tribution. This organization, after studying the problem very carefully, passed unanimously the resolution which H. R. 2181 embodies. This same resolution was endorsed by the veterans' education council of the National Education Association in their Detroit meeting, January 17, 1947.

In a previous statement before this committee in support of S. 407, we urged that you recommend the repeal of wage ceilings and the 2-year limitation for on-the-job training. We now urge you to recommend the passage of H. R. 2181 because it provides for the removal of restrictive interpretations involving subsistence allowances and further provides ample standards controlling the program. These provisions will bring about stabilization and added interest.

STATEMENT OF GENE J. DONAGHUE, CHIEF, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION FOR VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN C. WILLIAMSON, ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Mr. WILLIAMSON. Mr. Chairman, we have here today a young man by the name of Gene Donaghue, who is chief of our vocational rehabilitation and education service in our national rehabilitation section. He has been working with this problem for some time and I am sure he will be able to present the views of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Senator MORSE. We will be glad to hear you, Mr. Donaghue.

Mr. DONAGHUE. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I would like permission to read the prepared statement into the record, if I may.

Senator MORSE. Yes.

Mr. DONAGHUE. Institutional-on-farm training has been offered to veterans in most States for well over a year and in some States for 2 years. Reports from veterans, from instructors, and from the press praise the program highly as one of great benefit to veterans, to the communities, and to the agriculture of our Nation.

Most of the veterans taking this course are farm operators on their own farms or operate a farm under lease or management agreement. Before veterans may enter such training consideration is given to the size and type of the farm so that upon successful completion of the course, the veteran will be operating not less than the minimum-sized family-type farm-management unit for the area in which he is located. A small percentage of the veterans taking the course are training under an employer either for a position as farm manager under the employer or to better train themselves before they begin operating a farm on their own.

The course of training is primarily one of teaching applied farm management, technical knowledge, and special skills. The program as it is offered provides for integrating the services of the agricultural agencies in the area together with those of the instructor in order that the trainees may learn the best modern farm practices.

Upon completion of his training, these farm veterans are already employed, the larger number of them, on farms which over a period of years will yield economic returns for the veterans.

This program has been offered primarily through vocational agriculture departments of our public schools and under the supervision of the State departments of education. Prior to August 1946, when the Veterans Administration issued instruction No. 8, institutional-on

farm training had been considered by veterans and by the schools offering the course as a full-time course for which the veteran was eligible to receive up to $65 or $90 per month as subsistence and schools could receive necessary tuition to pay for the cost of instruction.

That part of the course in which the instructor planned assignments of work and study for the trainee on his farm or the farm of an employer trainer was not considered to be training under the provisions of VA instruction No. 8.

Under the provisions of the program as set up by the school and as previously provided for by the VA in instructions to the field, these assignments of work and study are a part of the course to teach the veteran to operate his farm successfully, are a part of the instructor's plan for determining progress in the course, determining how well the trainee is able to apply what he has learned in group instruction and determining what additional technical knowledge or skills the trainee needs to know in order to farm successfully.

If instruction 8 were to be put into effect again, veterans in this course would be eligible for only one-fourth subsistence and, although tuition for the course when paid for on the basis of a full-time course is less than $500 for the ordinary school year, under the provisions of VA instruction 8 a veteran would need to request his entitlement be used up at an accelerated rate in order that tuition could be paid to cover the cost of the course.

If this bill is enacted, it will permit the institutional on-farm program to operate successfully as it has been so far and will provide our farm veterans with the type of training they need to successfully establish themselves in farming.

The present method now in use by the Veterans' Administration for training and paying farm trainees is one of the best programs in existence. The trainee's success is not measured in terms of marks in school, but on his ability to apply what he has learned to the farm that he is managing. His results are measured in terms of "bread and butter" which is the most practical test for success in any course of training. In my many field trips throughout the country, I discussed farm training with our service officers, and in no case did I hear anything but the highest praise of the present program.

Gentlemen, these considerations represent the opinions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who heartily endorsed the passage of this bill. Senator MORSE. I have only one question, Mr. Donaghue. Do you agree with the chairman that the essence of this problem goes to the question as to whether or not the supervision can be given on the farm? Mr. DONAGHUE. Yes, sir.

Senator MORSE. And in your opinion, the supervision is now being given on the farm?

Mr. DONAGHUE. Yes, sir.

Senator MORSE. And in your opinion, it is not necessary to require the veteran who operates his own farm or his leased farm to go elsewhere for any instruction other than that which the instructors give to him who under the program are sent to his farm?

Mr. DONAGHUE. That is right, sir.

Senator MORSE. Do you have any questions, Senator Ives?
Senator IVES. No.

Senator MORSE. Do you have any questions, Senator Pepper?

Senator PEPPER. NO.

Senator MORSE. Thank you very much.

These are all the witnesses that we have scheduled for this morning. Are there any other witnesses who want to testify?

We will meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock on this bill, and we will meet this afternoon at 2 o'clock on the termination date bill as far as the Secretary of War's views and the Secretary of Navy's views are concerned. We will recess, then, on this basis.

(Whereupon, at 11 a. m., the subcommittee adjourned, to reconvene for the purposes of this hearing at 10 a. m., Tuesday, June 10, 1947.)

ON-THE-FARM TRAINING FOR VETERANS

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1947

UNITED STATES SENATE,

COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS,
Washington, D. C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 a. m., in the committee room, Capitol Building, Senator Wayne Morse, presiding. Present: Senators Morse (presiding) and Jenner.

Senator MORSE. The first witness today will be Mr. Elliott Newcomb, legislative director, AMVETS, of Washington, D. C.

STATEMENT OF ELLIOTT NEWCOMB, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, AMVETS, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Mr. NEWCOMB. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, with your permission, I would like to read a statement prepared for me by our national agricultural committee.

H. R. 2181 would enact into law provisions whereby rural veterans in all the States could participate in institutional on-the-farm training, and this bill sets up specific requirements relating to hours of instruction in the classroom and supervised work experience on the farm.

As a matter of fact, in many agricultural States, this on-the-farm training is already operating on exactly the same basis as outlined in H. R. 2181. This bill would make the farm training uniform throughout the country.

Through its national agricultural committee, AMVETS has had an opportunity to look into the manner in which this on-the-farm training is operating in several States. In agricultural States, where the farm training has been going on for a considerable length of time (Arkansas, for example, was one of the first if not the first State to start this program for the rural veteran), the programs are operating very successfully along the lines outlined in H. R. 2181. Most of the agricultural veterans are attending vocational agriculture classes at the State vocational schools at least once each week for 2 hours (a minimum of 8 hours per month), and are receiving instruction while actually working on the farm.

The important point in this bill is to give uniformity and clarity to the provisions establishing on-the-farm training for veterans who desire to return to farming as an occupation.

Surely, we have an obligation to the rural veteran in this matter. We see a three-sided program in veterans' training: (1) Assisting the veteran in the city to get into job training; (2) helping the veteran who is enrolled in formal training in the high schools and colleges; and (3)