Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-23

resistance program which admit
of public schools.
Instead of recommending t
grant plan unanimously pro-
posed last fall, the commission
majority will support the Gov
|ernor's program to withhold
State funds from any communi-
tiles that integrate schools and
provide tuition grants for private
education in areas where public
schools are closed.
Some Closings Possible
The possibility that some
schools might be closed was rec
ognized by the Governor in q
statement he issued last night
But he said the blame for such
action would rest with those who
seek to integrate.
He said the principal bill in
his plan would state that an
efficient system of public schools
can be maintained in Virginia
only on a segregated basis. The
same bill, he said, would appro-
PIRATE State funds for segregated
schools only. and "if any school
is closed, it would be due to a
person of one race attempting
Ito enter the school of another
race"
The Governor said he was
"gratif1ed" to get the commits
Ision's support by such a Sub
stantial majority"
A turbulent fight was in pros
pect even before the plan reaches
the House floor for debate. The
proposal calls for an appropria-
tons amendment and therefore
would be referred after the AS.
sembly convenes Monday, to the
House Appropriations Committee
Committee Members Polled
A poll Of committee members
today shows seven members in
favor of the plan, seven against
it, two who could not be reached
and one undecided. The unde.
cided member is Delegate j. L
whitehead, Democrat of Rad,
ford. who is campaigning in thl
/ district to unseat Representa-.
tive Poff, Republican.
The Governor met with thu
commission during the day-lont
Executive session. The vote wa,
announced to reporters by Stat,
Senator Garland Gray Of Wav.
erly. commission chairman.
Senator Gray, who voted will
the majority in favor of thu
Governors plan, declared tina
it embraced "a considerable por'
ton" of the original Gray Com
mission recommendation.
Under questioning, however
he acknowledged that the pupi
assignment program was beinl
"shelved" and the tuition gran
plan was being tailored to fit thu
new no-integration movement.
The Gray Commission was ap
pointed August 30. 1854, by Gov
Stanley to study problems raiset
by the Supreme Court schoo
segregation decision. Last No
vember. it recommended a com
bination pupil assignment-tui
ltion grant program. which cam,
to be known as the Gray plan.
Gov. Stanley promptly CAV
the Gray plan his "wholeheartet
support" and State leaders linet
|. up behind him. The Gray plal
was supposed to permit assign
ment of pupils to schools for ,
variety Of reasons-excludinl
race-and provide for paymen
. of tuition grants for private edu
cation of students who objectet
, to integrated schools.
State Constitution Amended
The plan faced it's first publ
test in January when a con
! stitutional amendment to clea
: the way for tuition grants wa
the subject of a referendum.
, Opponents argued that tn
tuition grant amendment woul
weaken public schools by drain
ing of funds for private educa
ton. State leaders insisted tina
this was not the case. They sal
) the tuition grant plan was es
sential for Southside areas un
: willing to accept any integra
/. ton. The Gray Plan general
! was described as a program t
avoid enforced indignation
within the framework Of tn
! Supreme Court decision.
The tuition grant Referendum
carried by vote Of 304,l54 B
146,l64. and the State constitu
: ton was amended accordingl
last March.
The Gray Commission mean
while continued its deliberac ioni
presumably to complete the 10
of drafting legislation to carr,
out the entire Gray plan.
Court Decisions Cited
Two subsequent court de
cisions have all but pointed tn
way TO a pupil assignment plar
Judge John Paul in the Char
lottesville desegregation case an
Judge Albert v. Bryan in tn
Arlington degeneration cas-
both made 1t clear that student
could not be barred from par
ticular schools because Of race
but could be assigned for othe
lreasons. Charlottesville ha
been told 10 begin desegregatioI
September 4. and Arlington ha
been given from six months to
year to do likewise.
Senator Grav vas asked ho,