The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-22
CHURCH PROPERTY AND TAX
ALTON.

LII Ull6 COulleCUlcuO Legislature, Guc
Iquestion whether any class of property
lshould be free from taxation has under
gone a careful discussion lately. The
subject was thoroughly debated, and
the arguments advanced in favor of re-
moving existing privileges from church
possessions produced profound i'm
preston on the minds of the members.
The line Of reasoning developed no
striking originality, yet it welded facts
and forcibly applied them. The census
was resorted to for. some very telling
figures.
By the census of 1870 there were in
Connecticut 9O1 churches, whose total
value was estimated at $13, 100000, CIV
ing to each church in the State an av-
erage value Of $4,000. Hence the bill
before the Legislature proposed to ex-
empt but that sum for every church
organization. The early history of the
State was referred to, when it and the
church were one; the town seyerally
charged themselves with the erection
of houses of worship and the support
of Christian ministers, SO that there
was then some reason for exemp4ing
churches, as school and town houses.
But now they are supported by voIun-
tary contributions. The total value of
church property in the United States
in 1850 was $87, 1873, sol; in 1860, $171,-
3o7, 932 and in 1870, it was 354 ,483, 581;
showing that such property nearly
doubles every ten years, and that in
1880 it will amount to $685. 1852; in
1890 to 81, 417,9 34,324; and in 1900 to.
So, 835 ,S68,64S. Church property is in
creasing faster than church member
ship. .. .
1t is argued that the rapid absorb
ton of so large part of the common
wealth is. unsafe, if not ominous.
The history of the countries of the
Old World is pointed to-. At the
commencement of the French ReVolu-
ton it is estimated that two acres of
land out of every five belonged to the
church. In some countries one-fourth,
and in others one-half of the entire
Of the realm has been thus eX-
empt from. taxation. The revenue OF
the church in Mexico grew to be three
times the revenue of the Government, |
and the violent process Of cOnfiscatiOn
was at last the only remedy. Poverty,
bankruptcy and universal depression OF
the popular spirit are the symbols OF
the practice Of exemption in many
countries. The exemption of property
simply because it belongs to some &C.
clesiastical organization is at open va
rance with the genius Of our institu-
lions and our national life. 1t is just
that all kinds Of property should bel
taxed alike, except such as is in actual
use for educational, religious on charit- |
able purposes. With these exceptions
whatever is protected by the Govern
ment ought to pay it's proportion of
taxes in RETAIN for the security thrown
around it. Let the distinction bel
drawn right here. Then the evils off
ecclesiastical exemption will be avoid
ed, and it's benefits attained.
Indiana is now discussing this sub!
ject. Its Legislature has proposition
before it doing away with all exemp-
tons. Last Sunday evening Rev. Mr..
Bartlett, formerly Of this city, preached
on that subject, the State officers and
legislators turning out to hear him.
He maintained that the church is sol
very helpful in preserving the peace
and advancing the best interests of So
ciety that the people could well afford
to let it's property go tax free. This
position carried out logically might re-
suit disastrously. Better no exemption
at all than to carry the fayoritism so
far as to seriously cripple general BUSH
ness, enterprise and industries. CHI
cdgo Journal.
O.