The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-28
THE EXEMPTION OF PROPERTY
FROM TAXATION

FROM TAXATION
In the House of Representatives yesterday
bill for the repeal of all laws exempting pro-
perty from taxation was discussed with consde-
rable animation, and although il was hotly op
posed by number of influential members,
there seemed to be strong party in favor OF
it, and it is not improbable that it will finally
pass the House. Sweeping as is this bill, 1t is
q serious question whether it is not necessary,
if a reform is to be expected. During the
present session of the Legislature immune
rable bills for the exemption of property from
taxation have been introduced, and have
generally been acted upon favorablY, and
unless some check is interposed the evil will
grow to frightful magnitude and the en-
tire burden of taxation will be laid upon
the shoulders of constantly diminishing
proportion of the community. Men who
have no sympathy whatever with the aims of
religious and other establishments which are
exempt from taxation will be obliged to con-
tribute to their support, and as the tax rate
is increased from year to year the dissatisfac-
tion will become more general, and there will
be less and less disposition to extend private
aid to religious and charitable enterprises
which ought to be literally supported, but
not out of the public treasury. The exemp-
ton of the property belonging to religious
corporations we believe would be declared
unconstitutional if it were ever tested before
the Supreme Court. Now men who have no
religious beliefs are compelled to contribute
to the support of creeds in which they put no
faith, and those who profess to be religious
must aid in advancing opinions
l. IL.
nistic. The Catholics are compelled to sup
port the Protestant churches, and the Protes-
tants those of the Catholics; the Unitsrians
must contribute to the advancement of Trini-
tsrianism, and the Oalvinists to that of Armi-
nianism, and all to she promulgation of any
ism that may be started by the inventors of
new religions who are continually starting up.
So long as churches themselves were alone
exempt from taxation no very serious objec-
tion was raised, but now it is demanded that
parsonages shall also be released from the
burden of taxation, and unless there is a re-
form property of every description belonging
to religious or professedly religious bodies
will be excused from the necessity of contri-
buting to the support of the Government.
There are some things to be said in favor of
the exemption of church property, and the
churches are entitled to the support of
| the public on the ground that
| they are moral agents of the first value. The
principle of extending State aid to them,
however, is radically wrong, and it has always
had an injurious effect upon religion wherever
tried. 1t has repressed private genero-
sity and deadened the religious spirit, which
| is stimulated rather than otherwise by de-
mands upon the pocket, if they are made in
proper manner. Many q man who is not
willing to pay one dollar towards a general
fund to be divided Unfortunately among
| the various religious denominations, will give
literally to support particular church enter
prise; but whether he will or not, the fact re-
mains that, according to the terms of the
Constitution, he cannot be compelled to give
anything if he does not choose to. A great
many persons interested in particular
churches, and who are anxious to advance
their prosperity in every possible manner,
fail to see the great wrong of this whole
exemption business, but if they
would candidly and impartially consider the
matter, they could scarcely fail to understand
that it is highly improper thing, to say the
least of it, for them to demand aid of the
State. Mr.. Dumbell, in his remarks in the
House of Representatives yesterday, stated
that in Philadelphia alone over $500 900
worth of property is already exempt from
taxation by special acts and tha q million or
million and half more had been exempted
this winter. At the present tax rate of 81 80
on the hundred, the above amount would
realize over $900,00O which would permit
the tax rate to be greatly reduced if it were
paid into the public treasury. The only
property that, in justice to the entire COM
munity, should be exempted from taxation,
should be that belonging to hospitals, asy.
lums, and other strictly charitable institu-
tions. These aid directly in reducing some
of the public burdens, and as they
are direct benefit to the
public, it is not improper that
at least this much aid should be extended
to them by the State. If this principle were
once clearly recognized, and the projectors
of religious enterprises understood that they
must rely solely upon such private assistance
as they can command, it is possible that fewer
gorgeous church edifces would be erected
but it is not unlikely that the cause of true
religion would gain in the end. Mr.. Dumbel
said truly that the proper way TO reach the
institutions entitled to exemption was by
general law, and not by parti al and specia
enactments making invidious distinctions
and we hope he and other members of the
Legislature in favor of much-needed reform
| ay,7a 10, IL l. IL.