The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-09
THn TAXATION OF YALE.

THE TAXATION OF YALE.
 It is unfortunate that the board of aldermen should have again revived the time worn controversy over the taxation of Yale university. It is no less unfortunate because the purpose of the movement is to tax property belonging to the university which yields a revenue, for If that were suc- ossstul the greater part of It's property would at once come under the tax. gatherers attention.
 It has always seemed to us that the proposal to tax Yale proceeded from a misunderstanding of the facts and not from lack of sincerity on the part of those who have from time to time revived the discussion, We credit them with the conviction that Yale's immunity places burden on the city, while Yale's liability to taxa ton would add to the commercial and industrial life of the city. This con viction can be adhered to only on the theory that New Haven would be bet ter off without Yale, which shows very remarkable view of Yale as an asset. To be without Yale would not only at once place in the market acres of valuable property with no millions in sight to develop 1t, but It's disappearance would at once take from New Haven reputation as an educational center, which unquestion- ably has done miracles in advertising her products wherever live language Is spoken and civilized wants are known.
 There are some things to be recall ed about Yale before the conclusion can be accepted that her usefulness should be crippled In the way pro- posed or her departure brought about. New Haven has grown up about Yale and not Yale about New Haven. Ut is not Yale's fault that It's buildings are located on central property, nor Is 1t Yales fault that. having orig inally been invited here for the direct good 1t could accomplish for the lIt- tie community, the hopes of the orig inal founders have been so slgnally overrealized. Yale, in other words, is far more the victim of circumstances than New Haven, and 1t s altogether probable that its management wishes 1t was farther removed from the life of the city just as 1t is altogether probable that the management of Harvard wishes tho bustling city of Cambridge had not reared itself about It's buildings, once far indeed from the madding crowd.
 The trouble with New Haven, so far as 1t is represented in this move ment against the Yale treasury, ls that it Is too near the university to ap- preciate it as an asset. New Haven has criticised itself, to Hartford s advantage. many times because it let the capitol get away from 1t. It wishes 1t had retained it. and yet from the point of view of local advantage the possession of the state capitol is not to be mentioned in the same breath with the possession of Yale un- iversity. Go to Hartford and the people there will tell you that they would gladly exchange possessions if that were possible, not that they lack q lively interest in their capitol, but because they realize at their distance the value of Yale as q local asset It is said of the residents of New York that they know less of the beauties of their museum of art than residents of adjoining states, and it's also said of the residents of Paris that their fam ous art galleries are more familiar to strangers than to them. It would be interesting to know what they would say if it were proposed to tax them for revenue, d proposition not q whit more inconsiderate than to tax Yale university,
 If we may be permitted a word fur thcr, it is not the taxation of Yale un- iyersity that is needed to give New Haven the gimp which from time to time is sought, but a larger under standing of Yale as an asset, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, an organized and determined spirit to make every possible use of the institu- ton as a source of worldwide adver- tsement for New Haven products. 1he moment it is realized that New Haven and Yale are indispensable to one another and that their divorce under any terms is Impossible, just at