New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-01
Taxing Church Property.

| In support of the argument of James
Parton in his able lecture before the Free,
Religious Association, of New York, pub
lished in the REPUBLICAN,, of October a6,
other enlightened minds are advancing
ideas which enforce consideration.
| Some Of them come from unexpected
! sources, and the New York T,ibmne quotes
| the following from the pen of a Roman
| Catholic clergy man, wellknOwn .or his
enlightened mind and public spirit:
! To the Editor of the Tribune:
| SRA prominent clergyman OF rhis city,
! upon request, states his views upon the ac-
/; ton OF the Board of Aldermen on the free
| gas question, and also discusses the general
subject OF taxation, as follows:
I In reply to inquiries respecting my opin-
! ion OF the resolution of the board of alder
men, passed on the seventh instant. that
the public shall not be taxed to pay for gas
furnished for the accommodation of
churches and schools, aud other public and
private buildings" will candidiy say that
| it is step in the ii ght direction. 1t IS, in
my opinion, simply an act of justice, or, in
other words, it is the removal of great
wrong from the overburdened taxpayers of
| the city, and the stOppage of Il source OF
| gross frauds. The persons W no own or fire.
| quent such places are generally the wealth
! Ter class, and they are able, and ought TO be
! willing to pay what is for their own accom-.
| mediation. 1t is mean as well as unjust, 70
| oblige the poor and those who do not ire
. quent such places, TO pay the gas bills for
them. If all real estate, also, of every kind,
and no matter to whom belo nging,
had to pay taxes aud assessments, a
great good would be accomplished. 1t
would make church corporations and
other corporate bodies most ex-
cellent vigilance committee over the taxa
ton of property. There are no more,
shrewd, energetic, vigilant men, where
their own interests are concerned, that
they are If they had to pay, taxes they
would look after taxation, and take care
that it was not unj ust or excessive They
would be opposed to eXtravagant and dis
honest expenditure of public money. They
would insist on honesty and economy and
ii the public money should be stolen, the
churches would ring with denunciations,
and the best men in the community would
be up in arms against thieves. Now they
are silent or Indifferent, because their poorer
neighbors. who probably never entered
their churches, have to pay the taxes for
them, and our big hearted generous legisla-
tors remit all assessment, without being
asked to do so. OF course they never ex-
pect any return for their generosity at
other peoples expense
portion of the community pay the taxes OF
another, would not like to decide. 1t GER
tainly looks unjust. To make a man pay
for thing he never uses, and from which
he derives no benefit looks like injustice.
II looks like wrong to make the poor man,
who never knew the luxury of a cushion
in itch church, pay the taxes of the rich
man who enjoys his ease, responsibility
and piety in such places. If it is wrong, il
should be redressed as soon as possible. 1t
persisted in. not only present evils, but
evils in the future will come upon the prop
erty owners. 1t is said that curses, like
chickens. come home to roost; so do wrong
and injustice OF every kind come home,
sooner or later, to roost on the perpe-
traitors. In my opinion, the rights Of
property are very sacred. nave a
great respect for them. But the duties OF
property out to be also sacred and equally
respected. | believe that properly has its
duties as well as its rights, and ii tbe dates
are not sacred and performed, .h. rights
Will not long be respected nor secure. II
all property had to bear its share OK taxa
ton, its rights to protection would be better
secured. for no one wishes to 10 lure what
helps him to tighten or bear his own burs
dens. If we exempt the property OF any
portion of the community from taxation.
The rest must pay increased taxes, and bear
heavier burden. And remember that il
~
copied property, and vino derive no benefit
from 1t whatever. that have to pay the - w.
of their neighbo1s.
Besides. the exemption Of certain propere,
from taxation has a tendency 20 make the
managers of churches and other institutions
acquire and hold unproductive more pro
lerty than is necessary for them, thus .ns
creasing uselessly the burdens Ge the COM
munity. If they had TO pay taxes lilo
others, they would hold only VIVA. waf Zee
.ssary for them, and keep il in productive
condition. The State will sell the property
OF It's citizens for the onpayment Of taxes,
and, after time, give valid tide to the
purchaser. No one questions the right Of
the State to do so. Well. then. il one pore
tion OF the community pays. TO: a certain
number OF years. the taxes VI i.noshcC pOr-
zion. is it not virtually tho "wae. o: ;hs
exempted prope'ty' Ard .ar !. 10.
in justice. demand il: This Is a serious
view to take of taxation. But 'h. question
is, is it not equity! Anyhow. it has often
led to coutiscation, which is always demo
RAILING, and ought, if possible, to be avoid
ed. The State, like our politicians, has
often, in the history Of the world, mani
tested great show of liberalitv by ex-
emptiDg vast amount OF property from
taxation. But it ended in bankruptcy,
poverty of the people and contiscation. To
avoid such consequences sooner or later all
such property ought to be equally taxed.
Contiscation is wasteful and dcmuraliznc.
1t is fruitful OF endless litigation, and
spreads strife and bitter hatred among the
people for generations.
The exemption OF some property from
taxation necesstates high rate of taxation
on other property, causes high rents, and
dear means of living for the laboring
classes, and ultimately leads to pauperism,
with which the have been cursed 10 the
Old World, and from which we will not
escape If we are not wise in time. II il said
that in some countries Of the Old World
one-fourth OF the property of the realm. in
others one-third, and in others one half
was exempt from taxation. What vas the
consequence! They nearly all when
obliged to depend on their own internal
resources, came TO bankruptcy, poverty OF
the masses, pauperism, and finally ended
i'll revolution and contiscation. 1t is, be-
leve, an admitted phlosophc tru th that
the same causes under the same cjrcuin-
stances will produce the same effects. Let
us, then, learn wisdom from the folly or
m5fortunes OF others, and make all prop
erty bear its share of the common
burdens. We will thus escape Injustice,
dishonesty, and pauperism, as well as revo-
luton and conscdtion. We have com-
menced wrong, by cXempting any property
from taxation, and when people begin.
wrong, they are sure to end wrong. Latus
consider, and take new departure before
it is too late.
Judge w. Il. Woods.