Evening star., 1942-09-14
Hearing|sAs
1oDrop Taxes
On Institutions
Spokesman Request
Amendments to
Hunter Bill

The Hunter Bill to restore real es-
tate tax exemptions to certain re-
ligious, educational and scientific
organizations was Endorsed today by
representatives Of such institutions
at hearings before the fiscal affairs
committee of the House District
Committee.
A number of amendments were
suggested by representatives of the
various institutions, who were re-
quested by Chairman Hunter to sub
NIT drafts Of the proposed amend
ments.
Among those who appeared were
Leo A. Rover, former district at
torney, representing the Francis
can Monastery and the Josephite
Order, at Twelfth and Varnum
streets NE; DR.. Isiah Bowman,
president of Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity and president of the Ma
tional Academy of Science: Joseph
A. Rafferty,. representing the Car
melite Fathers, 2131 Lincoln road
NE: Joseph Hall, attorney for
George Washington University and
for the American Pharmaceutical
Association; DR.. E. r. Kelly, secre-
tary Of the American Pharmaceuti-
cal Association; Daniel O'Donoghue,
tr., representing Trinity College,
Providence Hospital, the Catholic
Charities Welfare organization, st.
Joseph's School and Orphanage,
Holy Name College, and the Bene-
dictine Foundation: DR.. Vannever
Bush. president Of the Carnegie In
stitution of Washington. and Paul
r. Douglass, president of American
University.
Amendments Urged
Mr.. Rover explained that the
Franciscan Monastery is primarily
missionary society and non-profit
organization. Chairman Hunter
asked Mr.. Rover to draft an amend
ment to the bill providing that real
estate held by missionary" organ
izations should be exempt If it is
not income producing.
Mr.. Rover also suggested an
amendment which would define
religious houses of study as bona
fide educational institutions qualified
for exemption. He also proposed an
amendment, Under which such in
stitutions as were recently placed
on the tax rolls would not be con-
fined to going before the one-man
Board Of Tax Appeals for the Dis
trict in appealing from the Commits
sioners' rulings when that boards
appointment is by the Commits
sioners.
DR.. Bowman fled a prepared state
ment showing that the National
Academy Of Science was created by
act Of Congress signed by President
Lincoln and was called into organ
ization by Congress to help win the
War Between the States. Each mem
Der, he said, is pledged to assist the
Government at any time without
compensation.
Mr.. Rafferty, told the subcom-
mittee that the Carmelite Fathers
have six acres of land improved by
. monastery, theological school and
chapel. The work of this institu-
ton, he said, is both charitable. re-
ligious and educational.
Part Of Property Exempt.
Mr.. Hall explained that George
Washington University property has
been divided by the Fowler Tax
Exemption Board so that part of
one square will be exempt on ac-
count OF a building used for educa-
tion, while another part of the
square held for expansion of edu-
cational facilities, but now used for
parking by professors and pupils
without cost, is placed on the tax
rolls.
Mr.. Hall also explained that the
American Pharmaceutical Associa-
tion, in erecting Its building here.
was obliged to purchase q much
larger site and erect more preten-
tious structure by cooperating with
requirements Of the National Capi-
tai Park and Planning Commission
and the Fine Arts Commission, with
the result that they are now taxed
for property which Government
agencies asked them to purchase and
erect.
Mr.. O'Donoghue asked that, in ad-
dition to an amendment to exempt
religious houses Of study, clarifica-
ton should be made as to the ex-
tent of exemption OF land. Chair
man Hunter asked him to draft a
proposed amendment.
DR.. Bush told the committee that
the Carnegie Institution was incor-
porated in 1904 to increase human
knowledge and it is devoted entirely
to the public benefit.
If this institution is taxed" he
said, I'VE will be unable to do some
OF the humanitarian work we are
now doing"