Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-26
Aid Slash Rejected
For |mpacted Areas
SCI Million
School Trim
Dies in House
BY ANDREW w. BINGHAM
star stan Writer

A House education subcom-
mittee today firmly rejected an
administration proposal to
slash school aid to Federally i'm
pacted communities by SOL mil
lion a year.
The Congressman adopted a
resolution saying that they are
sin full agreement" that the
program, started in 1850. has
proven its worth. "No drastic
curtailment is advisable" they
said.
Five of the SIX members Of
the subcommittee voted against
the measure. which had been
introduced by Representative
Kearns, Republican of Penn
sylvania. The sixth-Repre.
sentative Frelinghuysen. jr.,
Republican of New jersey
voted present"
Suggests Resolution
Mr.. Frelinghuysen suggested
the resolution adopted by the
subcommittee, which also states
that the group will go into the
aid program again early next
year because certain modifl-
cations may be desirable"
The groups action today
effectively kills off any chance
for the proposal, strongly in
dorsed by Health, Education
and Welfare Secretary Flem-
ming, to become law in its
present form. 1t also allays the
fears of suburban Washington
educators, whose school systems
would have lost millions under
the proposal.
Before the outright rejection,
the subcommittee had turned
down a motion to table the leg
islation.
Sponsor Didn't Appear
The subcommittee action
had been predicted after the
testimony it heard on the cut
back. The only two witnesses
who testified in favor of the
Legislation were Mr.. Flemming
and United States Commits
sioner of Education Lawrence
G. Derthick. Mr.. Kearns was
invited to appear or to file a
statement in favor of the cut
back, a subcommittee aide
noted, but he chose to do
neither.
Opponents-including repre-.
sentatives of all the suburban
Washington jurisdictions-tes-
titled before the group over a
four-week period. Over 100
Congressman, moreover, either
testified or filed statements
against the cutback.
The major feature Of the
administration proposal pro-
vided for so per cent reduc-
ton in aid to school districts
for those children whose par
ents work for the Government
lin another jurisdiction. This
is the case, for instance. with
thousands of youngsters in
suburban areas whose parents
work in the District.
| SIaSheS Planned Here
Reduction would have been
only 20 per cent If the parents
worked on Federal property
within the school district.
The reduction would have
applied in two separate pro-
grams-one for operation and
maintenance, and the other
for construction. 1t is esti-
mated that it would have cost
Maryland schools this coming
year $2.5 million. and Virginia.
$3.6 million. The reduction
would have been greater in fol-
lowing years.
An official statement released
by the subcommittee after its
executive session this morning
read:
LAS a result Of the hearings
held thus far, the subcommittee
is in full agreement that both
these programs (for mainte-
nance and construction add
have proven their worth and
that no drastic curtailment Of
either program is advisable.
Nonetheless, it is the feeling
of the subcommittee that GER
tain notifications of these
programs may be desirable.
For that reason, the SUBJ
committee plans to take up
the question again early in the
next session with the intention