Evening star., 1942-08-15
Tax Exemption
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Congress to clarity and liberalize the
old exemption statutes
The committee heard representa-
tives yesterday afternoon of several
4 Catholic religious orders that con-
duct their own houses of study in
Brookland, and spokesmen for sew
eral national organizations with
| headquarters here. All of the wit
nesses presented reasons why they
believe their institutions should be
brought within the scope of the bill.
Chest Attorney Is Heard
The committee also heard Arthur
HELEN, attorney for the Community
| Chest. and Mrs Pearl B. Klein, of
the District Council of Social Agen-
cies, which own jointly head
quarters building.
Among those heard on behalf of
the Catholic religious orders were !:
! The Rev. Bartholomew Timlin of
| the Franciscan Holy Name College.
| the Rev. Adrian T. English and At
4
Dominican House of Studies, the
| Rev. William J. Deacy of the Angus
tinian College, the Rev Francis J.
Crump of the Oblates of Mary I'M
maculate. and William T. Hannah,
counsel for the Sulpician Seminary
Ross ODonoghue accompanied
Father Timlin and also appeared
f~t 1S,,', DIT
of the Benedictnes.
Father English pointed out that
the Dominican Order was founded
more than TOO years ago. He de-
clared that, although its institution
here is recognized theological
seminary, having it's own faculty to
train members of the order for the
priesthood, the District Government
recently held it is not an educational
institution under the present law
and withdrew tax exemption grant,
! ed since 1905. Theology, he said,
| is the oldest of all professions, and
suggested an amendment making
eligible for tax exemption nom
profit institutions that conduct
/ training for the recognized profess
sions.
A. Affiliates of c. u.
Mr.. ODonoghue said the bill as
| drawn would not include study
houses whose members do their
classwork at Catholic University,
even though they hold their reli-
| gious exercises at the study house.
He suggested two amendments to
| cover such cases.
! Mr.. Hannah told the committee
there are, in all. about "A study
houses that are affiliated in varying
degrees with Catholic University
He proposed insertion of the words,
and their aff1liates" in the para
graph exempting universities,
Charles v. INLAY, speaking for
the National Rife Association, con-
tended its property should be ex-
empt, declaring its whole purpose is
training in craftsmanship. He sug-
gested new general definition
might be drafted to cover that and
similar organizations,
The American Forestry Associa-
ton. through Preston B. Kava-
naugh, presented arguments why its
property should be exempt as edu-
cational or scientific. in promoting
forest conservation and educating
the public on forestry.
While the American Pharmaceu-
tical Association was presenting
arguments in support of restoring
it's property on Constitution avenue
to the exempt list, Commissioner
Guy Mason interrupted to ask E. F
Kelly, secretary, why the Taxpayers
of the District should meet the cost
of exempting the property wher
the 48 States all benefit from the
associations work The Commits
sioner pointed out the District prob
ably has a smaller taxable area than
any city, and that it bears all but II
per cent of the annual expenses OF
the Capital City. The remainder /!
represented by the Federal lump
sum payment.
Urged to Expand Site.
Spokesmen for the association re-
piled that when it was considering
erecting its headquarters here, Gov
ernment agencies suggested that II
buy more land to enlarge its site
Congress, he said, passed a resolu-
tion closing street to perfect the
plans. AS result. they said, the
association now faces payment ol
taxes on more land than it origi
nally intended to use until the Gov
ernment passed on its plans.
Mr.. HELEN of the Community
Chest strongly Endorsed the bill ir
principle. and advised the commit.
tee to avoid. as far as possible, ex.
empting organizations by name. Tht
said, should fall into well-defnet
categories. Mr.. HELEN agreed with
earlier witnesses for the universi.
ties that the amount of land to bs
exempt around institutions shoult
be that which Is reasonably re
quired' instead OF the term now II
the bill, absolutely required H,
also suggested minor changes tt
meet the requirements of two O
three Chest agencies.
Mrs Klein explained the work o
the Council OF Social Agencies II
acting AS a central planning ant
international source for 80 social
civic and welfare organizations. Sh
said the council is exempt at present
She merely wanted to be sure tn,
new bill would not change it's status
Franz 6 HllftN secret a arN ire 4