The sun., 1915-03-28
F ederal, State and
Municipal Gov
ernmentS, War
Veterans, Educa-
tiOnal and Chari-
table SOCieties S
and Churches on
His Free List

trys greatest philanthropist. He is |
as charita BILE ms pictures represent him |
40 be. For years and years he has been |
dispensing aid To churches. Bible socir-
ties, tract organizations. educational |
institutions. research soc cieties clergy |
men and priests who are tending to
the spiritual needs Of his city and to
ola soldiers and sailors residents of
New York VINO have defended the
nation in times OF need. His philan-
thropy could not be practised by an
Individual, nor s there city in the
country rich enough to even equal
the charity OF this venerable old man
who stands FOR New York city. His
generosity costs him millions and
millions Of dollars in taxes. On his list
are COS religious. eduCa tional and
charitable institutions and organiZa-
tions which he helps from year TO year
by remitting the taxes on property
which they control. |, has been
rule with him to tax no property the
income from which goes t. improve
The morals and mentality of his
people.
The spirit OF the Declaration OF
independence has been his guide. That
document advocates religious liberty.
promotion OF education and charity
and many other things which the
trainers OF the Declaration OF lnde
pendence considered essential TO the
comfort. peace and success OF the
nation. Father Knickerbocker thought
well of this doctrine of religious to,era
ton. charity and education. He saw
the logic Of it and il was not long
before he was practising 1t. His city
was about the first to dispense charity
by aiding through tax exemption
every church regardless of the sect
which was built In his city. every in
stitution OF learning which located
la his town to improve the minds of
his boys and girls every home which
took care of the men and women OF
former days hospitals which gave re-
lief to the general public and organiza-
tons or societies whose aim was the
bcttermont morally and mentally of
MS people.
His policy Of philanthropy was
echoed through the world and many
other cities followed his example. As
a result Of his generosity there is no
city IN the world which can excel
Father knickerboCkers town in the
number Of churches. educational build
irgs and charitable associations Of one
kind or another In the greater city
there IL educational, religious and
other institutional property valued at
s3sl 230.57s Knowing the purpose Of
these institutions * not mCrcenary
Father knickerbocker is not mercen-
AIRY with them and the tax which he
demands each year from every prop
ertv owner within the bounds OF his
city for the comfort and protection
which lie gives to New York is not
expected from these institutions and
others who come under the law which
has been set down for the exemption
of real estate.
The money that these institutions
would pay Father knickerboCker for
the privilege of living in his city.
which by the way, is not appreciate
until one lives elsewhcrc for Il while.
is returned t. them to perpetuate their
good work
In other words Father Knicker-
booker has presented this year to
these institutions $500 600 with
times hard and money scarce such
generosity has been attacked by those
who claim the government Of New
York Is too costly. Taxpayers assoc
Citations claim the burden Is too great
and have for some time agitated the
doing away with this yearly legacy Of
Father knickerbocker. They claim
every Institution should pay taxes.
Cemeteries especially. which now
are on the exempted liat, have been
attacked many times on the ground
that many Of them are private cor
Iprations engaged In business for the
money in II, charging more for their
property than In almost any section
NJ the city. How much longer Father
Knickerbocker will lead the country
as the philanthropist. friend of re-
ligion. education, charity and the like
depends on how the Legis.atur" now
in session VIII accept the measure Of
Assemblyman John Leo sullivan,
which provides for the taxing of al
properly now exempt.
Some think it "a good measure. while
others consider it a step in Tn" wrong
direction. The lifting Of exemption
from some properties Is adv pcated. hut
N many cases the aid given by the
city will curtail the activities Of many
institutions and will go hard on vet
Grams living on pensions For this
reason and many others the opinion
Ia expressed that the Legislature
should not act now on the matter, but
nut II TO vote OF referendum at the
next general election.
Though property In New York
owned by institutions, the Federal
Government and the State have been
exempted for so many years back
thaC men vino know the history If
taxation in our city d. not know when
the exemption practio" began u Wa
the general tax law Of lsa6 whicn
gave the prIvil"g" of exemption (
many associations and institutions
otherwise barred. This law w!dened
the scope to almost limitlcss bounds
Under the provisions any association
for the advancement OF moral or men
tai good can hav" its property cN
emptcd from m" yearly trihut" de-
mandcd by Father KnCkorhOckcr fol
tho proper conduct and operation 81
"a city
This law, famous II should he called
known rs Chapter HuS section I, pro-
vidrR as fpll Real property of 3
Corporation or association organize
for the mora or mental improvement
n, mon or women or for religious