Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-01-11 | Page 16 | State may Accept Federal Assistance

STATE my ACCEPT FEBMSIffiE Chairman Joseph Chez Considering Con-sidering Proposal of Commissioner Com-missioner Claxton. The question as to whether the state of Ftah wishes to participate in the financial benefits of the Smith-Hughes federal legislation providing for vocational voca-tional and industrial education has been submitted to Senator Joseph Chez, chairman of the committee on education, educa-tion, by Dr. F. b'. Cowans state superintendent super-intendent of public instruction. Dr. Cowans yesterday received a copy of the bill, which has passed both houses of congress and has had tlie approval of President Wilson, although 1't has not as yet been signed in its imal form. In a letter transmitting the bill P. P. Claxton, federal commissioner of education, states his belief that it will I be advantageous for L'tah to avail itself it-self of tlie income which may be derived- from the law through "enabling legislation at this session of the legislature. legis-lature. .Dr. Gowans yesterday staled that he believed the measure in the best inteiests of education in L'tah. The Smith-Hughes law offers appropriations appro-priations in proport ion to the relative populations of the states for three classes of educational work for agricultural agri-cultural training in rural districts, for industrial training in urban districts and for the training of teachers to carry on the work in either or both sections. The federal government proposes a minimum annua! appropriation on its I part for each cooperating state of .foOOi) for each of tho three branches of work named, or for any one of them selected, the state to appropriate dollar dol-lar for dollar with the federal award. This minimum applies till 1 923. when the minimum is to be raised to $10, "00 for ea-h course with the state supply- i lug a like amount. For the biennial periods to 1023, in case Utah decided to cooperate in al! three branches, this onld mean an appropriation ap-propriation of $30,ooo, and after 1P23 i an appropriation of $00. 000 for each biennium. For the handling of this work where a state educational board already exists. ex-ists. Commissioner Claxton recommends that, it be charged with , the duty. Where no general board exists a special board may be appointed. "I believe this federal legislation a good thing for the State of Utah, ' ' said Dr. Oowans yesterda v. 1 ' The state is certain to spend a growing proportion pro-portion of its money for educational purposes for agricultural and industrial education in the lower grades, and what-is what-is spent might, best be applied to match the federal gift dollar for dollar."