Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-30
Two Law Deans
Differ on School
Grants Issue

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Two Virginia law school dean
today differed in their views OF
the constitutionality Of tie pro
posed public grants for privat'
schooling Mt issue in the Janu
AIRY 9 referendum.
University Of Richmond Dear
William T. Muse said that 1
the mendment Is Adopted, h,
was inclined to think" thu
resulting school system woulc
prove constitutional.
But Dean F. D. @. Ribhle Of
the University of Virginia. sale
he would expect the United
States Supreme Court to finc
Unconstitutional the provision,
for payments sustaining the
segregated schools. however the
payments might be handled"
yirglnians will vote on whether
Ia convention should be held x
amend the State constitution tt
permit public grants for private
schooling, an effort at avoiding
lintegrat ton Of Negro and white
pupils.
Dean Ribble's Views
Dean Ribble had this to say:
.plete autonomy"
ct seems clear that the United
States Supreme Court is very
likely TO find the maintenance oil
segregated schools entirely OF
chiefly through State subsidies
to be within its ban. though the
schools have substantial or COM
.plete autonomy"
Dean Ribble referred to a re-
cent test case in which Virginia {
State Supreme Court had held
invalid the Virginia act appro-
priating money for payment oil
tuition and for certain war or
phans.
Foresees Court Reaction
Thus Dean Ribble said. "tfe
court held that appropriations to
pay tuition and other educational
costs, whatever might be me-
chanics Of handling. was an APP
preparation to the school al
which the money was to be ex-
pended within the meaning OF
the Virginia Constitution.
IF the Supreme Court Of the
United States follows the reason
ing Of this decision of our Su-
preme Court Of Appeals, 1t will
find that payments Of educa-
tional costs of persons to enable
them to attend segregated
schools is payment to such
schools.
Accordingly" said Dean Rib
BILE. II would expect the United
States Supreme Court to find
unconstitutional the provision:
for payments sustaining the seq
regatnd schools however the pay
ments might be handled. OF
course. if the proposed schools
are to be operated on a nom
segregated basis, this would not
arise"
Doubts Effect on Gray Plan
A Justice Department official
has expressed the veiw In WASH
ington that a court test would
upset any plans by a State to
avoid pupil indignation by mere
ly changing the name Of It's
schools from public" to "pri-
vate."
A spokesman for the State
wide organization supporting a
favorable vote in the referendum
said in a statement yesterday:
THE statement attributed to
an unnamed Justice Department
official obviously did not refer
or apply to proposals made in
the Gray Commission report"
The Gray Commission" said
Henry T. Wickham, counsel for
the State Referendum Informa-
ton Center, did not recommend
that public schools be turned
into private schools and that
public funds be used to operate
them.
Stanley's Stand welcomed
1T contemplates that public
schools will continue to operate
as public schools and recon-
mended only that funds be pro-
vided for those parents who de-
sire to send their children to
on-sectarian private schools
rather than. to mixed public
public schools"
In other developments yester-
day concerning the referendum:
Former Gov. Colgate w. OAR