Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1875-12-10
rNrAxEp CHURCH AND CORPORA.
TION PROPERTY.


UNFRAMED CHURCH AND CoRPORA-
riON PROPERTY.
The President. in his messags. among
other important subjects. called the al
tsntion OF Congress to the vast aud
swiftly auementing amount Of corporate
property in the United States exempt
from taxation. This il a matter which
has heretofore been the subject Of CON-
ment among political students, and to
some extent q question Of discussion in
Stais Legislatures. hut We behave has
never before boon specially referred 70 in
q message from tho White House. Ev-
cry person familiar with Stats iesisla-
ton. or practically acquainted with the
subject OF State and local revenues. IL
aware that in every State large proper.
ties are exempt from tazation. We are
30 accustomed to the passage OF Acts
relieving the properties Of religious,
slesmosynary and secret organizations
from the burden OF contributing to the
support Of the Government, that the in
PRODUCTION Of q bill to that end creates
little discussion. The principle seems
to have gained such footing that at each
succeeding L Legislature the friends OF each
society congregate in force at State cap
itols and demand. rather than request.
that the property Of their respective so
cisties be made exempt from taxation.
The precedent having been established
by eIsmpting one. all others have. In
justice, q similar claim. The extent Of
this species Of unjust. not to say illegal.
favoritism 10 shown BY Tho President In
his message. In the item Of Church
property. alone. the following startling
figures are given: In 1850. the amount
Of this sort Of property which paid no
tai Was about ss3. 600. 900. In 1850. Il
had doubled; and this year ii aggregates
the enormous sum Of $1,000. 600. 900
an increase in twenty-five years OF twelve
hundred psr cent. These figures relate
solely to church property. or that held
by various religious corporations, and
do not include that Of the hundreds Of
secret. private educational and elsemo-
synary corporations. which hold vast
properties protected by legislation from
the visits Of the Assessor and Collector.
Th,re Is no reason. either in law OF
equity. for the exemption Of this prop.
srty from bearing its proportion Of the
cost Of government. Our Government.
like all Of . civil nature. is organized
for the protection Of life and property.
Every dollars worth Of real estate il
under the care Of Law. To its protec-
ton the power Of the several States. as
xsll u that Of the general Government
il pledged. and for its safety
are raised. II Is not necessary to add
that such protection involves q recipro-
cal obligation on the part OF property
ownsrs. Individuals who own prop
srty. II citizens. are not only compelled
10 pay taxss thereon, but in time Of
val to give their personal service TO
the State or Nation. Corporations.
not being persons. cannot DO this
latter. and are to that extent favored by
Law. Instead Of being liable both in
person and property for tho public safe
~. they are only called upon 70 con-
tribute their pro rata to the public
nues. Before the Law all corporations
stand upon an equal footing. They buy.
sell. lease. and otherwise dispose Of pro-
perry under general regulations. In
time Of war all are entitled 10 equal pro-
lection. II IL manifest that the exemp-
ton Of any class Of property which. IL
owned BY private parties would DO q
source OF revenue o tho state OF Nai'on'
10 an injustice 10 other properly owners
IL reader their taxes more onerous; or
ON . other hand. reduces tho revenues
o, .he government thsss Is no legal
distinction, unless mado by special en-
sOn' oe'"een the property OF afAii-
~ '"'''po'Aaon anu 'ha'
VI enu'sa VI sse's' society Laeh
' p,0n n0n the ''a's' eaen
sn' Increased
'" UNA " n's .om nS
P'ops'y "A. 'o"'o n'
u,.J r..,,s
.,.,,.,s. h.,a. ~ ,.r,;,n. So.
c.. a. az ;n,rhn. rron s,.,. -,
N.,,..., ,-,o.n.,;,v hr,,.n on 49,
."~n--~ls,.. 49,,
80 -. r.,.nns a, Gov.
---.., RI a. ..., a, .,h., nv.
cry dollar exempted from tahation IN
-;-.- .o--uu;tv ALL IN tha rala lail