Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-29
. Nestar 4 gain.

Iaf er pleased with .Nestor's'
last. tses no greater mistakes
than the M. G. n did on All Fools dag
when discussing the Arbitration bill.
If Mr.. A. comes into the world be.
fore Mr.. b.. Mr.. B. has no right to
anything Mr.. As labor has produced
for him.
Only those who are ignorant in So
GEOLOGY hold that men should receive
according to their needs rather than
to their deeds. It is singu-
4ar thing that when it is proposed to
reform the present system nine out of
ten jump at the idea of communistie
dividing up; and if one speaks Of an
equitable distribution Of wealth they
began to talk about an equal distribu-
tion of wealth. Equitable means just,
not equal.
But if Mr.. A. ccmes into the world
before Mr.. b., that does not give Mr..
"A. right to seize the means of life and
make Mr.. B. surrender partof the re-
suits of his labor in order that he may
have a chance to work. The land
would have been here if MIR. A. had
never lived; it is not a product of his
labor; and he has no right to more
than he can use himself. aNestor,
says if A. pays money for the land it is
his property like anything else he buys
or produces by his labor. Just here is
:. .Nestor's" mistake. b. has no right
to take the products Of AS labor; but
A. has no right to forestali B. by TAX
ing more of the only subject upon
which labor is expended than he needs
for his own use; and my whole conten-
ton is for system of taxation that
destroys all speculation in the means
of human life, so AIS own private In
terests will govern him better than ar
bitrary law. Only this, and nothing
more.
Now ! will answer why personal
and the products .of human
labor should not be taxed. 1T is im-i
polite or unwise to tax the products of
human labor because it virtually fines
and Furnishes industry and discourages
production. Every mans common
sense ought to show him that such a.
system is wrong in policy. But is inn
possible to do justice by such a system
because it is productive of SO much
fraud ard false swearing that the hon
sst and conscientious are taxed, while
he dishonest and nnplincipled go COM
free. It is enormously ex-
1sass; - s. a sxeTy large proportion ofI
'uah "a xes neIs ses ..sa4istl ila41 he cqsts
# fassessment and collection; and after (
Ill this, every cent Of taxation, no mat
er where levied, falls intimately upon
he labor that tiils the soil. Finally |
uch a system Is unjust, for the law
Jan hardly be said to protect me in the
possession ofany property when it does
lot secure for me the very first and |
most Indispensable element of peaceful
a place in which to possess,
indeed the sheriff would seize all ] |
lad and turn me to tramp in the road,
md sacrifice it to pay some private
rent, upon whose land [ may
lave lived. But if the State gives me
peaceful possession of place in which
o pcssess, of d home, can come and
,o-go. fetch and carry, use and enjoy
il my labor produces for me; and the
Iebt or duty owe the State is not con-
litioned upon my accum1lations. my
xercise of industry, or employment Of
abor, but upon the possession of q home.
FOR these reasons the products of hui
nan labor should not be taxed.
Now mind / do not really mean to
AK land. but land values, because they
re created by society and as rightfully
,elong to society as the products of a
Dan's toll belong to the Individual.
,ociety has as much right to its own
o the man has to his own. go to a
lew country and improve piece of
and far from settlements. The land
nay be good but it has no value be-
ause there is plenty more as good or
,etter unclaimed all round it. My inn
may be valuable, but they
re the creation of my own industry,
md society has no just claims even to
ak them. But M moves near me,
md others join US. A railroad is built
rear US; and first a station, then a
own springs up. Now my land has q /
onstantly Increasing value, not the I
reation of my labor, but growing out
# the proximity and industry of my
the community at large.
Vow this value, and this only. is the
roper subject of taxation. No repub-
dc can stand that resorts to any other
yste1s Of tardtion.
Let all those who may interest them-
elves in reading this discussion be-
ween .,Nestor'' and myself. study the
of human rights before they
ak about correct principles. THERE'S
great deal Of clap-trap -mis-calledd
will not bear much ex-
mination, and one cannot be too care
ul in studying his ground before maxi
ng assertions.
Wenever can. by any possible legis-
ation, remedy or cure strikes; but by
hopting just system of raising pub
e revenue we can prevent them. Our
sesent system of taxation drives more
l.dpr from land in the State Of Illinois