The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1954-09-14
NO. 90
Public Schools Study
Commission to Start
Mapping State Answer
Public Hearings
TO Seek Views
On Segregation

Vlreinia's 30 member legislative
study commission. named last
month by Governor Stanley to
recommend a course Of action for
public education In the Old Do
minion. held its first meeting to-
day Monday in Richmond at
II a m.
The commission. composed of
members Of the General Assem-
bly-l3 senators and 10 delegates
including John II. Daniel. of
Charlotte c H Twas formed to
@e"k Virein,a answer to pro-
lens raised by the Supreme Court
opinion last MAY banning seer--
cation in the public schools.
Governor Stanley was expect
cd to meet with the commission
Monday morning That FIRST ses-
sion, after hearing the chief ex-
ecutlve. was devoted to details Of
organizing a plan Of study and
electing a chairman.
Public Hearings
In announcing formation of the
commission Governor Stanley
earlier had said it will be up to
that body to iX the nature and
scope of its inquiries.
He suggested. however. that ii
should begin as soon as possible to
hold public HEARINGS in various
parts of the state 50 as to give
all-comers chance to be heard
and determine the wishes of the
people Of Virginia
This prompt swing into action
may enable the commission to
produce recommendation that
would be available for presenta-
ton to the Supreme Court when
the nations highest judicial trib-
unal reopens hearings on the seq
regation issue this fall.
To Summon LAWYERS
1t had been announced last
month by the Governors office
that counsel for the Common
wealth and Prince Edward coun-
ty-Where the Virginia suit was
instituted-will be on hand to
present the views of the state and
county when tho court convenes
in WASHINGTON to make Il final
DEGREES. These will establish ways
of carrying out it's judicial opin-
ion.
Governor Stanley Attorney
General Almond and r. Justin
Moore attorney for the Prince
Edward county school board
have agreed that the lawyers
would 20 back to the court in the
interests of the Commonwealth
and Prince Edward county"
The Supreme Court is expected
TO recoyene next month, or later
in the fall, to hear additional ar
guments The courts original
opinion did not fix any date or
method for ending segregation
That last remaining task is to fol-
low the hearings in October,
Speciai Session Seen
Meanwhile, the study commits
sion's main job VIII be to recon-
mend plans for adoption after
the court S final decree ThoSr
recommendations may 90 TO Il
special session Of the General As
sembly after the courts opinion
is known.
Governor Stanley has announc-
cd that he has heard from al,
corners Of the Commonwealth
sufficiently to now know the feel
ings Of Virginia citizens He did
not state what these were but
said they were compounded from
steady flow Of resolutions. let
ters and mail from county and
city governments ORGANIZATIONS
and the public in general
Included in the flow were RS
olutions, opposing interrogation
in the public schools. from a num-
Der Of boards Of supervisors IN
this area Among these we're
Prince Edward. Buckingham.
Amelia and Powhatan.
Some groups IN Virginia voiced
opposition TO the Govnors COM
mission Of all legislators. stating
that it should have been bi-racial
and should have included more
educators
The chief executive held that
since the final course Of action
must come from the General As
sembly the legislators were the
proper ones to study the matter
He felt that their grounding IN
the forthcoming study and their
first-hand views obtained through
public hearing will make their
eventual decisions in the best in
terests of the Commonwealth.