reviewed the request and at once called a conference to study the proposals.

The conference resulted in a definite statement which was prepared from a national, rather than a sectional, point of view. This statement was given to the American Vocational Association in the hope that that organization would initiate steps to secure emergency funds and to introduce measures providing for additional Federal appropriations for vocational education. The American Vocational Association had been active in promoting previous legislation appropriating funds for vocational education. The Legislative Steering Committee of the Association convened in Washington on May 6 and 7, 1935, and drafted a proposed bill to take the place of the George-Ellzey law.

On May 22, 1935, Senator Walter George, of Georgia, introduced the bill prepared by the Committee of the American Vocational Association. The same bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Disney of Oklahoma. Congressman Lee, also of Oklahoma, introduced substantially the same bill. None of the bills on vocational education, however, were reported on by committees during the first session of the Seventy-fourth Congress, which closed August 26, 1935. During the second session of this Congress Congressman Deen, of Georgia, introduced in the House a bill which was identical with the George bill.

The principal support and promotion of the vocational education bill came from the American Vocational Association. Immediately upon the introduction of the George bill in the Senate this organization began work, both in Washington and in the States, and made many friends for the proposal. Through the American Vocational Association Journal and News Bulletin the members were informed about the progress of the measure. In September 1935, the executive secretary of the Association stated that it would be necessary for the leaders in vocational education to plan definitely and systematically to inform their Senators and Representatives in Congress concerning the proposed legislation and its effect on their respective States.

Two agricultural organizations, the National Grange and the American Farm Bureau Federation, endorsed the vocational education bill. The American Municipal Association and a number of municipal leagues also took much interest in the vocational education bill, their primary interest being in aid for training for public service occupations. The American Federation of Labor gave its approval, but apparently not in a strong way.

During the second session of the Seventy-fourth Congress, the George bill was considered by the Senate and passed, without extensive debate, on April 28, 1936.

The Deen bill, after it had been revised in committee, was debated in the House on May 26. At that time the George bill, which had been passed in the Senate, was amended and substituted for the Deen bill; the substitute measure was then passed in the House. The Senate on May 27 and 28 debated and passed the bill received from the House. The President approved it on June 8, 1936.11

The George-Deen Act introduced certain new policies in the Federal program of cooperation in vocational education. In the first place, the amount authorized to be appropriated for distribution to the States and Territories, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, was more than doubled, an unprecedented increase for a single year. Thus instead of supplementing the Smith-Hughes appropriation of $7,302,000 12 with $3,084,603, as had been done by the George-Ellzey Act, the George-Deen Act authorized a supplement of $14,483,000, raising the total appropriations authorized for distribution to the States and other areas for vocational education to $21,785,000.13 In the second place, one new field of vocational training, the distributive occupations, was definitely recognized as worthy of Federal aid; and another field, the public service occupations, received a somewhat indirect recognition. In the third place, the

11 49 Stat. L. 1488-90 (1936). For text, see Appendix B.

13 Including the later acts for Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

13 The Smith-Hughes Act appropriates a total of $167,000 “or so much thereof as may be necessary" to provide minimum appropriations to each of the States. On the basis of the 1930 census, the required amounts for this purpose total $157,978. Thus the total at present authorized for distribution to the States and Territories on the basis of the 1930 census is $21,775,978,

George-Deen Act carried an explicit negative provision prohibiting the use of funds for training programs in industrail plants unless they provided bona fide vocational training. In the fourth place, the States were not required to match the Federal funds dollar for dollar during the years immediately following the enactment of the law.

The next year, during the first session of the Seventy-fifth Congress, there was some debate regarding the amount to be appropriated under the provisions of the George-Deen Act. The budget message of the President suggested only $3,000,000, but considerable pressure developed for the appropriation by Congress of the full amount authorized by the Act. The source of this pressure was discussed in the Senate in June 1937, while the appropriation bill for the Department of the Interior was under consideration. The following quotation is from the remarks of Senator Byrnes on that occasion:

When this matter was pending in the House after the House Appropriations Committee had gone into it thoroughly and made its report, some Members of Congress became quite active to increase the appropriation of $14,000,000. That amount was finally provided in the bill as it came to the Senate. Some House Members did not know from whence the pressure came. Finally it was learned that there had been sent throughout the country a telegram similar to the following: Dr. L. A. WILSON,

State Department of Education, Albany, N. Y.:

Seems quite apparent that House Appropriations Committee may not recommend sufficient amount for George-Deen vocational appropriation. Amendment to report of appropriations committee will be submitted on floor of House by Congressman Fuller, Arkansas, to increase amount recommended by committee for vocational education. Very essential that your Congressman contact, cooperate with, and support Congressman Fuller and his amendment. Unless this is done vocational appropriations for next 5 years will be in serious danger. This is most urgent crisis we have faced during the last 3 years. We must have flood of telegrams and air-mail letters from influential persons and organizations to all your Congressmen requesting them to cooperate with Congressman Fuller. Chances for satisfactory voca

tional appropriation depend upon magnitude and thoroughness of this effort. Telegrams and letters must reach Congressman Tuesday and Wednesday at the latest. Telegrams to Congressman Fitzpatrick should not mention Fuller amendment but should urge full fourteen

million vocational appropriation. A thorough job should be done in his congressional district.

(Signed) L. H. DENNIS,

Secretary, American Vocational Association,

Denrike Building, 1010 Vermont Ave., Washington, D. C.

The telegrams came and the votes came and the $14,000,000 was appropriated. The bill was reported to the Senate by the Senate Appropriations Committee last Saturday. A few moments ago I was advised that 73 telegrams had been received in my office during the last 3 hours. They read alike, and that they are inspired is evident. Somebody has been spending from 60 to 75 cents per telegram to wire me to vote for the proposed increase in this appropriation. I do not blame the Mr. Dennis whose name appears on the telegram I have read. I suspect that he has inspired these telegrams. I do not blame this man for wiring throughout my State, not only to educators, but to American Legion Posts and labor organizations and farm organizations; but it is the most thorough job that has been done since the days when we received telegrams to oppose the utility holding-company bill. This telegram says that "a thorough job should be done in the congressional district" of a certain Congressman. It may be I have been singled out for similar attention, but one Senator bows his head to indicate that he has been subject to the same bombardment in the last few hours.14

This appears to be the first clear-cut public statement regarding a situation which has for a number of years been of much concern to those well-informed in such matters.

The appropriation act for the Department of the Interior for the year 1937-38, as finally passed, carried the full amount of funds authorized by the George-Deen Act.

Summary of Federal Legislative Provisions

Table 1 summarizes the major Federal legislative provisions regarding vocational education enacted since 1917.

14 75th Cong., 1st sess., Congressional Record, Senate, June 28, 1937 (Washingtor: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1937) vol. 81, pt. 6, p. 6403.

92263-383

49 Stat. L. 1488-90 (1936). For text, see Appendix B.

Table 1 shows that four of the six acts are still in effect. Table 2 shows the amount of Federal funds appropriated or authorized to be appropriated for each purpose specified in the acts now in force.

TABLE 2.-Amount of Federal funds appropriated or authorized to be appropriated for each purpose by the various vocational acts in effect in the year ended June 30, 1938.

1 Notice that these totals include the minimum for trades and industries and the maximum for home economics. See footnote 3.

An amount not to exceed 20 percent of the appropriation for trades and industries in the Smith-Hughes Act may be expended for home economics. This basis applies also to Hawaii but not to Puerto Rico.

3 Including the training of teachers of distributive occupations.

4 Or so much thereof as may be needed. On the basis of the 1930 census an amount of $157,978 is required to provide the minimum appropriation specified in the Smith-Hughes Act. On the basis of the 1930 census an amount of $597,497 would be required to provide the minimum appropriations specified in the George-Deen Act.