Congressmen Vote to End Funds for Summer Interns

The House of Representatives voted on Monday to discontinue its summer internship program for college students.

The House vote, 307-77, approved the Supplemental Appropriations Bill--in which Congressmen are specifically denied funds "for the employment of any student congressional interns during the forthcoming summer period." In the past each Congressman was granted $750 for summer interns.

Rep. George W. Andrews (D.-Ala.), whose subcommittee on House Appropriations labeled the appropriation "a deplorable item of expenditure", said in a telephone interview yesterday, "The major factor in our decision was economy." But he added that "the anti-war activity of last summer's interns was also a factor."

Andrews was referring to the uproar that arose last summer when 179 of the 1300 Capital Hill interns signed a letter to President Johnson protesting the war in Vietnam.

Responsible Concern

Mark J. Green, a first year student at the Law School, who drafted that letter, said yesterday, "I was afraid this might happen. We wanted to show the President that responsible students--not just bearded peaceniks--were concerned about the war," he explained. "But the press got hold of it and blew it up."

Rep. Robert Michel (R-III.) denounced the letter and called it the work of a conspiracy, Green said. "He charged that we were planning a walk-out at the President's annual address to the Washington interns--which was false." Rumors of a walk-out led Johnson to cancel his address.

The House move does not effect Senate internships and does not need Senate approval.