Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-12-14


surer and has the power to make black
to appear white and vice-versa. AS
We understand Mr.. George and the doc
tor, they advocate the taxation Of land,
and not taxing personal property, as
remedy for existing social evils, and to
prevent the manipuliGatiOn Of land and
the individual control OF natio-al Of
dce holders.
TO the extent that Mr.. George
seeks betterment Of social conditions, a
more equitable distribution OF wealth
and increased security to the moderate
property holder, we are with him heart
ily and sincerely, but we fail TO see how
by the taxation of land values only the
aforesaid much desired end can be prac-
tically attained. To tax land TO its full
rental value would be tantamount to
COndscatiOn.
To obtain all needed revenue from
land would be to tax it to it's present
ful rental value, hence to the point Of
conhscation.
The total value of all property in. the
Uniten States IS per census Of 1880 was
about S44, OOOOOO,O
The farm land Of this country was then
estimated to be worth about S1O,O0O,-
0O0,00O or a little over one-fifth OF the
whole amount of property. We under
stand that Mr.. George does not propose
20 tax improved city property, but sim
ply the ground on which the said i'm
prOvements stand, on the theory that to
tax any thing but land would be to tax
production or the products Of labor, and
that to tax productions to stiae enter
prise. Well, to the $4,000, 100000 Of
farm land we viii add, IN round numbers,
say 100000, 0C0 for the value of IN
improved city lots, making SIS, 900. 000,-
600, In all, or about One-third the
entire property value as per census of
1880, the remaining Two thirds COM
prising Improved city property; rail
roads, bridges, aqueductR, canals and
divers other properties, OF which the
item OF railroads alone amounted 60
about $7,OOOOO0OOO.
We will assume that the federal gov
eminent will require for its maintain
enoe and support S30O,000,00O annually,
which amount is about two per cent. of
the value ($15, 1000, 100000 as above) Of
vacant city and farm property. Now, it
is known to every tax payer that state,
county and municipal taxation will aver
whole, about two and One-half per cent.
of the assessed valuation OF the property
from which il is collected; but since
there are many under valuations and
much personally that Is omitted, but
which could be assessed if the proper
methods were instituted, 1t Is probable
that on q full assessment the average
rate need not excesd two per cent. for
all purposes, and perhaps even less. Now
if to support state, county and municipal
government on a 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
if all the property IN every county in the
United States, as assessed by local as
SCISSORS, aggregated to-day, it would
reach a total quite equal TO, If not
greater than the report of the census.
It is therefore, clear that if, as above,
one and One-half per cent would be re-
quired on the whole amount, that four
and one-half would be required on one
third the amount. To the four and one
half add the two per cent required for
the federal government and we have five
and one-half in all, which is fully equal
to the rental value Of any land to-day
To obtain all revenue from land and
vacant lots would, therefore, work a vir-
tuRl confscatiOu, unless the rental value
could be materially increased.
Farm lands that will sell for 500 to-
day are well rented if they yield Sc pei
acre, which is per cent. Of principal,
or abonr one-half per cent. in advance
OF the rate should lands bear all the bur
5ens Of government. Nor would the
GENITAL value of lands be increased. Il
so, as we understand Mr.. George, the
rate should be correspOndingly increRs-
ed, so that virtual cOnfscatiOn would
inevitably result. What Justice is there
In eofscating lauds and city lots
What reason is there fer exemptine
railroads and other securities and prop
critics from tax, thus doubling theil
value?
If the estate OF every individual in the
United States was composed Of one
third land and the balance persona
property. there might be some show o
Justice IN levying tax tantamount TO con
hscation on thai portion or the property
but where some estates are all land anC
others all railroad stock, why confscat,
the former and to a corresponding de
gree enhance the value of the latter
Since all estates are not comprised o
one-third land and vacant city property
the land tax only would be unjust an,
discriminative.
If the proposition should be to ia
land to a certain percent. Of its valu
sufficient to meet all the requirements c
government, then the land owners Nigh
Ia cnmnansahsd by incraRsad rental