The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-23
Taxing Church Property.

The Presidents message touches in no un-
certain vein question which sooner or later
"a destined to take its place among the leading
issues of the day. The abuses that have crept
into the custom of exemptiug church pro.
pertv from taxation are already attracting
the attentive consideration Of statesmen and
political economists, and President Grant, on
taking the sharply. defined attitude he has,
orly expresses the popular sentiment. No.
BODY. we assume, objects to or would disturb
the arrangement by which charitable and rei-
gions institutions are foatered under the law.
It Ia. and properly so, an accepted theory in
this free country that oil religions are entitled
10 protection, and all charities worthy ofen.
enlargement. But the President points out
the notorious factthat this theory Is being
systematically abused, and that the accumula.
ton Of property by religious bodies has at.
tanned proportions that affect ipjnriously
the rights and Interests of citizens.
We need not 20 beyond the limits of New
Orleans in search Of illustrations. On every
hand we have specimens Of the extent to
which the evil has gone and the injustice
which It has entaiied upon the general public.
Long rows of buildings devoted to every form
OF traffic are to be seen in different localities Of
the city; and the fact that these enjoy inn
munity from taxation sufficiently explains
the attendant fact that tax.payiDg pro.
persy.holders In the vicinity are left without
tenants and deprived Of the income which
otherwise they would In all probability
obtain. The tax-paying landlord has been
brought into competition with the non.tax-
paying landlord, and the result Is that the
eitize6,s prospect Of acquiring property Is
being steadily diminished while the chuych's
facilities are being as steadily increased.
Under existing circumstances 1t Is only q
question OF time as to when the religious
societies will absorb all the real estate of any
value Ia the nation. 1t Is more profitable TO
rent from the church, which pays no taxes,
than to pay taxes on property which eannot
be made source Of income and the history
Of the accumulation of church property in
this city and elsewhere is the most eloquent
possible commentary on the proposition that
All, whether church, corporation, or In
dividual, should be made to share alike
the burden or maintaining the Government,
whose protection sill enjoy 10 common.
This is no new question here. The facts
have been conspicuous for very long time,
and the Thoughts of patriotic and intelligent
men have been given with gradually iucreas-
ing earnestness 10 the discovery and adop-
ton Of some effectusi remedy. We have
reason to believe that the subject will be
brought up before the next session of the
Legislature, and have no hesitation IN saying
that the tax-payipg masses Of the people will
expect prompt and lasting relief from an In
justice which has already been suffered to
FescS too Formidable a limit. Ic would
starile and offsHd the public 10 learn exactly
what proportion Of the eity's real estate Is
now exemptffom pafsieipstiQn In the com.
mon resporsibiii.y--s sentiment very apt to
be- intensified by the reflection that every
dollar RENTED TO the church must be addee
w toe burden Of the people. : Ne,s Orleans
Times. s-3 80 as q "a. :