Measure Would Institute National Training School

A bill establishing a federal university to train men for government service has been introduced in the 81st Congress. Its sponsor, Representative Charles E. Bennett (D-Fla.), admits that the bill has almost no chance of passage in view of the many other demands on Congress for money.

The introduction of a bill in Congress, however, indicates more interest in the idea of a federal university than has existed in the past. Supporters of the plan feel that, when peacetime conditions return, the university might be tried on a temporary basis.

Bennett calls his proposed school the Government Service University and suggested it be located in the District of Columbia or vicinity. No tuition would be charged at the university, and the government would provide room and board for the students.

The curriculum would emphasize the fields of public administration, economics, political science, and foreign relations. Bennett says that his university might be considered a civilian version of West Point and Annapolis.

Graduates of the university would have to contract to serve in the government for ten years following their graduation.

In the 80th Congress Senator Chan Gurney (R.S.D.) introduced legislation to permit federal employees to take leave of absence for research and study with the government paying for their tuition.

In his most recent annual report, Dean Mason of the Graduate School of Public Administration said that the school's funds for fellowships were not sufficient and that he hoped government agencies would underwrite the sending of men to schools like Littauer.