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other at Quonset Point. I have heard from the school superintendents of every community in and about these areas who are affected by the tremendous increase of schoolchildren who have to be accommodated in school buildings which are not there.

Every one of these communities has done all that it can through the assistance of local taxpayers. They desire to continue in this responsibility. All they are saying is that the Government owes a responsibility to these communities to assist them in meeting this burden.

I strongly urge that this legislation be given immediate, favorable action. I should like to insert in the record, as part of the hearings, the educators from whom I have heard, urging the passage of this legislation.

(The list is as follows:)

Leonard L. Maine, Portsmouth, R. I., superintendent of schools
Carl H. Porter-Shirley, Newport, R. I., superintendent of schools
Hiram A. Davis, North Kingstown, R. I., superintendent of schools
Charles B. MacKay, Warwick, R. I., superintendent of schools
Phillip L. Kelly, Charlestown, R. I., superintendent of schools
Edward F. Wilcox, Hopkinton, R. I., superintendent of schools
Archie R. Cole, East Greenwich, R. I., superintendent of schools
Anthony J. Miller, Jamestown, R. I., superintendent of schools
J. H. Leon Gauthier, Middletown, R. I., acting superintendent of schools
Wardwell C. Leonard, Tiverton, R. I., superintendent of schools
Charles E. Mason, Westerly, R. I., superintendent of schools

Senator PASTORE. Gentlemen, that concludes my statement.
Senator COOPER. Senator Goldwater?

Senator GOLDWATER. I have no questions.

Senator COOPER. Senator Murray?

Senator MURRAY. All I say is that I am sure this very eloquent and able statement prepared by Senator Pastore meets with the approval of every Senator on the committee. I am sure that we are going to act favorably on this measure.

Senator PASTORE. I am sure that it does, knowing the caliber of men who are sitting before me. I have every reason to believe that that is your feeling.

Senator COOPER. Senator Upton?

Senator UPTON. No questions, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to thank Senator Pastore for his appearance here.

Senator COOPER. Thank you for your good statement.

Senator UPTON. Congressman Merrow, from the First District of New Hampshire, intended to be here this morning in support of the bills, but has been unavoidably detained. He desires to present a statement outlining his views.

Senator COOPER. Without objection, the statement submitted will be made a part of the record.

(The statement is as follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. CHESTER E. MERROW, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

I am pleased to submit this statement in support of these two bills, S. 3628 and S. 3629, introduced by my colleague, Senator Upton, and cosponsored by my colleague, Senator Bridges. These bills are of vital importance to the educational systems of more than a score of New Hampshire communities in the district which I serve.

S. 3628 would extend Public Law 815 of the 81st Congress as amended. This law, which expired on June 30, 1954, provides for Federal assistance in the construction of school facilities to those districts in which Federal installations have

caused increased school enrollment. In enacting Public Law 815 the Congress recognized that the location of Federal defense and other installations within many school districts had had a twofold impact upon the areas affected. First, in many areas, large tracts of land and other real property had been removed from local tax rolls by Federal acquisition. Secondly, the bringing in of personnel to man these installations meant the location of additional families in the areas, causing substantial increases in local school enrollments. The resulting burden on these communities in financing the required school construction was more than they could meet. This act recognized the responsibility of the Federal Government to assist these school districts.

That responsibility is no less today than it was in 1950. Although there are fewer districts today requiring such assistance, the need continues to be great in some areas. Southeastern New Hampshire is such an area. A large jet-bomber base is being built there, at Newington, N. H. This is the most populous area of our State, and one which has already felt the strains and impacts of Federal defense activities. Only a few miles distant from the site of the new bomber base is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which leads in the construction of submarines. There are close to 8,000 civilians employed in the Naval Shipyard in the construction, maintenance, and repair of submarines and other vessels.

When the Newington Air Force Base is fully manned, some time in 1955, the need for new school construction will become exceedingly urgent. This need cannot be met without Federal assistance. Nearly all of the affected communities are approaching the legal limit of bonded indebtedness, and some have already exceeded the limit. That is why this bill, extending the act under which these communities receive Federal assistance, must become law.

The second bill which you are considering today, S. 2629, would amend Public Law 874, 81st Congress, as amended. Under this act these federally impacted school districts receive Federal assistance in maintaining and operating their schools. This act was also due to expire on June 30, but was extended by Public Law 248 of this Congress until June 30, 1956. However, Public Law 248 amended the original act to provide that, in order to receive aid, these school districts absorb 3 percent of the enrollment increase attributable to Federal activities. In other words, if a school district has a 5 percent increase in enrollment due to these activities they would be paid for only 2 percent increase. This provision will result in the loss of many thousands of dollars in Federal entitlements to the affected districts in southeastern New Hampshire. The Congress did not foresee such an effect when the amendment was passed. Senator Upton's bill, S. 3629, eliminates this absorption clause. I believe that it should be eliminated. Here again, the Federal Government should assume its full responsibility in aiding these impacted areas to maintain an adequate school system.

Gentlemen, I have followed this legislation closely because it is so vital to the congressional district which I represent. The House is awaiting Senate action upon these measures, and I sincerely hope that favorable action will be taken. The responsibility of the Federal Government in this matter has already been established. Nothing is more important to this Nation than the proper education of our youngsters. Unless these bills are enacted, thousands of schoolchildren in New Hampshire and elsewhere in the Nation are going to be left without adequate school facilites.

I appreciate the opportunity to submit this statement to the Subcommittee on Education of the Senate Labor Committee. I regret that unforseen circumstances prevented me from appearing personally to testify in favor of this urgently needed legislation.

Senator COOPER. I think Senator Burke has another witness.

Senator BURKE. May I present Mr. W. J. Beoddy, the assistant superintendent of schools in Piketon.

STATEMENT OF W. J. BEODDY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, PIKETON, OHIO

Senator COOPER. Please state your name and residence.

Mr. BEODDY. My name is W. J. Beoddy, Piketon, Ohio, executive head of Piketon High School. I am from this small town of Piketon. We are right on the edge of the Portsmouth atomic-energy area.

matter of fact, a small portion of our area was taken over by the Atomic Energy Commission.

I merely wish to state a few of the facts to show something about the impact of the incoming population upon our school district. Our school was equipped to accommodate 540 pupils, and this year we had enrolled 1,354. The trend is such that by the opening of school in September we will have nearly 2,000 children. We have no additional facilities to take care of those people. It is true that we have had some money allocated. We will have a temporary schoolhouse of 11 rooms ready some time along about December. We should have a permanent schoolhouse of 14 rooms some time this next year, 1955, by the fall of 1955 probably.

The question arises, What are we to do with those people during the fall term, when school opens? We have gone from about 13 teachers to 34 teachers as it is. We have used all of the facilities we have, basements and whatnot, extra rooms that were available, and we are still unable to take care of the people who are coming in.

It is true that our population is more or less temporary apparently, because the amount of Federal housing we have is relatively small, probably 150 houses. Acting upon that premise, with all of this temporary influx, it would seem to me that the local district should not have to stand all of that extra expense, because we have been able to take care of our people very well and the local district is already paying about three-fourths of the cost of operating our school, and we do not feel we are justified in having to bond our people to the extent of taking care of all of these folks, the additional people.

Senator COOPER. Does the State have any program for giving any special assistance to districts like yours?

Mr. BEODDY. No, sir. We just receive our per pupil State funds from the foundation fund. That is all we receive. Of course, we are permitted to make application for reapportionment. We were this year, fortunately, after the term opened. You see, ordinarily we were to make application for reapportionment for State funds by October 31.

Senator COOPER. But you do get a larger sum from the State?
Mr. BEODDY. We get a larger sum from the State.

Senator COOPER. According to population.

Mr. BEODDY. That is right, but ordinarily except for a special dispensation from the Department of Education we would not have been. You see, the deadline for making application for reapportionment was in October.

Senator COOPER. You say you got it?

Mr. BEODDY. Yes.

Senator CoOPER. How much did it amount to?

Mr. BEODDY. The first quarter was $9,375, I believe.

Senator COOPER. Would it be approximately that for each quarter? Mr. BEODDY. I presume so; yes, sir.

Senator COOPER. Is that for your total school population or added sum?

Mr. BEODDY. The total school population.

Senator COOPER. Senator Goldwater.

Senator GOLDWATER. What percentage of your bond capacity are you using today?

Mr. BEODDY. We are voting in the fall. We will be using about 6 percent of it.

Senator GOLDWATER. Six percent of your total. What are you allowed to use by law?

Mr. BEODDY. Eight.

Senator GOLDWATER. That is the maximum you can go?

Mr. BEODDY. Yes.

Senator GOLDWATER. What was your school tax rate before AEC came?

Mr. BEODDY. $4,341,000.

Senator GOLDWATER. What was the rate?

Mr. BEODDY. $10.50 for school purposes.

Senator GOLDWATER. $10.50 a thousand or a hundred?

Mr. BEODDY. A thousand.

Senator GOLDWATER. What is the rate now?

Mr. BEODDY. It is $10.50.

Senator GOLDWATER. It remains the same?

Mr. BEODDY. That is right?

Senator GOLDWATER. What is your constitutional limit?

Mr. BEODDY. Ten mills.

Senator COOPER. Are you at your limit now?

Mr. BEODDY. Yes, we are over the limit. That is the constitutional limit.

Senator CooPER. Over the limit.

Mr. BEODDY. You see, anything we go beyond the 10 mills has to be voted special.

Senator GOLDWATER. Now, what about your property evaluation, has that gone up materially?

Mr. BEODDY. It has gone up from $3,400,000 to a little over $5 million, or $5,263,000, I believe.

Senator GOLDWATER. What is the population of your area?
Mr. BEODDY. Well, now, it is probably around 3,000 people.
Senator COOPER. Senator Upton.

Senator UPTON. Has there been some increase in population?

Mr. BEODDY. Oh, yes, quite. Our populatior has probably trebeled, but that is temporary population. We have in our area a public housing project, Federal housing project, that is PHA, and that has more people in it, twice as many people as our original town. Senator UPTON. You say this increase is temporary.

Mr. BEODDY. Yes, that will be largely temporary.

Senator UPTON. Why?

Mr. BEODDY. It seems as if there are no industries coming in, and we don't have any Federal housing projects of a permanent nature, outside of about 150 or 200 houses.

Senator UPTON. Well, is this increase due to the atomic energy plant?

Mr. BEODDY. Oh, yes, absolutely, yes, sir.

Senator UPTON. And do the people consider this employment permanent?

Mr. BEODDY. Well, there will be employment of about 4,000 people permanently; otherwise, no.

Senator UPTON. I am not quite clear as to why you expect that the present population will not be maintained.

Mr. BEODDY. Well, these people who are in our area are largely temporary. They are construction workers, you see. There are many of them living there in these trailer areas. This PHA project has 750 trailers on it.

Senator COOPER. They are in the business of constructing the plant; aren't they?

Mr. BEODDY. Yes, sir.

Senator UPTON. That clears that atmosphere.
Mr. BEODDY. Thank you, sir.

Senator COOPER. Senator Clements' office.

STATEMENT OF FRANK FLURY, APPEARING FOR HON. EARLE C. CLEMENTS, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY

Mr. FLURY. Good morning, Mr. Chairman.

I am Frank Flury, legislative assistant to Senator Clements. I am appearing on behalf of Senator Clements, who introduced bill S. 3450, for the purpose of eliminating the 3-percent absorption clause from Public Law 874 of the 81st Congress.

Senator Clements, although very much interested in eliminating the absorption clause, was unable to attend the hearing this morning on such short notice. He introduced S. 3604 to alleviate conditions which were aggravated by the impact of Federal activities on schools. Many reports have been received from school officials in Kentucky and areas where the schools are suffering from additional pupil loads due to the Federal activities.

It is believed that this is not the time to throw a greater burden on schools that are already suffering as a result of Federal activities.

I am not able to as effectively pinch-hit for the Senator. I just am here to express his general interest and regret at not being able to attend the hearings in which he is so much interested.

Thank you, sir.

Senator COOPER. Thank you, Mr. Flury. I know Senator Clements has spoken to me about his interest in the bill, and I hope he will file a statement for the record.

Mr. FLURY. Thank you, sir.

(Senator Clements' prepared statement follows:)

STATEMENT BY SENATOR EARLE C. CLEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED FEDERAL AID FOR SCHOOLS IN AREAS AFFECTED BY FEDERAL ACTIVITIES Schools throughout the entire Nation are fighting desperately to provide facilities for rapidly increasing enrollments resulting from high birth rates during the past several years. There is also the problem of replacing obsolete facilities. During the years of the Korean and Second World Wars, many necessary replacements of school buildings were postponed because of materials scarcity and high cost.

Many schools have had the problem of increased enrollment and obsolete facilities further aggravated by the impact of Federal activities. Federal activities in numerous areas have thrust additional pupils upon schools already struggling to provide education to children in overcrowded and obsolete buildings. Although many school districts are making determined efforts to provide the greatly needed buildings, they have been unable to cope with the problem because its magnitude is too great for their financial circumstances.

Congress recognized this problem, and its obligation to alleviate the greater educational burdens imposed on those schools affected by Federal activities in

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