Evening star., 1960-08-10
Threatens
Congress Move
Will Seek Laws
If School Bourd
OverruIes Him
BY ANDREW w. BINGHAM
Star Staff Writer

Star Stan Writer
District School Supt. Carl F.
Hansen threatened today to
seek new legislation from Con-
yress if School Board members
overrule his Interpretation of
the present nonresident tut
tion law.
Such action, by the board, he
said, would leave him with vir-
tually no way to prevent chill
dren coming to Washington for
free schooling even though they
have excellent homes and ade-
quate support elsewhere.
He made his remarks during
a special board committee hear
ing on an appeal by a Wash
ington physician who contends
he was unjustly charged 1896
last year for his niece to at
tend Roosevelt High School.
Affect Most Cases
DR.. Hansen, noting this is the
first time board members have
ever considered a case involving
the controversial nonresident
tuition law, said their decision,
expected next month. will affect
nearly all other nonresident
cases considered by his Office.
If the boards special COM
mittee on complaints and ap-
peals overrules his decision to
make a tuition charge, he said,
he will urge legislation to pre-
serve and protect the educa-
tional opportunities of District
children. He noted that school
facilities here are already over
crowded and overtaXed."
In today's case, DR.. Richard
A. Wilson. of 6932 Eighth street
NV. told the board his niece
has resided with him since 1856
and has been attending Roose-
velt High since 1857.
He was never billed, however,
for her education until last
year.
The physician, who practices
at Freedmen's and District
General Hospitals, said he had
been providing full care and
support of the girl for four
years.
No Exemption Claimed
He admitted under cross-eX-
animation, however, that he did
not claim the child as a tax
exemption-even though last
year he had claimed in an aftl-
davit that he did.
The affidavit was incorrect,
he said, adding that he had
never bothered to correct it
subsequently because it lust
didn't cross my mind"
DR.. Wilson said he assumed
his niece's parents, both of
whom are school teachers in
Osceola. Ark, did claim the
child as an exemption, although
he insisted they did not actu-
ally support her.
DR.. Wilson also acknowl-
edged that the girl, who gradu-
ated from Roosevelt in June
and plans to attend Howard
University this fall, spends a
month each summer with her
parents and that she also visits
them often at Christmas.
! Under questioning from
Board President Walter N. To-
briner. DR.. Wilson denied that
his niece had come to live with
him and his family because of
the greater educational oppor-
tunities here.
Hansen's Understanding
DR.. Hansen claimed that his
Interpretation of existing legis-
lation is that nonresident stu
dents are exempt from tuition
only if they lack adequate
homes elsewhere and have
come to Washington primarily
for a home with friends or
relatives.
DR.. Wilson's niece, he said,
was mot in search, and not in
need of, a home"
A sitter nonresident tuition
bill-requiring payment from
any child not living here with
a parent or legal guardian
has already passed the House
under the sponsorship of Rep
resentative Broyhill, Repub-
lican of Virginia.
DR.. Hansen testified at the
last session of Congress that
he favored making this legis-
lation more lenient so that true
hardship cases would be tut
tion-eXempt.
Just yesterday, Corporation
Counsel Chester H. Gray de-
cided that two Washington
high school students whose
parents live in Virginia did not
have to pay tuition because
they came to the District ito
solve a family problem" and
not to attend the public schools.