St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-18
Henry Georges Fad Would
Increase The Burdens Of
the Masses.
Col. King Sights Minneapolis
and Locates His Factory
in Rochester.
The Grand Jury Takes Its
Second Shot at Theodore
ShotWell.

The board of trade fell upon the sim
gle tax movement yesterday, not with
dull, sickening thud, but with sharp.
resounding thwack. The present sys-
TEN of taxation is one Of the proprieties,
and the board thought it should be let
severely alone. Through Judge At
water the committee in charge report
five-articled finding as follows:
First-Thnt they have considered the sub
ject referIC d to them and have consulted
large number of business men and property
holders in the city of Minneapolis and find
with rare exceptions, they are opposed 10
the proposed change of abolishing the tax on
personal property and placing the whole
burden on real estate.
Second-Tha it would vastly increase the
burdens of the agricultural community ana
the large class of mechanics and laborers IN
our cities who own homesteads and would
correspondlngly relieve merchants, bankers
and money loaners generally who least heed
exemption from taxes.
Thrd-That il is for the highest interest of
states ana municipalities therein to encour-
age the acquisition of homesteads TO residents
therein, and that the passage of any laws or
the adoption of any measure tendlng 10 re-
strict or prevent such result would be III the
highest degree unwise and iDjudicious
Fourth-That we are not informed that any
state in the Union has adopted the single
land TAX system.
Fifth-That your committee is not advised
there has been any movement of any consid-
cradle or influential body of citizens IN the
state of Minnesota looking to any such
change in the laws of the state as INDICATED
in the resolution. Your committee Is not
prepared to state but that a consider
able number of business men IN
this city whose only property, or
largely so. is personal, would sign
petition 10 have all personal property eX-
Aps.r DrFf n
are satisfied that they comprise but small
minority of the business men of this city,
and that the time has not arrived Wnen
movement Of this kind demands the serious
attention of this board. Your board would
therefore recommend that the resolution be
laid on the table and indefinitely postponed.
The reading of the report was re-
ceived with sundry mods of approval,
and, at its conclusion, e. j. Buell.. presi-
dent of the Single Tax league, received
permission TO enlighten the board. very
gracefully he impaired the information
that the committee was very poorly
posted on the object and aims of the
single tax system. He explained its
workings, and the desire of its
advocates that the legislature should
admit an amendment to the people.
"What we want" he said, "iS to eX-
empt manufactures and all direct evil
ucllCCS Vi lIulNluudl ShlIl anu NhtVA
prise from taxation. 1t is proper that
the land should be taxed, for the value
of the land is not due to the skill or en-
terprse of any individual, but of the
entire community. If the people were
taken away from Minneapolis the land
would lose its value. The fertility
of the soil would be the same and the
natural advantages would be the same,
but the value or the amount of money
that could be realized for the sale of the
land would be greatly diminished"
His eloquence did not move the board.
Dorilus Morrison pronounced the
scheme ridiculous, and the board
promptly voted to adopt the commit
tees report.
DR.. .. j. Evans offered resolution
indorsing City Engineer Rinker and de-
nouncing those aldermen who have in
their official positions Constructed city
work" There was smile, and the
resolution went to committee.