Evening star., 1941-06-16
D. T.. Subcommittee
To Study Property
Tax Exemptions
Group Named at First
Meeting Under MeCorron
As New Chairman
BY ]. A. O'IEARY.

Appointment of a subcommittee
to determine how far the District
should go in taxing or eXempting
charitable institutions marked the
first meeting of the Senate District
Committee under its new chairman,
Senator McCarran of Nevada.
Senator McCarran referred the
question to the subcommittee after
Senator Overton of Louisiana and
District of Columbia Budget Officer
Walter Fowler had suggested the
committee wait until District Off
cials complete the current review
of all tax-exempt property before
considering any changes in the law.
The specific proposal under dis
cuSSion was Senator McCarrans
bill to continue the exemption of
hospitals. which the Commissioners
are beginning to put back on the
tax rolls along with other institu-
tional properties.
Mr.. Fowler, who is directing the
survey for the Commissioners, told
the Senators. I'VE are putting back
on the tax books now some property
Ue know ought to be exempt. but
which is not entitled to exemption
as the old Exemption Act of 1877
now reads"
He asked the Senate group. how
ever. to wait until all the exemption
cases have been reviewed. when, he
indicated, District officials will
recommend changes in the law to
cover types of institutions they be-
Geve should be taX-free.
Equity Is Questioned.
Chairman McCarran asked Mr..
Fowler if he though it equitable to
place the institutions on the tax
books as the individual cases are
decided, in view of the fact that the
survey will take year or more,
with the result that some will 60
on the tax rolls year ahead OF
others.
. Mr.. Fowler said he thought that
was the only way the Commis-
sioners could proceed once they have
decided a particular case is not en-
titled to exemption.
Don't think it will be any hard
ship on the hospitals to wait until
. the survey is complete said MI.
Fowler because you will be flooded
with requests from others if you
start to legislate."
Chairman McCarran then decided
to refer the hospital bill to the sub
committee for hearings at an early
date. The subcommittee consists
of Senators Overton, Tydings of
Maryland, McCarran, Clark of
Idaho Austin of Vermont and Hol-
man of Oregon.
McCarran Makes Statement.
= At the outset Senator McCarran
assured the Commissioners and the
people that he is taking over the
chairmanship with one objective
TO cooperate with District authori-
ties to give the 100000 residents of
Washington the best government
We can"
1t was in that spirit, he said, that
he sought authority to appoint a
$4,000 expert as committee clerk,
and revealed that he thought that
oSicial should sit with the Com
fhissioners at their meetings in
order to put the Senate Committee
in closer touch with the daily prob
lens of the city heads.
Commissioners Hazen and Young
both assured Senator McCarran he
could count on the full co-opera-
ton of the Board of Commissioners.
MI Young said Senator McCarrans
statement makes us feel we have
a real friend here
Evan H. Tucker. president of the
Northeast Washington citizens; A.
j. Driscoll of the Mid-City. and
Harry S. Wender, vice president of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tionS, all expressed to Senator Nc
-Carran the qualification of the Or
ganized citfzenry over his appoint
ment as District chairman. Mr..
Tucker said he felt fully justified in
saying that Senator McCarran's
policy always has been to do his best
for the people of the District.
Senator McCarren also praised
Senator Overton for his wonderful
work" for the District especially
in seeking to solve the fiscal rela-
tions problem. The new chairman
declared Senator Overton was on
"the right track in his formula for
determining the Federal payment
and would have the chairman's full
support.
The new committee expert prob
ably will not be selected until the
end of this month.