Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-22
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
[Continued from page 81

COntlnue0 rom page ..
selves. Now do they 60 down into the
slums and try to reach that class OF young
men who never had any moral training 70
come in with them and be saved! IL Is
possible that they do, but at the same
time have never seen or heard any evil
dence o. it.
lido not understand that they give these
Young men all the advantages OF these
institutions for nothing. They are ex-
pccted to pay for what they get, and no
doubt they do pay all that 1t is worth to
them.
There are many ways OF robbing the peo-
ple The most effectual way is by legisla-
tive action. If they kick you have the
majesty OF the law to bring them into
line.
/ can see that this Young Mems Chris
tian Association that comes here asking
YOU to exempt them from taxation is
growing power In the land, and time Will
tell whether it is for good or for evil, but
the tendency is toward an aristociatic
power that will In time be beyond the
reach Of common people
II by chance they fail to get what they
ask for this year, you will see them here
in two years from now, with renewed
strength. asking to be exempted from
taxes. and they will fight it out on that
line until they get what they want You
have chartered corporation that is re-
sponsible to no one. You may say that
they are honest individually, but collec-
lively, T am afraid they would prove to
be very much like other corporations,
without q soul
Now, gentlemen of the House, do what
Won like with this bill, but / am honest
when say that you wrong yourselves,
and you wrong those who are to come al
ter you by delegating so much power to
corporation that is responsible TO no one.
Mr.. Woodside of Portland said that he
Thought there had been some misappre-
tensions In regard to the work Of the
Young Men Is Christian Association. The
Young Mems Christian Association was
founded by George Williams OF London,
who was moved by philanthropic spirit
to do something for the young men OF that
city. The work has continued to grow,
until today there are In the world over
5000 of these Young Mems Christian AS
sociations. am glad to say, gentlemen,
that in our own country there are l4oo
of these organizations In the entire
world the aggregate membership IS over
half million, and they are doing great
work They are doing work that no
other organization can do. In my own
city the organization consists OF a presi-
dent and board of managers and regular
committees to sec to the work. This work Is
carried on entirely by voluntary subscrlp-
tions 1t is quite struggle to get money
in this way to carry on the work, but they
do it, Their doors are open from morn
ing until or 10 clock at night and they
have men there to extend q hand OF well
come to any young men who come TO our
city. No one can tell the benefits that
have come to young men in that city
alone. There is not man here In tins
House who If he had a son going to that
city but what would be glad to know that
such an organization existed there and
that the doors were open and they would
be welcome and would be assisted in many
ways. In my own experience | have
known of young men being assisted to
find situations, and in every case to find
boarding places. In regard to the ques-
ton of exempting this organization from
taxation, am not in favor of allowing
the Young Mems Christian Association to
hold property of all kinds and classes and
have it exempt from taxation. What / do
believe in is this: That that part of the
building which they occupy for associa-
ton purposes should be exempt from taxa
ton. am not in favor of their having
stores underneath and having them ex-
cmpt from taxation, but all the upper por-
ton Of the building which they keep for
reading rooms and the like, l believe
should be exempt from taxation.
I think this Legislature would do a
grand thing II it would pass somealaw to
this effect. do not approve of the bill
which is known as Senate document No.
2l1, but will try to draw up an amend
ment which think will be satisfactory
to every member of this Legislature.
Mr.. Plummer of Dexter said that while
he agreed with the gentleman from Port
land (Mr. Woodside) he was opposed on
principle to tho exemption of property from
taxation. believe in the great work that
these organizations are doing am OPP
posed to this bill because l believe 1t
would be hindrance and damage to
them in this work rather than benefit.
am opposed to it because it exempts the
officers and stores connected with their
buildings, from taxation. The Y. NJ. G.
A. building at Bangor cost $40, 900 or
$50, GEO. They rent a portion of that build
ing which is valued by the State assessors
at $4,000, and they pay taxes on the por
tion of the building amounting to $40 a
year. These offices are run in competi-
ton with offices owned by men who have
contiguous buildings. / am authorized
to say that the president of that associa-
ton, who is also president of the State Y.
M. C. A., is opposed to this bill. He be-
lieves that that association would lose
more than it would gain by the exemp-
ton of those offices and stores from taxa
ton, because that association depends on
the voluntary contributions Of the world
people MS well as of religious people, and
they believe If they should seek this adj
vantage and get the benefit of this little
pittance, they will lose many times as
much more in contributions which are
now flowing into their treasury II this
bill can be amended so it will include only
the property which they actually use in
carrying out their religious and educa-
tional and charitable work, ! see no rea-
son why may not support it.
Mr.. Dickey of Fort Kent said that he
was in favor of substituting the minority