The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences officially declared yesterday that married students should be entitled to more income than their unmarried brothers.

Breaking a long-standing policy, Dean Elder announced that married students will henceforth be eligible to earn $2,500 through scholarships and Teaching Fellowships--$300 more than single men can.

Until yesterday's action, the GSAS had an iron-clad ruling that no graduate student could receive more than a total of $2,200. Under this ruling, if a student held a scholarship, he was not allowed to receive more than $900 for teaching.

Thus, if a man held a scholarship for $1600, he was only allowed to earn $600 more (i.e. until he reached a total of $2,200). Now a married man will be allowed to receive his entire $900.

In explaining his action, Elder said "it may be argued that, by fixing the ceiling at $2,200 for unmarried men but allowing $2,500 for married men, I am opening the door to an invidious discrimination. My reply would be that we should realistically face the fact that in 1955-56, of the 1490 men registered in our School, 563 were married."

"I don't see how we can put off recognizing the facts of life," he continued, "and trying to do something in this fashion for the really difficult and moving financial plight in which a number of our married men find themselves."

It still remains for money to be found for some students, since the budget has already been approved for this year, but Elder indicated that certain departments, particularly in the sciences, have special outside grants which could be used.

In line with improved benefits for married students, Elder said he favored improved University housing for them, especially those with children. "One of the greatest needs is decent housing at a decent rental for married people," he said.