Evening star., 1942-09-15
Bad Precedent
Is Seen in Tax
On Institutions
Schultz Says u. S.
Should Contribute
More to District

Warning was given at the hearing
today on the Hunter tax-exemption,
bill that if the principle of granting.
tax exemption to religious, educa-s
tional and charitable institutions Is
broken down here, 1t will set prec- =
edent elsewhere and will eventually.
result in the important work now.
carried on by such institutions be-
ing thrown back on the States, cre-
ating new burden for taxpayers.
Representative Schultz. Democrat,
of Indiana, member of the sub
committee conducting the hearings,
declared that "if the Government
were taxed in proportion to the
taxes now imposed on these insti-
tutions in the District Of Columbia,
We would not have to be arguing
this question here today. I do not
believe the Government is contrib
uting its share to the costs of mains
tanning the Capital City"
The warning was voiced first by
Msgr. Michael J. Ready, general
secretary of the National Catholic
Welfare Council, and later by Dr.
Robert L. Lang, superintendent Of
the National Lutheran Home for the
Aged. u
Tax Saving Mentioned.
Representative Schultz also said
thousands of Catholic children are
educated each year in parochial
schools in the District while their
parents also contribute to the sup
port of the public school system.
The parochial school system relieves
the District taxpayers of at least
$4,000, 900 additional taxes a year
in the cost of new schools, teachers,
textbooks and maintenance.
Chairman Hunter, presiding at the
hearing, deplored the placing of edu-.
cational. religious and charitable in-'
stitutions on the tax rolls. Represents
ative Schultz declared that an at
tempt had been made several times in
| Indiana to tax such institutions and
characterized the withdrawal of
such properties here from exemp-
ton as "a test case for the entire
| country" An effort is being made
by certain individuals to relieve GER
tain citizens from paying their just
debt and an attempt made to saddle
it on such institutions he added.
Msgr. Ready quoted from Presi-
dent Roosevelt's message to Con-
gress on January 4, storms
from abroad directly challenge three
institutions indispensable to o-Ameri-
cans, now as always. The first Is
religion. 1t Is the source of the
other two-democracy and interna
tional good faith. The defense OF
these is all the same fight. To save
one we much now make up our
minds to save all"
Plea Made for Brookings.
| Msgr, Ready, addressing Chair
man Hunter, said: 1--WE hope that
you and your committee will protect
and safeguard one of the finest ira
ditions America has known and that
the place Of religion, charity and
education in our American way of
life will continue to be fostered and
encouraged by Government"
Meyer Jacobstein and Spencer
Gordon were witnesses on behalf OF
Brookings Institution. They said
the building at 722 Jackson place is
used entirely for educational pur-
poses, while the institution pays
taxes on other buildings which are
revenue producing to help support
the educational and research work
carried on by the institution.
Mr.. Gordon suggested an amend.
ment to the Hunter bill which would
include with educational and SCI
entific" institutions those devoted to
research" in order to remove all
doubt regarding qualifications for
tax exemptions.
DIR. Lang told the subcommittee
that the Lutheran Home for the
Aged takes care of people from out
side the District, having eight from
the District and 81 from the States
in three synods-Maryland, West
, Virginia and part of Pennsylvania
1t is strictly n-profit, charitable
institution, ne said. He emphasized
: that the District government is
relieved from old-age pension pay
ments when a person enters this
! home to be taken care of for life.
: TT seems unfair" he said, "thai
. after we relieve the District from
, heavy continuing expenditures we
are then taxed for the care that we
j, give"
William H. Ramsey. representing
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union of the District, was also a
!, witness.