Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-11-15
ELKS HOME EXEMPTED
FROM MUNICIPAL TAXES
Opinion Of AttOrney-General Moves
Council to Action.
OTHER ORDERS MAY BENEFIT.
Believed That Several Benevolent
Societies Here Will Ask For a
Like Concession.

Setting a precedent in the system
of municipal taxation. the City Coun-
ell by vote of 6 to 2, decided for the
exemption from taxation, the Home
of the local Lodge of Elks at a special
meeting held in the Council Chamber
last night.
The question had been pending be-
fore the Council for several months.
Ii was presented in q petition by
members of the Lodge, and while
much opposition to the proposed ex-
emption developed in certain quar-
tiers for a time, the situation took a
different turn after reviewing an
opinion submitted by former Attor-
ney General Straus, and concurring
opinion of the present Attorney Cen
eral Edgar Allan Poe.
This opinion set forth that it had
bee n decided by the Court of Appeals
of this as we'll as other states, that
benevolent organizations such as the
Masens and others, that are not oper-
aztec for any pecuniary profit, are en-
titled to exemption from taxation
upon the property that 10 the home
of the Order.
While this opinion is held as COW
ering the legal phase of the question,
| ii so happens that FIVE of the eight
members of the Council are members
of the Order of Elks. They are
Mayor Strange, Counselor Melvin and
Alderman Myers, Sullivan and Cha
ney. When the vote was taken all
FIVE of these recorded their vote for
exemption" and the sixth affirms-
tive vote was registered by Alderman
Linthicum, Of the First ward, who
| formerly was opposed to exemptions
| of this character. Aldermen Parkin-
| son and Clausen furnished the two
negative votes. They fought against
the exemption bitterly. and as final
stand Mr.. Parkinson moved thst ac-
tion on the matter be postponed.
This, howe yer, failed to carry and the
petition was then favorably acted
upon.
The matter came before the Coun-
Gil last night upon the majority report
of the Finance Commission. This re-
port was signed by Mayor Strange
and Counselor Melvin. City Treas.
urer Gott, third member of the Com
mission, refused to concur in the re-
port as he took an opposing view.
So the question was then laid oper
to the pleasure of the City Fathers.
1t was the first time that such an
issue had ever been presented to the
Council, although it is stated the
question is covered by an act of 1883,
and exemptions of such property
have prevailed in other cities for
years. Since the concession has been
made to the Elks, the question now
arises as to whether other local or
ganizations, such as the Ragles, Red
Men, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pyth-
las, all of which own property as the
headquarters of their societies, will
seek the same benefit.
1t is generally thought that they
will, and it is stated that each case
that may be presented will be asted
upon by the Council upon its merits.
The Elks' Home is assessed at $5, 000
and as tie city tax rate is so cents
this means chopping off $40 from the
tax income. 1t is recalled that the
County Commissioners, several
months ago. granted an exemption to
the Elks for county taxes and the
same opinion that guided the action
OF the City Council, also moved the
county board.