Evening star., 1942-07-26
$4,000 Properties
OF Howard u. Held
Subject 10 Taxes
Officials Delay Bills
Pending Review Of Law
By Corporation Counsel

A finding that more than 100 res
idential and store properties owned
by Howard University, rented out
and not used for educational pur-
poses, should be returned to the
District realty tax rolls was adopted
yesterday by the Commissioners,
but tax bills were withheld pending
a review of the law by Corporation
Counsel Richmond B. Keech. The
properties are valued at more than
$4,000.
The action was taken on recon-
mendation by Budget Offlcer Walter
L. Fowler and other members of the
Real Estate Tax Exemption Board,
who agreed that the 1867 act char
tering the university was very
broad" in language and might be
construed as permitting such real
estate operations.
If such a conclusion is reached,
the Fowler board said, Congress
should be asked to amend the uni
versity's charter. The board held
that "such vast operations in the
real estate business and such vast
and diversified holdings throughout
the District never were intended to
be exempt from real estate taxes" !"
This position was adopted by the
Board Of Commissioners.
Legislation Sought.
MIR. Fowler suggested that legis-
lation now being sought by the
Commissioners probably would
clear up situations Of this kind.
The total assessed value of How
ard University properties. includ-
ing university buildings and Freed
mems Hospital, was placed at ap-
proximately $5,000,00
In recommending that all of the
properties under the plant exten-
sion fund and endowment funds not
actually used for educational pur-
poses be returned to taxation, the
Fowler board also asked that the
question of excess land in the uni
versity area be held in abeyance
until the tax issue was determined.
The Commissioners also ordered
taxation for portions Of the proper
ties OF the Oblate Scholasticate,
near Trinity College, on Fourth
street NE, and Of the Benedictine
Foundation OF Washington, at Four
teenth and Webster streets NE.
7 Borderline Case.
The Oblate Scholasticate. which
has an assessed value Of $340, TOT, /.
college for student priests. The
Fowler board found 80 students en-
rolled but added that the institution
had had as many as 10 enrolled
students. It concluded: This Il
a borderline case. However, we f1nt
that general subjects of education
are being taught in addition to th'
selected limited theological subjects
We do not believe that 1t was eve
intended that property of this yalu'
should be exempt for so few stu
dents. In any event, there Is exces
land here and we recommend tina
two acres be returned to a taxable
status" The property contains ST
acres.
The Benedictine Foundation oper
ates st. Anselms priory, college
convent and other units, which ar
valued by the District at 1855
The property contains slightly NOR
than 10 acres. The foundation wa
held not to be a church within tn
meaning of the District law, al
though church services are con
Quoted on the property and thes
are open to the public generally. o.
the ground that high school tn
|, foundation conducts is open to a.
boys without distinction of cree
and that this will relieve the city c
burden. the Commissioners foun
y that exemption of the annex. hal
of the main building and S acres wa
justified and that the remainder b
! returned to tax status.