The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-05-13
THE LAND QUESTION.
By II. T. PRTERs-Iv.

In my last article did not feel fully
authorized TO cite Mr.. John Stuart Mill
in support Of the programme Of the
English Land Tenure Reformers, ex-
cept as his sanction might be inferred
from his presidency Of their association.
Happily / am now able to quote him
explicitly. The London Daily Telegraph
Of April sth contains q statement
explanatory Of the programme of the
association, prepared by Mr.. Mill
himself trust you may some time
find space for the entire document
which, although relating to land
reform in Great Britain, is full of
suggestion for ourselves.
For the present must confine my
self to quoting from that portion of the
statement which bears upon the prop
osition to ''intercept BY taxation the un-
earned increase in the value Of land. "
Mr.. Mill says-I now quote from the
TsIegrapk-" that there are some things
which, if allowed to be articles of COM
merce ut all. cannot be prevented from
being monopolized articles. On all
such the State has an acknowledged
right to limit the profits. Railways, for
instance, are inevitably q monopoly, and
the State accordingly sets legal limit
to the amount Of railway fares. Now,
land is one Of these natural monopolieA
The demand fer it in every prosperous
country 10 constantly rising; while the
land itself is susceptible Of but little
increase. All such articles, when in
dispensable to human existence, tend
irresistably to rise in price with the
progress Of wealth and population.
The rise Of the value Of land and Of the
incomes of land owners during the
present century has been enormous.
Part Of it, undoubtedly. has been due to
agricultural improvements, and the ex-
psnditure of capital on the soil. Much
Of it however, ID merely the result Of
the increased demand for agricultural
products and for building land, and
would have taken place even though no
money had been laid out in increasing
the productive powers of the soil In
allowing the land to become private
property, the State ought to have re-
served to itsslf this accession of income,
and lapse Of time does not sxtinguish
this right, Whatever claim to compen-
sation it may establish in favor Of the
landowners. The land ID the original
inheritance of all mankind. The usual,
and by far the best argument for its
appropriation by individuals is, that
private ownership gives the strongest
motive for making the soil yield the
greatest possible produce. The society
do not propose to disturb the land
owners in their past acquisitions But
they assert the right Of the Stase to oil
such accesslons OF income in the fa-
ture."
o
"Mr. Mill admits that objections
might have been made to the taxation
Of . prospective increase Of rents
on the ground of difficulties, of
execution; but those difficulties, fairly
encountered. would not, in conceived,
be very serious. IL 10 not necessary to
inforce the right of the State to the ut
most fArthing. A large margin should
b allowed for possible missslculation.
A valuation of all the land i'm the eoun-
try would be made in the first instance,
and registration established Of sub
sequent improvements made by the
landlord. Taxation would not com
mence until there had been time for IN
increase of value TO occur, and should
then be kept carefully within the
amount Of increase due 70 general
causeat fla landowner could prove
that owing 10 special circumstances
his estate had not shared in the general
rise Of value, he would be exempt from
the tax; ind at al events. If tbs jast
limit was exceeded, the power Of sur
rounding The land IT, the Ststsl st its
original valuation, augmented BY AUST
oompsnsation for subsequent improve
msnts, would be sufficient profession
70 the pssuniary interests Of the land
lords."