Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-03

REMISSION OF TAx.-Iu the Hous' Of Dele.
gates, yesterday. the question being 90 the
passage of the bill "for the relief OF The Con
ference of St. Mary of the Society OF .. Vln'
cent of Paul in the city Of Alexandria,
MIR. w. w. Henry said be understood that
this bill proposed to release certain collateral
Inheritance taxes due the State. H9 was op-
posed to the bill. His idea was that the State
should be Just before it was ecoerous.o -,
Mr.. Mushbach urged the passage OF me tili,
and claimed that the State ought to remit Tue
taxes iu this instance. Charitable btquestt!s 10
Virginia arc not of such frequency as Will Ekciy
produce bills to interfere with other legislation
The society," though Catholic 10 lis organ "a
ton, extends its charities without reference 10
religious belief The bequcst is from Dr.. Frau
els MURPHY, wha gave property to the Soc'rty
amouotius uominay to $500. cut which
rents for only $500 pr aunum, aud out OF
which collateral inheritance tax OF S54S IS
demanded by The State. Tho property IS really
not worth more than 81 OOO. Ia aduition 10
those collateral and other taxes. the Society has
to nav debts Of the testator amounting to 81. :.
OOO. and the property 10 question would not, II
forced into market, bring ~ 600.
Mr.. Mushback claimed that 90 bad prccodent
could BE- established by the remission OF tue
tex here, as another case OF the KIDD would
probably not occur again 10 many years.
MIR. Joseph Walker asked it the society was
a purely charitable one
MIR. Mushbsoh sid that it was; that the odu.
eatioual feature Of their charter had not yet
been established
Mr. Mushbach, stated that il all the B
against Murphy's estate were enforced there
would scarcely b, anything left for the society
they would then be merely the ext Gators OF
tho deceased.
General Anderson declared that it Was his
purpose to vote for the bill. lie was willing to
take the risk and make it precedent. lie do
sired TO encourage such requests. ani 1t made
no difference to him through which church the
charities we're distributed. General Anderson
said that this bill had been we'll considered 10
the Finance Com nitteo, and they regarded It
~ a prrp'r one.
MIR. Dickinson doubted the propriety of re.
lieving the State tux for private benefit.
MIR. Mushbach explained that the society
was negotiating with the city OF Alexandria
and tho private creditors of the testator for an
abatement of their claims, and that the money
wou,d not 20 to private individuals. but to the
society.
,.Mr Henry opposed the bill on principl,. If
it were only to Ielase cent he shoul 90 80 all
the same. Ao was sticking for the principle
more than for money. His idea of the statute
Was that the society would not have to pay the
tx upoa the g:oss amount but upon the net
amount received by them. He also opposed it on
CONSTITUTE onal grounds, under section Of atitce
10 claiming that, it any, all such property
should bn exempted.
Mr.. Mushbach contended that the tax WAS
properly levied ou tho gross amount OF the es.
tate under the law and circumstances of the be.
quest, which ho fully stated. and that the policy
of the State Was to relieve all charitable instltu'
tons from taxation.
The bill passed. on roll call-aye, %; noes &C.
a motion to reconsider WAS rejected