The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-04
TAXING CHARITIES.

we nave IL on the autnOrlty OF the LOUIS
vile Comier-Journal that secret anti-papa
society is organized in Maryland with the pur
pose of imposing taxes upon church property
assuming that such property is held by the
Catholic Church principally. 1t is general
custom in America to exempt from tax all
property actually used for religious, educa.
tional and charitable purposes. Such prop
erty is the result of accumulated donations
made with the expectation that the lands,
houses and money shall be exempt from tax,
it being almost an implied contract between
the donor and the State that his gift shall not
be impaired by an annual tax.
This implication certainly attaches to all
past donations and requests in all States
where the exemption has so long existed as to
become almost equal to a constitutional pro-
vision. If ricn holder of city property
gives lot of ground for an asylum for or.
phan children, and if other kind men and
women build thereon q suitable structure and
fill it with inmates, that government which
would send in bill for taxes upon the lot
and houses would be too mean to represent
any civilized community.
Or if q comfortable farmer fences off
corner acre near the forks of the road, builds
on it schoolhouse and presents it to the
district for the use of his poor neighbors, he
would have cause to think it grievoas abuse
and contemplate meanness in his town,
county or State, to levy tax upon his gift.
So, too, if Mrs. Tubman, or any other pious
lady, erects a Westinghouse for the accom-
mediation of widely scattered and poor re-
Ggious society, she would hardly expect any
State to do an act SO shabby, stingy and
small as to impose tax upon her charitable
gift.
The donations made for charity, ETC., are
to be made for the general good
Fen when applied locally the donation is
not exceptional, the same privilege of exemp-
ton being extended to all other donations for
Ill other localities. Where donations have
been exempt from tax through series of
years SO long as to raise the presumption that
they will not in the future be taxed, the State
loses the equitable right to tax them. Such
ak will always be odious to the masses of the |
people. 1t could only be imposed on prop
,rty donated to and owned by Catholic insti-
utions through prejudice and hatred. Pro-
estant donations to any sect would be de-
ended against tax by Protestants of all
,ther sects. All friends of education will |
condemn any tax on any donation made in
upport Of school, academy or university.
The rule Of exemption should be strictly
Construed. Where church and its property
re owned by wealthy corporation, and
where their property is leased for secular pur-
'oses at an enormous rental, which is used to
we'll the capital and further increase the re-
eipts, the specializing society ought not to
70 shielded by the custom of exemption.
This movement is not inspired by any de-
ire that all property should bear share of
be cost Of government; its name indicates
hat it is leveled against the property of
'atholic societies. and that it is based for sup
ort on the prejudices Of anti Catholic voters.
he movers are attempting to unsheath a
word that is double-edged and hiltless The
eople Of this country are too unlike the
andits OF Mexico to commence by tax the
ork of plundering churches, converts, AIMS
o uses, hospitals and schools.