some idea of the disparity in wealth among the States of the United States.

Educational neglect of millions of our youth will exact disastrous penalties from the Nation in the next few swiftly moving years.

First, we call upon our young people for vital services in time of war and find them in dangerously large numbers unable to respond to the demands of the hour.

Second, we expect them to be of great help in constructing the defenses of peace, not only in this country but throughout the world. Without benefit of a sound general education, they cannot effectively undertake this great responsbility.

Third, we expect every citizen to strengthen our national economy. Ignorance is the foe of prosperity. The future frontiers of expanding American business will largely be determined by the training our young people get. Educated people want more, earn more, buy more, produce more in order to satisfy their desires..

The economic welfare of our Nation is inextricably tied to the kind of education we make available for our youth.

The broad purpose of S. 472, a bill to which our chairman has referred is directed at the greater equalization of educational opportunity by improving the schooling of American youth where opportunities are poorest. The bill undertakes to provide Federal funds where they are most badly needed without in any way impairing the quality of education in any State or community that may not directly share in the benefits of the act.

The bill has been most carefully drawn with a view to the maintenance of existing State control of educational policies. I come myself from a State where the principle of State rights is most zealously regarded. I would not support this bill if I were not convinced beyond all doubt that it leaves to Alabama, and to every other State, existing State authority over such vital matters as school administration and personnel, what shall be taught, how it shall be taught, supervision of instruction, the definition of public education, and other matters that determine the kind of education available for our young people.

In its emphasis upon a minimum foundation school program for American youth the bill follows a tradition that has long been established and followed in many of our States. There must be a floor under the educational structure of our Nation if our country is in reality to become a land of equal opportunity for our young people. While I am convinced that education is a chief function of the States and localities, I am equally convinced that the Federal Government also has a responsibility to see that American school children have the opportunity to get a defensible minimum education. Our children are not only citizens of the communities and the States in which they live. They are citizens of the Nation. They have national obligations which disregard State lines. They cannot meet these national obligations of citizenship if they are not adequately educated.

Our Federal Government has recognized its responsibilities in the field of education since its earliest years by enacting more than 150 Federal-aid bills to assist the States and localities in making better schools available. The need for expanding such assistance has been critical for a long time.

I express the hope, Mr. Chairman, that hearings on the pending legislation will be prosecuted vigorously and carried to a conclusion as quickly as possible. The need is urgent. We should provide the Senate an early opportunity to act on a recommendation from this committee.

Senator AIKEN. Thank you, Senator Hill.

Now, I understand that Senator Thomas has a few words to say. Senator THOMAS. Mr. Chairman, if Senator Hill will permit, I would like to have my name identified with his statement because it expresses what have been my sentiments for a long time.

Thank you.

Senator AIKEN. Senator Smith?

Senator SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I just want to add this to what Senator Hill said. I think all of us who are sponsoring S. 472, and I am glad to be one of them, with Senator Hill, realize the crisis in the country today. The question, of course, is the extent to which the Federal Government could participate in meeting this crisis, and as Senator Hill pointed out, with adequate protection of States' rights in determining their own school policy. I feel that bill, S. 472, has been very carefully worked out to take care of these problems and to give the aid where the aid is most desperately needed.

I always have felt that the Federal Government could not extend its help to all the States in the Nation without getting into too large a bill to solve this problem, but I do think that the Federal Government has a profound interest in those areas, especially in the deep South, where equality of opportunity just does not exist.

I believe so profoundly in equality of opportunity for all of our people without regard to race, creed, or color, that I think the Federal Government has a responsibility in trying to raise the floor, as Senator Hill has said, in our educational program. So, I am very happy to be recorded as a sponsor of this legislation with Senator Hill and the others.

Senator HILL. Mr. Chairman, Senator Taft was very anxious to be here this morning, but it has become necessary for him to be at the Banking and Currency Committee on account of consideration of the Taft-Wagner-Ellender housing bill. He still hopes to get here before we adjourn. In the event he does not get here before we adjourn, I want to ask consent that his statement may be filed at this point in the record.

Senator AIKEN. At this point, the Chair will ask to have the text of the four bills under consideration included in the record. If Senator Taft does not get here in time to make a statement, any statement which he desires to present will certainly be printed in the record of today's preliminary hearing.

(Bills S. 81, S. 170, S. 199, and S. 472 are as follows:)

[S. 81, 80th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To assist the States in improving and maintaining their systems of free public education by providing funds to be used for supplementing teachers' salaries

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of assisting the several States in improving and maintaining their systems of free public education by supplementing the salaries of teachers in free public elementary and secondary schools there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending

June 30, 1948, and for each fiscal year thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 2. From the sums appropriated pursuant to the first section of this Act, the United States Commissioner of Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Commissioner') is authorized to make grants to public-school districts as hereinafter provided. The proceeds of such grants shall be available for expenditure by such districts exclusively for the purpose of supplementing the salaries of teachers in free public elementary and secondary schools within their respective jurisdictions.

SEC. 3. The amounts of grants authorized to be made under this Act to any public-school district during any fiscal year shall be determined by multiplying. the number of pupils in average daily attendance in the free public elementary and secondary schools within the jurisdiction of such district by $15. Such grants shall be paid in quarterly installments computed on the basis of attendance during the preceding quarter.

SEC. 4. Each public-school district desiring to obtain grants under this Act shall file with the Commissioner, through the educational authority of the State an application, in such form and containing such information as the Commissioner shall prescribe, and containing assurances satisfactory to the Commissioner that such district

(a) will use the proceeds of such grants exclusively for supplementing the salaries of teachers in free public elementary and secondary schools;

(b) will expend from State or local sources, during any fiscal year for which a grant is made under this Act, an amount for payment of teacher's salaries which is not less than the amount expended from such sources for such purposes during the next preceding fiscal year; and

(c) will submit to the Commissioner, in such form as the Commissioner shall prescribe, quarterly reports showing the number of pupils in average daily attendance in such schools within the jurisdiction of such district during the preceding quarter, and such other reports as the Commissioner may deem necessary to enable him to carry out his functions under this Act. The Commissioner shall approve any application which complies with the provisions of this section.

SEC. 5. The Commisioner shall, prior to the beginning of each quarter, estimate the amount to be paid for such quarter to a public-school district which has submitted and had approved an application for a grant under this Act, and shall certify the amount so estimated, reduced or increased, as the case may be, by any sum by which he finds that his estimate for any prior quarter was greater or less than the amount which should have been paid to such public-school district for such quarter, to the Secretary of the Treasury who shall, through the fiscal service of the Treasury Department and prior to audit or settlement by the General Accounting Office, pay to such district, as soon as possible after the beginning of each quarter, the amount certified by the Commissioner with respect to such quarter.

SEC. 6. Whenever the Commissioner, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to a public-school district with respect to which an application has been approved under this Act, finds that any assurance required by the provisions of section 4 to be given in such application is not being carried out, or that any funds paid to such district under section 5 have been expended for any purpose not authorized by this Act, he may withhold further certifications until there is no longer a failure to carry out such assurance, or to repay the funds so expended, as the case may be.

SEC. 7. As used in this Act

(a) The term "State" includes the several States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

(b) The term "public-school district" means a district, town, or other local governmental subdivision having the supervision of public schools within its jurisdiction.

(c) The term "teacher" includes persons engaged in instruction, but does not include persons engaged solely in the supervision or administration of instruction. SEC. 8. No department, agency, or officer of the United States shall exercise any supervision or control over any school with respect to which any funds are expended pursuant to this Act, nor shall any term or condition of any agreement under this Act relating to any grant made under this Act authorize any agency or officer of the United States to control the administration, personnel, curriculum, instruction, methods of instruction, or materials of instruction with respect to any such school.

[S. 170, 80th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To authorize the appropriation of funds to assist the States and Territories in increasing the rate of salary payments to teachers in the public elementary and secondary schools

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of advancing the teaching profession in the United States by grants of aid to the States and Territories for supplementing the salaries of teachers in the public elementary and public secondary schools within the States and Territories, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, the sum of $600,000,000 and annually thereafter such sum or sums as may become necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, such appropriations to be apportioned as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 2. For each public elementary and secondary school teacher paid by a State, or a political subdivision thereof, there shall be paid to said State for payment to said teacher in the usual method of salary payment a sum computed as follows:

For each $100 or fraction thereof paid by the State or political subdivision thereof up to the first $1,000 per annum, $25;

For each $100 or fraction thereof paid by the State or political subdivision thereof from $1,001 to $2,000 per annum, $15;

For each $100 or fraction thereof paid by the State or political subdivision thereof from $2,001 to $3,000 per annum, $10;

And for each $100 or fraction thereof paid by the State or political subdivision thereof from $3,001 to $4,000 per annum, $5.

SEC. 3. The United States Commissioner of Education, upon receipt from the Governor of each State or Territory of a certified list of teacher positions occupied together with the respective salary for each said position within such State, which salary is paid by said State or political subdivision thereof, shall compute the amounts to be allotted in accordance with this Act and shall certify regularly such amounts to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall, through the Division of Disbursements of the Treasury Department and prior to audit or settlement by the General Accounting Office, pay to the treasurer or corresponding official of such State the amount certified for each fiscal year in four equal instalments as soon after the first day of each quarter as may be feasible, beginning with the first quarter of the fiscal year for which appropriations made under the authority of this Act are available. Each such treasurer shall account for the moneys received and shall pay out such funds only on the requisition of the State educational authority: Provided, however, That none of the funds authorized by this Act shall be available to any State or political subdivision thereof that shall reduce the rate of salary or compensation paid teachers in the public elementary and public secondary schools of said State below the rates in effect as of January 1, 1947.

SEC. 4. (a) In order to meet the needs of various State systems of disbursement, the funds paid to a State from the funds appropriated under section 1 of this Act shall be available for disbursement by that State to local public-school jurisdictions or other State public-education agencies where such agencies disburse the salary for their respective public elementary and public secondary school teachers.

(b) The funds paid to a State under this Act shall be expended only by public agencies and under public control.

SEC. 5. No department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States shall exercise any direction, supervision, or control over, or prescribe any requirements with respect to any school, or any State educational institution or agency, with respect to which any funds have been or may be made available or expended pursuant to this Act, nor shall any term or condition of any agreement or any other action taken under this Act, whether by agreement or otherwise, relating to any contribution made under this Act to or on behalf of any school or any State educational institution or agency, or any limitation or provision in any appropriation made pursuant to this Act, seek to control in any manner, or prescribe requirements with respect to, or authorize any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States to direct, supervise, or control in any manner, or prescribe any requirements with respect to, the administration, the personnel, the curriculum, the instruction, the methods of instruction or the materials of instruction, nor shall any provision of this Act be interpreted or construed to imply or require any change in any State constitution prerequisite to any State sharing the benefits of this Act.

SEC. 6. In order to qualify for receiving funds appropriated under this Act, a State through its Governor or executive head shall provide that the State treasurer, or corresponding official in the State, shall receive the funds paid to that State under this Act and shall report to the Congress of the United States through the United States Commissioner of Education, on or before the first day of November of each year, the amounts so received and their disbursement and provide for an audit by the State educational authority of the expenditure of funds received and apportioned to local school jurisdictions, or other State public educational agencies. SEC. 7. As used in this Act

(a) The term "State" shall include the several States, the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

(b) The term "State educational authority" means the chief State school officer such as the State superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of education, or similar officer as the Governor shall so designate for receiving funds under this Act.

(c) The term "Governor" means the chief executive officer except that in the District of Columbia it shall mean the President of the Board of Commissioners. SEC. 8. This Act may be cited as the "School Teachers Pay Act of 1947".

[S. 199, 80th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To authorize the appropriation of funds to assist the States in more nearly equalizing educational opportunities among and within the States by establishing a national floor under current educational expenditures per pupil in average daily attendance at public elementary and secondary schools and by assistance to nonpublic tax-exempt schools of secondary grade or less for necessary transportation of pupils, school health examinations and related school health services, and purchase of nonreligious instructional supplies and equipment, including books

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act, divided into two titles, may be cited as the "Education Finance Act of 1947."

DECLARATION OF POLICY

SEC. 2. The Congress hereby declares that in order to provide for the common defense and to promote the general welfare it shall be the national policy to provide for the greater equalization of educational opportunities among and within the States and Territories (a) by the establishment of a national floor under current educational expenditures per pupil in average daily attendance at all public elementary and secondary schools and (b) by the payment of not to exceed 60 per centum of the cost of providing necessary transportation of pupils, school health examinations and related school health services, and purchase of nonreligious instructional supplies and equipment, including books for pupils attending nonpublic, tax-exempt elementary and secondary schools.

TITLE I-ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL FLOOR UNDER CURRENT EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES, PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

APPROPRIATION AUTHORIZED

SEC. 101. For the purpose of more nearly equalizing educational opportunities among and within the States by the establishment of a national floor under current educational expenditures per pupil in average daily attendance at all public elementary and public secondary schools, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, $400,000,000 or $20 per pupil in average daily attendance at such schools during 1946, whichever is greater; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, $600,000,000 or $30 per pupil in average daily attendance at such schools during 1947, whichever is greater; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1950, $800,000,000 or $40 per pupil in average daily attendance at such schools during 1948, whichever is greater; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951, $1,000,000,000 or $50 per pupil in average daily attendance at such schools during 1949, whichever is greater; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1952, and each fiscal year thereafter, $1,200,000,000 or $60 per pupil in average daily attendance at such schools during the second fiscal year next preceding, whichever is greater, to be allotted to the States as set forth in

section 102 hereof.