Evening star., 1955-11-15
Virginia Halls
Subsidies for
Negro Students
Out-of-Stute Aid
Borred by Ruling;
56 Affected Here
By ALEX z. PRESTON

BY ALEX y. PHESIUN
Fifty-six Negro students In
Washington universities face
possible release from graduate
courses because Virginia has
called q halt to financial aid for
out-of-S State college training.
Attorney General J. Lindsay
Almond, jr.. ruled the State
could no longer make such pay
ments IN the light Of last weeks
State Supreme Court opinion
barring the spending Of public
funds for the education Of chill
dren in private schools or ir1sti-
tutions not controlled by the
State or local governments.
The State Department Of Edu-
cation said that out Of l28
Negro students now receiving
graduate aid, so are enrolled at
Howard University, two at
Georgetown, two at George
Washington, one at American
and one at Catholic University.
Comment Reserved
Ofiicials at birsars Offices who
could be reached today reserved
comment on this latest Develop
ment in Virginia's thorny segre-
CATION problem. They said the
attorney generals opinion. which
was issued yesterday. had not
given them time officially to be
notified.
The bursar,s ofiice at American
University. however. said that II
it was nottfied by Virginia that
tuition payments could no longer
be made, the student would be
told he would have to make other
arrangements.
Mr.. Almond said the oiit-of-
State colleges. at which some $50
Negroes attended last year. are
not owned or controlled by Vir-
ginia or its political subdivisions.
therefore the payments must
stop.
10 Bills Outstanding
An appropriation Of $3.50. 900
for this purpose. designated the
Graduate Aid Fund. was made
this year. SO far. payments Of
between SIS. 900 and $50 600 had
been made Ia the 128 persons.
Bills f0f the tuition Of la others
have not heSn received end can-
mot Be paid by tie state con-
|trolier, Mr.. Almond said.
Nj. Almond made his ruling
after eonfef4ing with Controller
Sidney G. Day Il. and Dowell
III. Howard, State superintendent
lof public instruction, and other
school and legal officials.
III. Aiinou1 expressed the
hope that In the event the State
Constitution Is amended to per-
INIT payment Of public funds
for education In schools not
controlled BY the State or its
subdivisions. Virginia would re-
appropriate these funds and dis
charge the legal obligation. but
over and above that. discharge
IVirginia's moral obligation To
these people who have proceeded
lin good faith !"
Amendment Of the constitu-
Ition is the crux Of the effort now
being made to prevent enforced
'integration in public schools.
Gov. Stanley yesterday called
the General Assembly into spe-
|cial session November 80 to take
the first step toward the consti-
|tutional change. The Assembly
win be asked to pass 8 bill set
ting the date for Q special refer
|endum on the question Of calling
ID limited Constitutional Conven-
tion.
Amendment 81 Section 14l to
permit payments for education
|of children in non-public schools
was one Of the recommendations
|of the Governors Commission
lon Public Education which re-
leased its report Saturday.
Referendum Planned
While the commission recon-
|mended only one piece Of Iegis-
|1ation for the special session Of
the Assembly. II outlined propos-
|als for other legislative action
after the amendment process. If
favored by the voters. Is cons
Ipleted
Under the bill which Gov.
STANLEY will offer to the special
session. the following referen-
dunn question viii be submitted
Ito the voters:
Shall there be q convention
Ito revise the Constitution and
amend the same?n
Gov. Stanley told reporters he
has had "very favorable reac-
tion to the commission report
which has proposed that the
Legislature give localities virtu-
ally q free hand to adjust and
operate their schools.
Representatives Tuck and
Abbitt. Virginia Democrats who
previously urged that integra-
ton be prohibited In any locality
without the approval Of voters,
gave qualified approval to the
commissions report.
MIR. Tuck said he approved the
main concentrations, but @ad-
Editional safeguards other, than
those set up in the report
are necessary and ] hope that
consideration may be given to
these at q later time" A
similar position was taken by
Mr.. Abbitt.
lRuise Given q, 900