Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-09-04
Privilege or Ripcipiea

The movement to limit the sub)ec
; Of exemption from taxation, which NJ
b Hamilton has started in the Commute
on taxation in the Constitutional Coz
vention, las naturally created muc
interest and organized opposition h.
;, been .inaugurated to what, on its { CT
seems an unquestionably correct propo
sition.
Mr.. Hamilton must have known tina
he was attaching intrenched privilege
of long standing, that the defeuder
CT the privileges were numerous, ant
that from the begennin0 Of time nj
privilege has ever been surrendered
without fight. There is SO. ethine
charming about special privilege
which makes every man who employs
one ho'd on it hard. Mr.. Ha milton was
brave and just when he invited an
investigation OF privileged exemptions
from taxation.
The fundamental priciple of our
whole system of government is equali-
ty before tie law. Do away with this
pr nciple, and we at one he IN
retrograde to the condition Of specie
privileges, particularly show in TX
emption from taxation, which rought
on the French Revolution.
ALI property of every sort az kind, |
except that owned Ply the cate, is
primarily equally subject TO 'txaiion.
1t the property is not used Tor State
then il must be usec Tor pri-
vate purposes, and is 80, then ne own
ars should pay taxes to the Safe for
is protection.
1t is claimed, however, that he pur-
poses for which some property is held
s of a quasi-public or benevolent pur-
lose with no private benefit in view,
nd therefore the State should en-
outrage such enterprises by tempting !
he property so used from taxation.
churches aad public libraries .''e cited ,
s such proper subjects Of exemption. ,
strong case mus. be made
ut when so wise and just principle
8 that of absolute equality before the
wv is to be violated. The logic of the g
violate principle OF such equality c
ould be the taxation of churches, +
nd it is not improbable that our peo- O.
le will ultimately prefer to tax CHI ches il
.ther than extend the list of exemp- O
ons or even continue some now on a
That the privilege of exemption has s
zen abused we doubt not. but the il
cts ara hard to get at, because the
ivileged classes rarely publish state
ents of either their receipts or dis
easements, and no one except Them
Ives know how much they get or
nat they do with it, How much goes
charity or how much to the pleasure
the members is not disclosed 1t
ay be like Falstaff's reckoning: "But
e-half penny worth of bread to this
tolerable deal of sack"
The French Government has just
ced the subject resolutely in its law
out religious societies, which ma lie
returns of their property. and they
e now required TO make statements.
was bitterly fought, but the law has
en- passed and the wellthy societies
e going to submit
When the Young Mems Christian
sociation undertook some years ago m,
erect the building it now has on tw
, IN and Sixth Streets, in this clty, it ca
IS proposed to construct it so as to Gu
We stores for rent in order to he lp its sd sd
,enues, This proposition was sto ally la,
posed and defeated on the ground
It such society was not an invest
mt concern, and should be Deepen l.
/ upon the contributions OF its menu
rs AMI of those who believed in sup
rting its charitable object. ap
While we believe that this institui ;on On
IF the purest order of charity and tos
st benefcent in its results, and de- ca.
YES the abounding support OF our
liens, while It's operations are en- Sc
ely open and its reports are pub. =
,ed, yet il would be infinitely better
tax this property than t, permit it
be exempt, and thus afford stalk.
, hor. @ shelter to other and more tw
claimants for exemption. hel
ose who are willing as good citizens c.
pay its dues to the State. '''
The societies which claim exemption -
the grovnd that they are benevo-
t are in some cases hardly differ ent
principle and practice from CO. 90,
,raiive or assessment insurance COM the
lies, and the strict logic Of the DC
'mption Of these societies would iu-
de mutual insurance companies. , mo
len ever the property of any society
order OF mel is exempt from taxa