The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-04

NH. Minis LAST ESsAY.-The London
Lraulu.r Of July 18th contains an article
10" last writtcul by the late Mr.. John Stuart
Nli 1t i cutillcd The Right OF Property
ln Land" lie thus vindicates the principle
u uuraTncd increase:
"GNiug nll the weight to this conSidera-
tlon which il is entitled to. the claim 1t gives
~ ihr landlord i, not to all the possible pro-
U'''i> OF the land, but to such parts of them
uuty ~ are the result Of his own improve
In'utr or Of improvements made by prede-
c'>enT> in whose place he stands. Whatever
portion "t them iS due, not to his LABOR or
outlay. hut /" the labor and outlay Of other
l'ppic. should belong 10 those other people.
IT the tenant has added anything TO the value
ut ihr land hcyOnd the duration Of his lem
Dnry. The landlord should be bound to pur-
.Ia>c the improvements, whether permanent
or temporary, 1T its full value. II he nation
a Etrgt, hy their successful eXertions TO in
cTrt>r the wealth Of the country, have en-
hlncrd the value Of the land independently
OF anything done by the landlord or the
tenant. HAT increase Of value should belong
I" the nation. That it should do 50 is not
only consistent with the principles OH which
landed property conte>>edly depends for its
'u>lIilcAlloD, but is a consequence Of those
very principles. Now the labors of the na-
j"n at large do add daily and yearly TO the
value Of ,he land, whether the landlord plays
The part OF an improver or not. The
growth Of towns, the extension of manu-.
irrtulc-, the increase of population con-
Ht4ucnt on increased employment, create a
constantly increasing demand for land
Both for the habitatons Of the people and for
IN" supply of food and the materials OF
clothing. They also create constantly in
rr"I>ng demand for coal, iron, and all other
produce OF mining industry. BY this in
ri"J-c of dcnaud the landed proprietors
largely profit, without in any way con-
lllhutny 10 it. The income from rural
i'ld> lIa> 4 constant tendency to increase
'hHt from hUitlnIg lands still more; aud with
thi> increase ot their incomes the owners OF
,hr iaud have nothing TO do except to receive
Il. he Land Tenure Reform Association
'Hu'm this increase for those who are its real
authors. They 10 not propose to deprive
The landlords of their present rents, nor of
N"ythtng Which they HAY hereafter add TO
'Aprc rents by their own improvements.
lhr future uncarncd increase is what the
A>NprIltlon >c"k> to withdraw from them,
amt I" retain for those to whose laborS and
sacrifices, from generation TO generation, ii
VIII really be due. The means by which it
T. proposed to accomplish this is special
TAXATION. Owes! and above the fair share Of
lHc landlords in the general taxation OF the
iuhlic, they may justly be required to
lay hereafter It special tax, within the
HHlts oi the increase which may ac-
rfue 10 their present income from causes in
dependent of themselves. 1t should be un-
d"r>toOd, also, that no intention is enter
taIncd Of pairing down the increment OF rent
10 the utmost tartbng. We assert in prin-
c'pIc The right Of taking it all in practice
We lave no desire to insist upon the extreme
il%ht at any risk ofgong beyond it. No doubt
The option allowed TO the landlord of giving
up the iInd at its existing value would Sc
'irr hi!n against pccunlary wrong; but we
,lou'o De sorry TO trade upon his reluctance
10 sNc up All ancestral possession, or one
"h"ear"d to him by association. We would
''a'", therefore, an ample margin by way Of
lh'uralice against mistakes III the institution.
We would not insist upon taBiug The last
penny "i thc unctrned increase. But we
iiiaiIi'aii mas in That limit taxation on
me iihh, IN addition 20 the landlords share
81 ali Other taxes, may justly be, and ought TO
De, imposed. We contend that II lax Oh
"nd, not preceding but ioliO wing tue future
INCREASE of lis value, and increasing with
H'al increase, Is legitimate financial in
rF'f,Sc and that il Is for the individual land.
iViu' ey maklug an AUTHENTIC record oi what