Evening star., 1942-02-02
III.
we can't survive II we

we can't survive II we arr
obliged to carry a new tax burden.
An ofncial Of one Of Washing
tons voluntary hospitals made thai
statement when asked about possible
effects Of restoring hospital prop
critics to the realty tax rolls. His
view was shared by number OF
fellow executives. The remainder
would not predict fatty their lnsti'
tutions could not shoulder such an
additional financial load but said
higher charges for services would
be inevitable and might produce
unforeseen reactions.
Few private hospital executives
openly expressed bitterness toward
the District authorities respon-
sible for re-examination OF tax
exempt lists or even challenged
vigorously their new Interpretation
OF the pertinent statuatory pro-
visions. Most merely confessed be-
wilderment and anxiety at an about
face from a point OF view upon
which hospitals had relied for many
years in working out their eco
nomic problems. They cannot hope
10 make satisfactory adjustments
without some type OF outside as
sistance. it vas agreed.
Default Policy Advanced.
One hospital Official said he In
tended to recommend to his board
that 1t default on tax bills If the
time comes for actual demand foI
payment. He said he also planned
to suggest joint action along this
line to those occupying similar ca
oacities In other institutions. The
ofacial explained this would serve
as a last resort for forcing the issue
and determining whether the
municipality would take over the
properties and put them up Tor sale
or seek positive relief for voluntary
hospitals from Congress.
In appealing to the Commission
ers. the institutions have offered
data on the extent Of charity work
done and contended Congress in
tended to include their type OF op-
Grafton under the exemption ac-
corded charitable establishments
For example. the protest OF the
Central Dispensary and Emergency
Hospital quoted from the report OF
the Real Estate Tax Exemption
Board and declared:
your committee seems to base its
conclusion that the hospital IS not
providing needy persons gratuitously
with medical care and treatment
and with medicines on the fact
that the corporation is paid for all
services rendered Every charitable
or welfare agency which supplies
xratuitous service of any sort to
needy persons necessarily must re-
ceive from some source the funds
which make such service possible. y
View Of G. w. Presented.
George Washington University
pointed out 1t had enjoyed exemp-
tion for the property of its medical
school and adjacent hospital under
q code provision relating to prop
erty that is used for educational
purposes that is not used for private
gain" advising:
"The medical school (teaching)
hospital, an integral part of the
organization and equipment of the
medical school, continues to be used
daily by the medical school as
teaching hospital"
Casualty Hospital sent brief let.
ter of protest over signature Of it
president, Samuel H. Rogers. point
ing out it always had considered
itself IAN eleemosynary institution,
not operated for profit, and believed
itself eligible for exemption because
OF this.
Recent informal individual ex-
pressions give a further indication
of the hospitals reaction.
Charles D. Drayton, president Of
Children's Hospital, called the al
tered policy formidable threat
to continued operation of that insti-
tuition and pointed to a net loss o1
more than 5000 on its operation
last year. Mr.. Drayton said the
immediate future was not bright
even without the addition of realty
taxes, In view Of increasing costs
and need for plant improvements.
I'VE are threatened from every
angle" he declared.
Endowment Dependence Cited.
H. P. Blair, president Of the Ex.
ecutive Committee of Episcopal Eye
Ear and Throat Hospital, said tn
taxes would be "a very serious item
and that the institutions large dis.
pensary service, considered q rea
community need, was being main.
tanned through dependence on en-.
dowment.
Mr.. Blair emphasized the hospita
always had paid without question
taxes on few properties 1t owns but
does not use for purely hospital pur.
poses.
Clarence A. Aspinwall, president
Of Garfield Memorial Hospital
characterized the tax decisions a.
pointing the road to bankruptcy
for the private hospitals of the city
He said that establishment had ar
operating deficit of about $12,00t
last year and saw no possibility o.
its raising tax funds without in.
creasing rates.
DR.. John M. Orem, president Of
sibley Hospital, agreed that an In.
crease In rates would be the sole
means of meeting tax bills.
We've considered ourselves 9
quasi-public institution" said Free
Mckee, board president of Nationa
Homeopathic Hospital. We've fell
we were supplying need the Gov.
eminent would have to meet If ",
didn't, and considered the Ia,
exemption the Governments contri.
button"
Providence Financially Troubled.
Sister Rosa, superintendent o.
Providence Hospital, pointed out Il
was engaged in desperate struggle
to make ends meet, in spite Of tn,
fact it was not obliged to pay {
number of salaries that institution
not under care Of religious order
had to meet. She said the hospita
still owed for its nurses home ant
mentioned the slIpplieg and edllip.