Evening star., 1961-03-09
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
School Compromise
Seen by Mansfield
Continued From First Page


Continued From First Page
bill on the statute books.
We have enough problems with
this bill without adding this
one" he said.
Asks Separate Bill
The Oregon Democrat Joined
President Kennedy and Senate
Majority Leader Mansfield ir
pleading that Congress consider
private school loans in a sep.
arate measure after the general
aid-to-education bill has beer
enacted.
The President told his press
conference yesterday he would
"be glad to cooperate in every
way" If Congress wants to con.
slider steps to aid non-publiC
elementary and secondary edu.
cation.
But" he added, Il am
hopeful that while that consid.
Grafton is being given, we will
move ahead with the grant
program the administration has
recommended to build public
school claSsroomS and boost
public school teachers salaries
Repeats View
II definitely believe that we
should not tie the two to-
gether," he said.
Mr.. Kennedy said he believed
that acroSs-the-board loans to
private schools would be un-
constitutional. He repeated his
view that grants to private ele-
mentary and secondary schools
also would be unconstitutional
Senator Morse praised the
Presidents discussion Of the
constitutional issues, but still
held to the view that loans to
private schools are permissible.
He said he would support
such loans in a separate meas
ure. The Senator said he
disagreed with the Presidents
contention that the constitu-
tional status of across-the-
board loans differed from those
for specific purposes. You
can't segmentize the Constitu-
tion that way" he said.
Mansfield Agrees
Senator Mansfield said he
was inclined to agree with the
President that anything Con-
greSS wants to do for the pri-
Vate schools should stand on
its own feet" He said the idea
Of separating the bills "offers
the possibility" of a compro-
mise.
The Majority Leader himself
supported an amendment to
add long-term loans to private
schools to last years aid-to-
education bill. It was rejected
by the Senate, 49-37, and a
similar move was ruled out of
order in the House.
This year, Senator Mans
field has said he will support
the administration bill as it
was submitted.
Both President Kennedy and
Senator Mansfield are Catho-
lies. Loans to parochial schools
have been Endorsed by House
Majority Leader Mccormack.
Republican congressional
leaders refused to take sides
today in the dispute over con-
Stitutionality or advisability
OF Federal loans to private
schools.
Senate Minority Leader Dirk
sen and House Minority Leader
Halleck said after their weekly
conference with key Republican
members that the matter was
not discussed.
Clark Amendment
Senator Clark said he
plans to offer an amendment
that would provide $3.50
million in loans to church
schools over the three-year Pc
rtod Of the program.
Declaring he did not agree
that it would be unconstitu-
tional, Senator Clark said it
was just as important to equal
'1ze educational opportunities
for parochial school pupils as
those in public schools.
Senator Clark's amendment
would bar the loans to private
schools set up after the law
took effect, or to districts in
which the public schools were
closed in a segregation dispute
Senator Hart, Democrat of
Michigan, said today he dis
agrees with Mr.. Kennedy's posi-
ton against Federal loans for
private schools.
The Senator, a Roman Cath
olic, said he believes it to be
"just as important" to improve
conditions in parochial schools
as In the public education field.
Senator Hart said he also be-
l1eveS no Federal aid should 20
to any school district which is
violating a Federal court order
IN an integration dispute.
Senator DirkSen said he per-
sonally has not "probed'
whether direct Federal grants
to private schools would be un-
constitutional.
Mr.. Halleck said he was mot
going to make any statement on
the issue at this time"
The two leaders seemed to
differ somewhat on whether
a school aid bill should be
amended to bar Federal funds
to districts refusing to comply
with court orders for racial
integration.
Backs Powell Rider
Mr.. Halleck said he supported
such an amendment Offered