Evening star., 1955-11-15
Virginia Halls Funds
For Outside Studies
Ruling Affects
56 Negroes in
D. G. Colleges
By ALEX R. PRESTON

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Fifty-six Negro studente In
Washington universities zee
possible release from graz .te
courses because Virginia mas
called a halt TO financial aid for
out-of-Sta 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
dten in private schools or insti-
tutions not controlled by the
State or local governments.
The State Department Of Edu-
cation said that out OF 1913
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
officials at bursars 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 bursars Office at American
University, however, said that il
lit was notified 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 out-of-
State colleges. at which some $50
Negroes attended last year. are
not owned or controlled by vir.
Iginia or its political subdivisions,
therefore the payments must
stop.
Is Bills Outstanding
An appropriation OF $3.50, 900
for this purpose. designated the
Graduate Aid Fund, .7as made
this year. So far, payments Of
between SOS. 1000 and $4,000 had
been made to the 1913 persons.
Bills for the tuition of Is others
have not been received and can.
not be paid by the State con-
troller. Mr.. Almond said.
Mr.. Almond made his ruling
after conferring with Controller
Sidney G. Day, jr., and Dowell
u. Howard. State superintendent
Iof public instruction, and other
school and legal officials.
MIR. Almond expressed the
hope that in the event the State
Constitution is amended to per-
NIT 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
Virginia's moral obligation to
these people who have proceeded
| in GOOD faith /"
Amendment Of the constitu-
ton is the crux Of the effort now
being made to prevent enforced
integration in public schools.
Gov. Stanley yesterday called
the General Assembly into spec
lcial session November 80 to take
the first step toward the consti-
tutional change. The Assembly
will be asked to pass a bin set
ting the date for q special refer
|endum on the question Of calling
Ia limited Constitutional Conven-
ton.
Amendment Of Section I4I to
permit payments for education
|of children in non- public schools
was one of the recommendations
|of the Governors Commission
on Public Education which re-
leased its report Saturday.
Referendum Planned
While the Commission recom-
Imended only one piece of legis.
Ilation for the special session OF
the Assembly. it outlined propos-
ais for other legislative action
after the amendment process. il
favored by the voters, is COM
Ipleted
Under the bill which Gov.
Stanley win offer to the special
session, the following referen-
dunn question viii be submitted
to the voters:
Shall there be a convention
to revise the Constitution and
amend the same?"
Gov. Stanley told reporters he
has had very favorable" reac-
ton to the commission report
which has proposed that the
legislature give localities virtu-
ally q free hand to adjust ana
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 recommendations, but "ad-
ditional safeguards other than
those set up in the report
are necessary and I hope that
consideration may be given to
these .. at q later time" A
similar position was taken by