The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-09-19
Land Views and other Views.

ial of last week you appealed to the
forthcoming Convention to provide for
the equal taxation of all species of
property, first; because it is right; and
cecond. because it Is polite and wise
! differ with you, aud hold that all
taxation for revenue should be imposed
upon land only: First-Personsl prop
erty and improvements consist Of things
produced by individual exer,ion. and
are therefore rightly individual proper.
ty. Land is the creation Of the AL
mighty, aud it is therefore rightly
common property. The value of per.
sonal property aud improvements is q
real value. which its possessors (or
those from whom they take) have ad-
ded to the wealth of the community.
The value of land is not real but q re-
flected value. 1t represents not an ad-
dition to the wealth of the community.
but sirnplv the power Of appropriating
that wealth. I. is. therefore. only
right that the whole value of land
should be exhausted before any levy is
made upon personal property and i'm
provemnts. Second Besides. the con-
sideration of right. policy, and wisdom
requires that taxation should be 90
levied (I as to be collected with the
greatest certainty and the least vex-
alton, ard (2) so as to least interfere
with production. a. There never was.
aud never will be correct assessment
and certain collection of tax on per-
aonal property-the attempt to secure it
by oaths involves purjury the attempt
to secure it by inquisitorial power in
wolves corruption. But land can not be
concealed, and its value can always be
sscertained, and the whole revenue
might be collected from it with no
greater expense than to collect Q part.
q. To tax personal property and i'm
provements 10 to discourage production.
To tax money 10 to have less money;
tO tax horses 10 to have fewer horses,
etc. But no matter how heavy the tax
on land. will there be any less land
Nor until the tax is greater than the
value of tho land will it in the slight
est degree discourage the use and i'm
provement Of land. On the contrary.
it will stimulate the use and improve
ment Of land by making 1t unprofit-
able to hold land without using it. and
thus make it easier for those who wish to
use land TO get it. For these reasons it
ia polite and wise that ell taxes for
revenue should be put on the value Of
land. aud personal property and i'm
provements be entirely exempt.
HENRY GEORGE.
II Mr.. Henry George is right, aud
land should bear all tho burdens of the
government. and there should be no
limitation of that tax until it equals
the value Of the land. would it not be
just little hard upon the present
land ownersY Has not land been &C
qnired by its present owners by indi-
vidual cxeftion - well a. personal
property? Government declares it to
bs property--we have sold our labor to
purchase tive have exchanged our
productions to acquire it. Govern
ment protects it no more than It pro-
tccts persousi property. Then why
should land bear all the burden OF
maintaining the government The
Almighty created land; the Almighty
created diamonds and gold. silver. sui.
phur, and cinnabar, and the value OF
these things 10 not more real than land.
Convenience in the collection OF rev.
enues cuts no figure in the argu-
ment. There never was and never
will be . correct assessment OF land.
II the tax on personal property Will
discourage its production, the tax on
land will discourage its occupants.
How it will stimulate the use and i'm
provement of land to make It unprofit-
able to hold il we do not understand.
We admit that il land is taxed to its
full value it will be On easy matter for
any body to acquire il. but rsvercnily
Ak Who in the devil would want it!
Asa landowner. and not . pawn
broker. or holder of incorporated
stocks and other personal property. We
would like Mr.. George 20 explain the
fairness and morality Of taxing out Of
your property. Won't there Be just .
little hardship and wrong in starting
ont in this directiou. u.--ArycRaGf