Evening star., 1942-12-03
McCarran Hits
D. {. Officials
On Tax Bill
Says Criticism Of
House on Exemptions
Was Unfair
BY ]. A. O'LEARY


mittee, District officials were ac-
cused today by Chairman McCarran
OF unfair criticism of the House Dis
trlct Committee for not holding
hearings on the property tax exemp-
ton bill before the House passed the
measure two weeks ago.
The bill defines the religious,
charitable, educational and scien-
tlflc properties that should be
exempt from property taxes here. 1t
would restore exemption to most of
the properties declared taxable
recently.
The statement that aroused Sen
ator McCarran was contained in
letter Commissioner Young wrote
to Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
glnla, and to the Senate chairman,
asking that several sections be de-
leted from the bill and stating that
the House passed an identical bill
without hearings.
Cites Senate Hearings.
Senator McCarran said he first
learned of the letter from Senator
Byrd, and charged that if it had
been read for the first time when
the bill came up in the Senate it
would have conveyed to other Sena-
tors the impression that something
was put over on the Commissioners. ."
The Nevada Senator said he called
the meeting because he felt that,
in fairness to the House it should
be brought out that the bill was
taken by Representative Hunter,
Democrat, If Ohio, and introduced
in the House after full hearings in
the Senate committee.
Commissioners Young replied that
he thought the Senate chairman was
taking IAN entirely wrong view" of
the letter, and emphasized it re-
ferred only TO the House and i'm
piled no criticism of the conSidera-
ton given the bill by the Senate
committee. The Commissioner
stood by his statement that District
officials were not invited to COM
ment on the bill in the House.
Young Authorized Letter.
Mr.. Young said he directed that
the letter be written and still felt
that IF the House was going to give
the bill the serious consideration the
Senate committee gave it," hearings
should have been held He called
it one of the most important meas
ures taken up since he has been a
Commissioner.
Senator MCCarran said "all of the
objections Of the Commissioners
were passed on here" and inquired:
Would the hearings have been
any different if held in the House?"
Il think amendments could have
been discussed Commissioner
Young insisted.
The amendments suggested in the
controversial letter included elimi-
nation of the section exempting re-
ligious houses of study. The Com
missioners took the view the section
eXempting regular churches and
parSonages was sufficient.
Section Called Broad"
The Commissioners letter called
the section relating to religious
study and missionary houses very
broad" and added, for your infor-
nation RELIGIOUS organizations as
such have never enjoyed real estate
tax exemption. In our opinion, this
paragraph opens the door to a large
group of religious organizations and
societies properties which should
not be exempt
The letter also protested against
the section granting exemption to
the land surrounding exempt inSti-
tutions, as of July l, 1912, with the
proviSo that if any such land later
is sold for any other purpose the
back taxes would have to be paid, up
to so per cent of profit from the sale
The Commissioners urged a return
to the original definition, limiting
land exemption to the open space
absolutely required" and actually
used for the convenient enjoyment
of the institution.
Overton in Peace Role.
A third objection was made to
section exempting organizations
charged with administration, CO.
ordination and unification of &C
tivities. locally or otherwise.
Senator Overton, Democrat, of
Louisiana took the role of peace
maker at today's meeting. declaring:
Il don't think Mr. Young was re-
fectlng on the Senate. What I
think he feels aggrieved at is that
he should have had a hearing in the
House. On the other hand, I can
readily understand why the House
had no hearings, because the Sem
ate had such full hearings"
Senator Overton told the Com
missioner it is not unusual for con-
gresslonal committees of one branch
to act without hearings when a full
record has been made in the other
branch.
Says Bill Would Be Destroyed.
Senator Overton's observations
came after Chairman McCarran had
called the letter IAN unfair state
ment to this committee and to Con-
gress." The chairman added that
the proposed changes would destroy
the bill, insofar as defining the prop
erty the committee thought should
be exempt"
The Commissioners originally fav-
ored bill that did not go as far as
the pending measure, and Commits
sioner Young told the committee to-
day he thought it was fine legisla-
ton, if you could make a few more
changes"
In response to questions from the
committee, Budget Officer Walter
Fowler said the bill was introduced
in the House on November l6 and
passed on November 10. He said the
letter in question contained nothing
new. but restated the position taken
by the Commissioners from the start.
Scouts to Receive Flag
Public presentation of an Ameri-
can flag to Boy Scout Troop No. u
~ ty,a Colvofiop ARMY will be made