New-York tribune., 1878-02-19
TAXATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.

DISCUSSION OF THE QUESTION BY TIE MUNICIPAL
soIETY-A LIMIT OF EXEMPTION SUGGESTED.
The Municipal Society of this city met last
night, Dorman L. Eaton presiding. At the opening of
the meeting the chairman asked the society to Join Lin
in a tribute their late fellowworker Theodore Roosc-
Welt He sketchei in feeling words Mr. Roosevets warm
hearted charity and bcnevolence. and the great mora
lessons conveyed b. his life fitting memorial was
adopted by thosociety and lit was voted to present
CODY TO the bereaved family.
Discussion was then opened upon resolution pre-
sened at previous meeting touching tie exemption OF
church property from taxation Jackson s Schultz sud
that property supposed to pay taxes III return for
some protection which obtains The churches did not
pay any taxes yet claimed more protection and had been
the cause trouble 20 the courts than any other
class OF property 1t true that churches, s at pres
ent organized, cannot pay any tax; they had gone
far beyond their means, aud II compelled 10
pay would all go into liquidation. Therefore.
1t WAS not a practical question: But the matter
had au aspect well worth considering III church cor
poration built small church whole block Of
ground On Fifth-aye the whole block would exempt
from taxes There no limit Instances, such as
Fordham College with its 130 acres OF surrounding
grounds free from any tax burden under tns law, were
plentiful. religious corporation hospital, school or
rcformatory mgat take q thousand acres inclosc 1t
and have 1t thereby exempted. The law had 80
decreed and the courts stancd its letter The need
OF legislative action apparent when things came to
such pass. The speaker said some legal cnactment
should end 10 this extravagancc. His PROPOSE
ton was churches and schools hereafter 70 be built
leaving alonc all erected ana enjoying their
pr vegcs--snould he taxed Ike other propcrty mo
effect would be most salaary The exemp.ion OF hos
pals did not strike him rs quite SO oDecucnaDle ior
strictly charitable reasons. =
which II appeared that every building erected for
church. school or jail purposes and the several ios
IIe argued that jais, warehouses and rcormaorics
were exempt 1t would be consistent AS well as wise, TO
exempt as well buildings devoted to the prevention
Of crime church prGemaently public ins,iiu.
tion, and should not he measured by the amount OK
retormaOry influence seen but Dy the amount seen py
sinclair ronccy declared himself in favor OF impair
scnoos; he woui ie,ye out the hospitals only Tho
system of eXempiing any eass 9 rear Ssee ia We ely
OF the State amended. He wanted stop put to the
practice rs speedily rs possible.
'iTax.ComiissioucT George ii. Andrews made strong
siid was that church property based It's exemption in
the fact that WIS set apart Tor purpose from which
no revenue could BE- derived. Tie money put INTO
gam, but the benefit Of the public to t men to
higher grade Of morality and to, 20 96e ,a. .; tnem i
used for lifting morally, the cnurches would
be used for restraining even ply seay-as ais'
Capital sunk bop of return shod not be taxed
II law were to be p.ssed that churches worth oyer
elimination agails tue eity IN favor oI the eq9r; w.
ture the statement that the churches In Ncw-fOrS
he'd benefited the real estate To an amount eqnl 10 us
Ornamcnted the clty; h. not aware uf any abuse
of their privilege lie tUld thnt TIE taX-payefs
were wrOngvd by lhe exemption from taxation or tso
churches. Taxpayers built aud sustained tneAi rom
tnat class the millions tat kept the enaritlcs
going. An attempt 10 tax church properly would
cause greater loss au gain. NOS 10 speak ol ne 0rico
Of breaking Il pclg. Old as our Laws. The utnxed
Nrw-En gland Church the backbone oT the Hcyol-
lion, OF our early prosperity; arOun IL cAstaIed al
tic worth OF the age. Ills CHOICE would b. lat tae eS-
anpe of Pennsyiyauia should be followed ~ tho iiNg
of +, asongDe limit TO TIC exemption OF any property
from taxation -.
H. j. Newton argued that II churches were taxed, as
many would be built as heretofore ana as nit.y iJ.s
sold. The whole question, t. ms mind, resolved itseu
into of dollars and cents Tho RAPID lDceIse III thS
bulk Oi eXsmpt property WAS becoming heavy Duideh'
unjust 10 the taxpayers =,
Jackson 5. Schultz objected 10 the doctrine 'hat az
property from which Income was cctiVt0 hhoHu bos
be taxed; II that made the rue Sat fIolor.ua
OF this city ought not 10 ec taxed toGat.
Ii the question OF vested rights, why sacdd
church property be assesse1f Tue principle was already
violated Chnrcaes ought hereafter 10 DC made 10 pay
tax for the ground ti,y GeIe bijlt upon
Mr. Andre ys pointed ont thai the difference between
nonpaync real and church property tbst tAc
former was expected yield return, the latter moo
George D. Butlor offered substitute for the original
res SUTTON proposing Limit inside OF wbch cbuirics
might built exempt from taxation In 10 case more
than 900 square feet within the city u; Ve acres cut.
side IT, should he exempted for any single house ..
Worship On motion the resolution was referred Dacx 10
the committee for further report and Gisc.ssioii