Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1883-05-13
THE LAND THEORY Oh
HENRY GEORGE.

tsome weeks ago the editor OF the Az
PEAL spent the best part of an after
noon listening to n discussion on tn
land theories OF Henry George, in which
Gen. Clarke took a leading part. 1t wa
evident that the General had made I
careful study Of the question and at The
solicitation Of the editor of this journal
consented to prepare series OF articles
for publication.l
FIRST PAPER.
| Every one at all acquainted
with economic questions and
who has an honest wish to
ameliorate the suffering and ele.
vate mankind, must have read
with emotions of pleasure and
gratitude the eloquent work of
Henry George, entitled Pro
gress and Poverty" And yet
every such person must have
risen from the study of that
work with profound sorrow at
the inadequacy of the remedy
proposed for existing social ills.
Let us consider what Henry
Georges theory is AMI test the
sufiiciency of His remedy. The
theory briefly stated is 'sthe
abolition Of pricate property IN
lnad," to "nadEe land common
property.
This is the remedy proposed
for physical ard mental degen-
eracy and social decay and dis
order the antidote for poverty,
degeneracy and want the one
thing needed to establish and
perpetuate perfect liberty and
advance a higher and better civ
ilization.
That l may do no injustice to
Henry George, quote his own
words:
"To extirpate poverty; to
make wages what justice GEM
mands they should be-, the full
earnings Of the LABOR. ave
must therefore substitute for IN
dic5dua! ownership Of tand q
common ownership. Nothing else
will go to the cause OF TIE evil -
in nothing else is there the slight
est hope. THIS then is the REM
edy for the .as.j,tst and amequcl
distribution Of a5eatM apparent
| IN modern civilization and for all
| the ersls aohich JtoW from 1t. We
mast make IunG common prop
erty."
The instrumentality which
George proposes 10 use TO enforce
this remedy is the Government,
and the means by which il is to
be accomplished the "appTopri-
| alton Of rent 5y tasation."
AT page 300 he says
What | therefore propose as
a simple, yet sovereign remedy,
which will raise wages, increase
the earnings OF capital, extirpate
pauperism, abolish poverty, give
relnunerative employment 10
whoever wishes il, afford free
scope to human powers, lessen
crime, elevate morals and taste
and intelligence, purify govern
msnt and carry civilization to
yet robler Nights Is to appropri-
ate rent By taxation"
70 comprehend what is meant
by 'appropriatlng rent by tax
alton" we must determine the
sense in which the tern. 'trent"
is used.
The tern aren't" when used
as George uses it, implies that
pert Of the produce or profits
| which accrue 10 the owner Of
| the land by virtue Of his owner
ship.
1t is the value Of the use OF
the land.
| At page 14s he says: In
the economic meaning of rent
only that part is rent
which constitutes the consider
| alton for the use of the land"
Where owner and user are
the same person what ever
part of his income he might OBJ
tain by letting the land to an
other is rent
| Again at pages 1IS and l49:
!" Rent Il is the share in
the wealth produced which the
exclusive right t. the use Of
natural capabilities gives to the
owner"
Whenever land has an ex-
change value there is tent in t. e
| economic meaning Of the term.
Whenever land having Il value
is used either by owner or hirer
there is rent actual. Whenever
it is not used but still has a
| value there is rent potential. 1t
is this capacity Of yielding rent