Dodge City times., 1888-12-06
GEORGES LAND TAX THEORY.

banded the land Tax sckems OF Henri
George in q very pleasing manner. TIL
truth is that the doctor is q good lee
turer and has the power to make blacl
to appear white and vice-versa. A
We understand Mr. Gsorge and the doc
ter. they advocate the taxation of land
md not taxing perronal property, as
remedy for existing social svile, spd t.
prevent the manipulation O: land and
the individual control Of national of
dee holders.
To the extent that Mr.. Georg'
seeks bettsrment Of social conditions, /,
more equitable distribution Of wealth
and increased security to the moderate
property holder, We are with him heart
hy and sincerely, but we fail to sea how
by the taxation Of land values only ths
aforesaid much desired end can be prac
tioally STAINED. To tax land to its full
rental vslue would be tantamount tt
confscstiop.
To obtain all nseied revenue from
land would be to tax it to its present
fall rental vslue, hence to the point o.
confecation.
The total value Of all property in tbs
Uniten States as per census of 1880 wss
about s44, ZOO, 0,0O0,o0o.
Tie farm land of this country was then
estimsted to be worth about S10,000,-
0OO 900, or little over one-ffth OF the
whole amount Of property. We under
stand that Mr.. George does not propose
to tax improved city property, but SIM
ply the ground on which the said im-
provemsnts stand, on the theory that to
tax any thing but land would re to tax
production or the products Of labor, and
that to tax production is to stifls enter
prise. Well, to the $4,000, ,00O, ,OO0 OF
farm land we will add, in round numbers,
say S5,000.000 600 for the value of IN
improved city lots, making SIS. 900. .000,-
600, In ELL or about one-third the
entire property value IS Per census Of
1850, the remaining two t5irds com
prising improved city property; rail-
roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals and
divers other properties, Of which the
item OF railroads alone amounted to
about 1,OOO.OOO,OOO.
We will assume that the federal gov
ernment will require for its maintain.
ance and support $500, 600, 900 annually,
which amount is about two per cent. Of
the vslue (s15, ,O00, ,00O. 900 as abcve) of
vacant city and farm property. Now, it
is knowI to every tax payer that state,
county and municipal taxation will aver
age to-day, taking the country as
whole, about two and one-half per cent.
OF the assessed valuation of the property
from which it is collected; but since
there are many under valuations and
much personally that is omitted, but
which could be assessed # the proper
methods were instituted, it is probable
that on FULL assessment the average
rate need not exceed two per cent. for
all purposes, and perhaps even less. Now
il to support state, county and municipal
government on full assessment of all
property, it should require even one and
one-half per cent, then four and one half
would be required if nothing was taxed
save farm lands and vacant city pro-
perty, which, as before stated, are about
one-third the entire property value.
There cannot be thu slightest doubt that
# all the property in every county in The
United Statse, as assessed by local as
sessors. aggregated to-day, it would
reach a total quite equal to. il not
greater than the report Of the csnsus.
It is therefore, clear that il, as above,
one aDd cne-half per cent would be re-
9uired en- the whole amount, that four
and one-half would be required on one
third the amount. To the four and one-
hall add the two PER cent required for
the federal government and We have five
and one-hslf in all, which is fully equal
to the rental value of any land to-Gay.
To obtain all revenue FROM land ind
vacant lots :Eould, therefore, work vir-
tual coniscasio@, unless the rental value
ceuld be materially increased.
Farm lands thst will sell for 500 to.
Gay are veil rented if they yield Sc per
acre, which is 6 per cent. Of principal,
or abonr one half per cent. in Advance
Of the rate should lands besr all the bur-
aens Of government. Nor would the
rental value Of lands be increased. If
50, as We understand M. George. the |
rate should be correspondingly increas-
I'd, go that virtual confscation would |
result. What justice lie there |
in co6scating lauds and city lots? |
Wha: reason is there for exsmpting
railroads. and other securities and prop |
critics from tax, thus doubling their |
valua?
1.-THE estate Of every individual in the
United States was composed Of one
third land and the balance personal
property. there might be some chow of
ustics in levying tax tantamount to con-
iscation on tha, portion Of the property.
out where some estates are all land and
others all railrosd stock, why confsca.e
he former and to corresponding de-
gree enhance the value OF the latter:
Since all estates are no. comprised of
me third land and vacant city property,
ne land tax only would be unjust and
If the proposition should be to tax
and to certain percent. of its value
uf,ient to inset all tie requirements o.
then the land owners might
Ne compensated by increased rental.
,ut IL the rental vsius ia to be taken.
hen there is perpetrsted an outrageous
INJUSTICE from which there is NJ relief to
he unfortunate land owner aud no Limit
= the increased wealth OF the divinely
blessed and b.oated etock and bond
lolders.
But assuming even that defn;ate per
entum Of tax should be laid on .land
alues only, and that the land owner
ould BE- recompensed for the increase
y an increase in rent, what then wculd
e done with the increased value C: the
'ersonsl property Of the millionaire,
loated bondho Ger by reason OF its ex-
mption from taxation?
TIE earning power Of all securities
'ould certainly be greater than it now
:; hence the security would be more
aluahle IL all the taxation was removed