Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-23
FxemntfGn OF Churches.

Editor star: ] dissent from the views ex-
pressed by Church and state" in your
paper of Monday last. If Congress cannot
legiSlate directly 10 establish religion. it can
moi do so Indirectly If cannet appropriate
SIo,tO0 10 be'distributed among the churches
IL cannot benefit them Ia that amount by re-
1evlng them of their proper share of the
public burdens
There are but two theories on which any
statesman has defended church exemption.
The FIRST IL, that "the legislature has the
right TO decide upon what kinds of property
the taxes shall be levied. II can exempt
personal and tax real property, exempt
watches and tax horses" The argument
holds good, except to justify violation of
the letter or spirit of the Constitution. But
when that instrument fOrbids laws made to
establish religion, it forbids cunningly con-
trived statutes devised to favor churches by
grsrtiT them peculiar immunites.
The second theory is, that "moSt persons
VINO pay taxes at all do, in some form and
with regard TO their ability contribute To the
support of churches. 1t is, therefore, of little
Importance to them whether they pay taxes
directly to the collector or contribute their
quota To help the church pay it's share; the
burden on the Taxpayers is substantially
the same whether the churches are taxed or
not"
If this argument proves anything, il is that
IL is matter Of Indifference whether the
churches are taxed or rot, as the money
comes from the same pockets. But they VINO
use II do not believe ii; this is n fir infer
ence from their strenuous efforts TO prevent
the passage ora fair law. That ii is not true
j.
The congregation with which / worship is
composed, | should think, of one twentieth
taxpayers and nineteen twentieths of trans
lent persons who pay no faXeS,-whO res side
here In the winter, and are off again in the
early summer. The Church propefty is
worth at least $4,000, and II ought to
pay tax Of 2,Zjn. If it were taxed, the
transient class would pay at least ~ 600 OF
the amount; if il is exempted, the transient
class pays nothing, the whole burden being
made by CunDin2ly devised laws, to rest on
uhn
already burdencd more heavily th an they can
Dear. The taxation Ofthe churches is, in eft
fect, 10 relieve real estate owners and enable
the VISITORS and winter residents at the cap
1tal 10 contribute something To our munich
pal expenses. Is there any good reason whv
these should not give something in compeD-
sation for the use of our magnificent streets
our drives, ard al the cOnveniences of o 1r
urban life? II Congress should intiict upon
us law so unwarranted by the constitution
as tne exemption of church property. I trust
that case will be promptly made for the
action OF the Supreme Corrt.
1t is mistake 10 suppose that thoughtful
friends of the church favor its eXeup ptiOn
from taxation. Like their great exemplar
they are Wiling 10 render unto Caesar the
Things that are Caesars. DIR. Wayland, one
OF the leading orthodox thinkers, says in his
PoIl1ical Economy, book I. ch. 3:
I've only ground on which taxes for the
support of religion can be defended, is that
lts existence is necessary for the support of
civil government, and that it can be sustain.
ed IN no other manner than by cOmpulsion.
Inc hIst assertion we grant to be true; the
second, we utterly deny. Hence, we 90 not
believe that any taxation for this purpose is
necessary. All that religious societies have
right TO ask of the civil government is the
same privileges for transacting their own
affairs which societies of every other sort
possess"
The religious societies of this District have
not asked exemption from their share OF the
taxes imposed on real estate. They believe
In manly discharge of obligations, and are
dlscredited by those officious persons who
put them in the false and mean position of
dead heads" seeking to put their own bur
dens on other mems shoulders.
FAIR PLAY,