federation convention banquet
last night, both candidates told
what they would do with the So
called Battle fund" for school
construction which originally
amounted to $75 million and Of
which about $33 million remains.
Both suggested that localities,
which have not been able to
raise sufficient funds locally to
avail themselves of grants from
the fund, should be given an OPP
portunity to do so. Mr.. Stanley
said the entire $33 million should
be reappropriated for this pur-
pose.
Mr.. Fenwick. on the other
hand. contended that the State
literary fund from which school
construction loans are made to
localities. is the real bottleneck
to construction"
He said localities should have
a reasonable length of time" in
which to obtain grants from the
Battle fund. but he proposed
placing SIS million in the literary
fund from revenues which so
far have gone into the Battle
fund. The reason for this, he
explained, is that there is q
backlog of loan applications
from the literary fund amount
ing to $14 million involving -
school construction r"oiects.
Teacher Pay d.
Both candidate 3iterated
their support of hig.1er teacher
salaries, but Mr.. FenWick came
out for the first time with def
mite figures.
Declaring that higher salaries
are needed to attract teachers,
Mr.. Stanley said, II advocate an
increase in the present minimum
and maximum salaries through
additional State and local funds.
It will be my goal to see that the
present maximum is reached in
shorter period through higher
annual incrementS."
Mr.. Fenwick said he would
raise the minimum from $4,000
to $2,400 annually with incre-
ments of $3.50 a year for eight
years.
Mr.. Fenwick injected another
new idea into his campaign when
he said he would recommend
that the General Assembly au-
thorize communities to borrow
money for school construction
from the State retirement fund,
a practice not now permitted.
He also offered for the first
time. proposal that a new ap-
pointment be made in the State
Board of Education. The new
official would be a person spe-
cially trained in educating men,
tally retarded and physically
handicapped children.
Hospital Fund Plan.
The Arlington lawmaker made
a fourth new point in his CAM
paign when he offered a plan for
reducing the amounts localities
would have to pay for hospital
construction to be eligible for
Federal funds under the Hill
Burton Act.
Previously. the State and Fed
eral Governments advanced IS
per cent Of the funds while the
locality put up As per cent. But
because the State has not appro-
priated enough money, the local.
tiles now must advance 81 per
cent.
To restore this formula to the
original ratio. in favor of the To-
calities. Mr.. Fenwick said he
would recommend for inclusion
in his first budget $1.611.999 to
increase the States share.
Mr.. Stanley urged improve
ments in the State retirement
system by advocating that the
average Of the five highest con-
secutive years Of salary be used
in determining retirement bene-
fits, instead of the last five years.
as at present"
Mr.. Stanley offered two 9th.
er new points to his program.
II am" he told the women.
"in accord with your resolution
expressing a desire to see that
the jailing Of children will soon
be reduced to a minimum and
that the 1854 General Assembly
provide additional funds to put
into effect on a Statewide basis
the juvenile system for which
legal provision was made at the
1852 session.
Virginia has a shortage Of
trained nurses. This condition
must not be permitted to con-
tinue any longer than absolutely
necessary. I shall favor rea-
sonably increased appropriations
for nurse education"
J 000 m Graduate