Evening star., 1902-03-03
Exempt Property and the Districts
Needs
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
The taxation Of church property or ra-
ther. the question Of what class of private
property shall be exempt from taxation is
becoming more and more pressing uues-
ton. as your columns furnish ample proof
From these exemptions and the Increase in
the number of public buildings and grounds
the proportion of property furnishing an
Income by taxation is decreasing very rap
idly in proportion to the constantly increas-
ing District expenditures. Senator Hoar.
by his public action, has emphasized this
stage Of affairs, to the effect that all that
can be equitably accomplished is to obtain
a 1alr income from the taxable property Of
the District. and whatever amount this
Shall lack of paying all expenses the gen
eral government shall pay the deficiency
There is no use endeavoring to bridge over
this permanent condition by any methods
OF increased valuation or temporary loans
These expedients will only add to the strin-
gency Of the situation. For good many
years after the organization of the District
Its citizens by their property and credit,
not only paid all the current expenses hut
took the lead in the providing of public
buildings for government business It was
many years afterward when the general
government reluctantly arrived at the de-
cision to pay one-half Of the local EXPENSES
instead of making appropriations in an
haphazard, semi-chartable manner The
final condition OF the true relation of the
general government to the District and
as it has really been from the beginning
has at last been attained, and it is this:
That the District is in all respects a gov
ernment reservation: that the amounts paid
as taxes are simply the payments on a L.
cense or permission to own and hold prop
erty therein for the time being; practically
and similar to a military reservation. with
public buildings and works and hotels
Congress- for the general welfare, can ex-
empt any kind Of property or class of peo-
v>1@
whatsoever.
There is a time in the history of such
exempted property when, in all equity, it
should contribute something to the public
revenues. That is when it is sold. Ex-
empted property of any kind whatsoever
has a sure increase in value from the re-
suit of the energy and public spirit of the
owners Of the surrounding property, and
when 1t Is sold all TINS increment of value
is represented in. thei amount of hard cash
willingly paid forit by the purchaser. To
make this clear, as all know there have
been sales of such pDoperty, and prospec-
tive sales Of mons, during the last year in
this District to the total amount of over a
million of dollars, and to be paid for in
cash. Some of this property has been ex-
empt from taxation for over eighty years,
and it has been Of public benefit that it
was thus exempted SHOULD it not be sim
pie fairness that at least 20 Der cent of the
purchase money and in hand should be paid
Into the revenues OF the District? There
is no binding oh1dgattDn that such return
from sales shall be even reinvested within
the District or egen'2the original purpose
of such gift or tnvestment be perpetuated
here or anywheraelss.
These local exasnples are all sufficient to
illustrate, the tremendDus adya nta pe Of ex
empt property over that which is taxed.
There arc moralfand economic questions
involved in the matter of the exemption
of property which are very formida Bile
prnblems and one way and another have
given the progress of civilization very bad
twists In times past. and will again If not
modified in some manner, SO that at some
time in it's business history 1t shall refund
to the state some portion Of its Increased
wealth. GILBERT THOMPSON +,