Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-15
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
[Continued from list page
the people themselves, leave it just where

seemed to him that the senator from
Washington did not appreciate the good
work that the Y. NJ C. A. was doing,
and that he was not acquainted with
their work. He believed that the \. NJ >
G. A. were doing grand work, and that
the State should encourage that work.
He said: 1t seems to me that where re
iigious. educational, charitable and moral
nnrposbs are being carried out the State
should encourage the work, and should
SETTLE the matter for ever by passing this
law and exempting the property Of these
institutions from taxation.
am not afraid to open the door. Let
us do it, and show to these people that
VIC recognize their good work, and are
Glad to help them. Why should not they
be exempted from taxation just as much
as the schoolhouse and the church? l DO
not believe that the time will ever come
when our schoolhouses and churches Will
be taxed, but il it does come, then 1t VIII
be time enough to tax the Y. NJ. Z. A.
property also.
Mr.. Simpson OF Hancock said that he
understood that the particular work that
this Legislature had to do was to try and
discover property to be taxed, and not to
exempt more property from taxation.
He thought that the bill should be
amended SO as to exempt only the prem
ises actually occupied by the associa-
tfons for their own purposes.
Mr.. Savage stated that that was the
present law now on the statute book.
Mr.. Shaw pointed out that the question
raised by the senator from. Somerset, Mr..
Marston seemed to be answered in the
bill itself, as that provided that the in
come from the property Of these associa-
tions was to be used only for their own
proper purposes, and therefore they could
not go into general real estate business
Continuing, he said: The senator from
Washington Is an able legislator, and gen.
orally, think, he is right on public sub
jects; and he seems to be on the right
road here, only he is looking in the
wrong direction; he is looking backwards
In the future all this property dedicated
to religious, charitable an !, educational
purposes will be exempted from taxation.
In regard to what ne says about the
work of the associations, | will say that
J 1t is better to keep one boy from going in
TO the slums than 1t is to take one out
I a ter he has been in. TIE Y. NJ. c. A.
saves boys from the slums, and / say that
unis one principle ought TO convince US
that this is in the interests of economy
and good government.
Mr.. Walls of Knox said that he thought
it was the duty of the Legislature to keep
church and State separate now and 10Y
ever, and that every act that tended to
bind them together was wrong. He
said want to enjoy just such religious
principles as ! can understand, without
being taxed for those that do not want
believe that these institutions are doing
n grand work, but as far as exempting them
from taxation goes, | think it is all
wrong. 1t is depriving the people Of a
certain right, and taking from the town
and State things that belong to them. l
believe that these institutions should have
q fair income, but | think that people
that call themselves Christians are just
as avaricious as other people, and wish to
carry things to excess. l think that
there is time when we should call halt,
and I believe that the law as it at present
stands is all right Let the towns and
cities arrange the matter as they wish to,
and If they see fit to exempt these asso-
Citations, let them do it, but do not let us
pass law to exempt them whether the
towns like it or not.
Mr. Engel of Penobscot: l took some
pains the other day to go and see the
president of our Y. NJ. c. A., Mr.. j. G.
Blake, on this matter, and he told me
me this: Tell to the gentlemen of the
Senate said he, that the law as it now
stands is perfectly satisfactory to us.
Now. l am a fair minded man, and | ap-
preciate fully the good work done by this
I IuI hat I .,h Ia
to contribute to its support. Mr.. Blake
tells me that the city of Bangor has ex.
empted from taxation all the property of
the Y. NJ. c. A., except the part of it that
they rent, and he says that they arc per-
fectly willing and ready to pay taxes on
that. He said that he thought great harm
would result if we changed the law, and
for this reason, that n great many people
who are not religious, but who lead u re-
ligious life for seven days of the week,
would not contribute so freely to this
cause il the association were to ask FOR
freedom from all taxation. 1t would mar
row the association. Now the association
stands on broad basis, and IL do not
care to go to any church, know that
can ut least find one place that is broad
enough to receive me, and that is the Y.
NJ. G.. A How much easier it is for us to
give ollar or two more, and say we do
not wans any law passed that will force
anybody to support us unless they do so
from free conscience and a free heart.
/ am proud of my townsmen, and am
delighted to bring this message to you
from such an honored citizen as Mr.. j. G.
Blake He says that we do not want any
body to be forced to support us aud do
not want to be exempted from taxation
but that we want to be able to go forth
with free conscience and ask for sub
scriptions. knowing that we are not TAX
ing anything from anybody by force, or
by a legislative enactment, and that all
that we receive for our work comes from
those who desire TO help us, and do help
us In a free spirit
Mr.. Savage asked how much the city OF
Bangor taxed the Y. NJ C. A.
Mr.. Engel replied that he did not know,
that he had simply given the message of
Mr.. Blake.
Mr.. Savage said that he was informed
that the city of Bangor did not tax the Y.
NJ. c. A. at all.
Mr. Engel said that he had simply re-
peated what was told him, and even If he
had ma le mistake, the fact remained
that the Y. NJ. c. A. were willing to be
taxod yhetber thhv npr,alIy were rs vet