The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-23

Down." published in the Chronicle
October 81, statements are made
TO the effect that the proposed
amendment to the constitution re-
lating to taxation would prevent
the exemption of church property,
and that it is favored by the rail-
road corporations. Both state
ments are calculated to mislead
the voters in regard to this ques-
ton. The present constitution
does not in terms permit exemp-
tons of churches or any other
property Of that character; on the
contrary, the present constitution
requires that all property in the
state shall be taxed. Nor is there
any decision of the supreme court
which directly holds that such ex-
emptions can be made. The only
expression of the court on the sub
ject is that made in case decid-
ing that the exemption of $500
worth of personal property could
not be made, in discussing which
case the court said that eXemp-
lions of churches might possibly
be permitted, because the constitu-
ton provides for the exemption of
public property, and such other
property as the legislature may
exempt It held that such other
property referred to property of
like character to that specified
that is. of like character with pub
lie property, and intimated that
church property used for public
purposes might be deemed to be
of a quasi-public character. But
this was not involved in the case
before the court, and was not de-
cided by 1t.
But even if the present constitu-
ton should be construed in this
way in a question directly involv
ing the exemption of church prop
erty, it is clear that such exemp-
tons could not be extended so as
to include property not used for
religious purposes. And it was, no
doubt, with this in mind that the
legislature passed the law relating
to the exemptions of Y. M. c. A.
property. That law reads, after
exempting public burying ground,
ETC.:
Also all property of Young
Mems Christian Associations which
shall be wholly used, or to the ex-
tent solely used, for the religious
purpose of such association
1t is clear that there was no in
tention to exempt that property of
the Y. M. c. A. which is not solely
used for religious purposes, and
that the property used for restaur-
ants, lodging house, gymnasium,
etc, by that association is not now
exempt Furthermore, it could not
be made SO, under the present con-
stitution.
Those who are opposing the
amendment because they believe
that it might cause the property
of churches, and, particularly, the
Y. M. c. A., to be taxed, labor I'M
der mistake as to two particu-
, lars. They are mistaken in sup
posing that the property of the Y
M c. A. is now legally exempt,
whereas, If the law were enforced,
the property of that association
would be taxed. And they are
mistaken in supposing that the
present constitution permits of the
exemption of that kind of property,
and that the amendment would
prevent it, whereas, the fact is that
the present constitution forbids it,
and the amendment would enlarge
the powers of the legislature as to
exemptions and such property
could be exempted in compliance
with law.
1t must be apparent to any one
that those who have led the man
ayers of church property and the
Y. M. c. A. to oppose the amend
ment have misled them to act di-
rectly contrary to the interest of
those organizations. But when it
is understood whose interest is
really served by their opposition,
the identity of those who have in
fluenced the unsuspecting to their
injury is made certain.
1t is we'll known that the rail.
roads are actively opposing the
amendment, and to that end have
special agents travelling over the
state and exciting opposition to it
This fact has been known to the
state grange for months. Nor il
this without reason on their part
The managers of the railroads wei
understand that II the amendment
is passed, the power of the legisla
ture to make exemptions will be
enlarged. And they know that sc
long as the people can influence
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