Evening star., 1963-02-07
4Groups Back
College Aid al
House Hearinq
BY ROBERT X. WALSH
Star staff Writer

leges and universities gained
some ground in the House Edu-
cation and Labor Committee
today because Of varying de-
grees of support by four key
organizations In the educational
field.
But most committee men,
bers showed no eagerness to
recommend assistance for pub
lic-or private and church.
connected-grade and elemen-
tary schools. The religious
issue and constitutional ques-
tions involved in such aid we're
as controversial as ever at
yesterdays hearing.
As the committee tried TO
settle down for further open
hearings until February is, in
the absence of Chairman
Powell, 1t gave every indication
Of soon sidetracking and splin-
tering the Kennedy admins
tration's $50 billion, 24-point
omnibus bill.
The bills section TO authorize
Federal funds for construction
Of academic facilities by public
and private institutions Of
higher learning was given the
best chance Of survival, as a
separate measure. The COM
mittee, nevertheless, was widely
divided on whether aid should
include only loans, as recon-
mended by the administration.
States Being POlled
Witnesses at today's hearing
dealt mainly with the bills sec
tion on Federal aid to elemen-
tary and secondary schools.
They indorsed such aid to pub
lie schools but raised questions
as to whether State authorities
should have more control over
the ALLEGATION Of Federal funds.
Edgar Fuller. executive secre-
tary of the Council of Chief
: State Schools Officers, said he
was polling State education
commissioners and superintend-
|, ents to determine how their
groups stood on detailed pro-
; visions such as aid for teachers
salaries as we'll as classroom
construction.
, DR.. Fuller also said he was
, not yet in a position to report
, the position of most State edu-
cation officials on the question
Of extending Federal aid to
private and parochial grade
and high schools. He said he
believed such aid should not
be given, but he added that he
would not object to a bill
leaving the decision up to in
dividual States.
Endorsement Questioned
DR.. Fuller's general endorse
ment of the Administrations
, omnibus education aid bill
caused Representative Green
j Democrat, Of Oregon. to ask
; whether the councils policy
, was different this year on the
question of aid to colleges and
universities. She recalled that
the council last year opposed
Federal grants or loans to pri-
vate and church-connected in
stitutions Of higher learning
DR.. Fuller replied that the bill
this year is an improvement
over the 1862 version because it
would permit only loans to COL
leges and universities for con-
struction Of academic facilities.
He told the committee, how
ever. that he could not speak
for the council until the cur
rent poll is completed later
this month.
Federal aid TO higher educa-
ton was Endorsed yesterday by
spokesmen for the American
Council on Education and the
National Catholic Welfare
Council. 1t also was indorsed,
at least by implication, by the
presldent-elect Of the National
Education Association in de-
claring support for the admin
istration's overall bill.
Confused" by NEA
Several committee Democrats
as well as Republicans told the
NEA spokesman. Robert H.
Wyatt. they we're confused"
as TO the organizations stand
on the higher education aid
question.
They recalled that NEA Of
ficials last September urged all
members Of Congress to oppose
a similar measure that would
have authorized grants and
loans for construction projects
by colleges and universities, in
cluding church-connected in
stitutions.