Evening star., 1932-04-16

4 4 unQuauned opposition to
the plan Of Congress to put
a tax on foot ball receipts. Ac-
cOrding to opinions expressed this
morning, there are not 10 colleges
in the United States that do not
face rather serious consequences
as matters stand now, especially
If there is a further decrease in
receipts next year, and to add a
tax burden to that which already
is being shouldeTed may mean
something near a complete break
down.
There seems to be on opinion based
largely on the reports published at va
riOuS times during the gridron season.
that foot ball is a great money maker
and that it is a rich source of tax reve-
nue. that should b. tapped. The oppo-
site is the case. Foot ball, except in a
few Of the largest schools. is not a great
money maker, and the average uniVer-
Slty or college athletic association in
stead Of rolling in wealth right now is
in the red
1t Is doubtful if there are 25 colleges
out of the l 900 or so in the United
States that at the end Of this year will
show balance in their accounts. Vir-
tually all the rest of them are not only
IN the red, but so much in the red that
they are seriously crippled in the man.
agement of their athletic and physical
education and health programs With
out mentioning schools specifically. the
writer happens to know that in some
cases OF State universities and colleges
the financial situation is so hopeless
that only two things can result, either
the alumni will have to come through
with substantial subscriptions, the State
help out with direct appropriations, or
the recourse will be bankruptcy.
TAKE several widely scattered schools
l. that have been among the most
successful in the matter of foot
ball receipts and they are in almost as
bad shape as some of the smaller
schools. Wisconsin, for instance. was
forced into a legislative investigation
this year because its foot ball receipts
fell way off and it could not balance
its budget by $4,000. With a $4,000
deficit staring it in the face for the cur
rent year Wisconsin could hardly look
with anything other than consterna-
ton on tax of 10 per cent on its re-
celptS for next year, which probably
Will suffer a further decrease ANYWAY
And Wisconsin is in good shape in COM
parlSon to some Of the other Middle
Western schools
Take Michigan. one of the greatest
drawing teams in foot ball Its re-
ceipts this year have fallen 40 per cent.
and Athletic Director Yost saws he ex-
poets another decrease next year Yet
Michigan has big debt on which it
must pay interest and retire the prin-
cipal.
Coming East, the University of Penn
sylVanla suffered such financial re-
verses that it was compelled this Win
ter TO cancel contests lust a few davs
bafore they were scheduled to be held.
something almost unheard of among
big colleges. Down South, Georgia
Iech tell off SO much in its foot ball |
receipts that 1t was compelled to drop
several coaches and cut its whole pro- |
gram TO the bone. Alabamas receipts |
Tor grioiron contests last Fall were only |
20 per cent of what they were the
previous year.
The situation in these schools is
typical Of what exists everywhere. only
IN a great many cases the problem is
much more serious. And the rather
amazing side of the question is that
very few schools, struggling to try to
S~S '-AL ONSlA tiiS CuIIeLL year ana en-
crossed with their present problems
have not fully realized that the tax
bill now before the Senate Finance
committee contains a clause taxing foot
ball receipts.
pERGMAN of Catholic University,
~ PlXlee of George Washington and
MlIlS OF Georgetown said in a brief
conference that they simply would be
ct loss to know what to do next year
II the present tax bill is approved by
the Senate. Bergman said: Look at
the situation now Why, we are having
tough time existing, as it is and if
we have to suffer through a Govern
ment tax I don't know where we will
get off. And the same thing holds good
for the other colleges especially the
Catholic and other denominationaI in
stitutions that have no hope of help
from State Legislatures Why. the Gov
ernment did not tax college athletics
even in wartime, when almost every
thing was taxed. I don't understand
what they are thinking about up on
the Hill"
Jim PiXlee of George Washington was
Just as emphatic as Bergman He also
said that his institutions program had
been curtailed and that he has been
totally at loss as to what step to take
for next year Mills of Georgetown ex-
pressed the fear that the endowed col
leges, which already are suffering vitally
in all departments from seriously de-
creased revenues, would be hit even
harder than the State institutions if
the tax bill is passed.