The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-02-20
Taxing Colleges and <'i.s-I:sshte E..st
futions
From Milwaukee Sentilei.


EDITOR SENT4NEIy-The movement
already inauguratei at MADISON to tas
colleges and charitable institutions, is
worthy o. the serious consideration OF
the people There is danger of hasty
action based uron, a surface view of the
question. The bare fact that properta
has been exempted from taxation has
been recognized, and the conclusion OF
injustice has been drawn as an inevitable
one. religious journal of the city has
planted Itself upon this foundation, and
b'';.sts OF Its i'm pregnable position. Wait
a moment
The state, by system of direct and in
direct taxation. builds the State Univer-
sity at Madison. and by an annual tax
unen the people pays its current exl en-
Ses.
individuals, subject to taxation for the
State University the same as others. by
voluntary donations build and sustain
the college at Beloit. The university at
Madison and the college at BeIoit teach
the same branches of science and edu
cation, qualifying young gentlemen and
young ladies' alike for positions of use
fulness in lite There is sectariaa teach
ing or education in neither; but both
Il general Christianity, by sumnoning ali
students TO morning prayers and similar
exercises. Without the college at b. :
lott, mary a youth must be deprived tha
opportunities of acquiring an education,
and the state be deprived oi' their useful
ness. or additional universities must be
built and supported by additional taxa
tIon. Now. what Justice is there in
f,y IL Il
who have, by their own liberality, built
ard, by the same means, sustain. thai;
institution, and thereby dinirish the
general sum to be assessed upon the
state? s..-
Tie state or tie equity, BY system
Of taxation, builds and supports m asy-
lum5tor the support of aged indigents or
orphan children. .r--.r.,--
Individuals by their charitable con-
tf'ihu;ions, build and sustain .iaots er,
thereby saving the state or county an ad-
dlt!pnal assessment, to build and sustain
another similar institution for the poor
and the fan iherIe>s in country whore
Christianity has 50 far possessed the
pub'ic heart aud Inspired the popular
sentiment as it has done in ours. mast be
c0red for Now, again, upon what
p,inciple of either Justice or prnpiiety
tax the asylum or its doners. built hy
vGtantary Contributions and tlicrehv say
f'.g the people an assessment equal TO the
cast q !niiidng and the current, ,c> rerl-tiS
o. running the institution. Indeed
there is something peculiarly strange
AID startling in the ;hoaght q. taejag
cIority or charitable institu;ionst
II any charge is to he mad in this
system of taxation, this particular, strict
Jasttce would require some provisions
whelchy hose who build and sustain edu-
eational and charitable Institutions, aud
are 80 doing Saving to the Govern
ment that amount Of expense, should be
exempted from taxation, 30 an equal ex
tent IN building and sustaining Govern
Ment institutions Let those who will
sacrifice nothing fer charitable cnterprs
es bald and sustain institutions resting
wholly upon system Of forced contri-
buttons, s- ---+
Denomiuational feelings might prompt
me 90 favof He taxing of pu,,lic prop
erty ln.oar state In existing ciicumstan-
ces. and tirstImp pressions were upon that
size oi the question. But more mature
deIiberation tends to convince my judg
ment :hat the principle is wrong and
permca'ed by an element of injustice
The change proposed may be made,
AID all church property and educational
and charitable institutions become sub
ject 20 taxation. Bat tine and observa-
ton will bring ab ut a reactionary move.
ment. Thoughlfrl benevoicnce, dicta
ting even the bequcathng pen of the
''iast will and testament" will hesitate
before the liability of perversion of the
bequcst to personal interests and corrupt
ing business, through the thoueh,less-
ness, Indifference or even perversity Of
those under hose management it may
fail, even in the mos; distant day.
EOUAI .RtGuTS