The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-12-20
THE SINGLE TAX. .

THE SINGLE TAX. ..
There is sone talk in Minnesota and
some other Western States of trying
on the single tax theory, of which Mr..
Henry George is the originator.
The proposition is to tax nothing
but land. The levy is to be made, if
Mr.. Georges views are to be thorough.
ly carried out, adequate to meet all de-
m.nds of government-Statea aud Ma
tiunal-including schools to whose
support the State contributes, subsi.
dies for the encouragement of enter
prises beneficial to the public. pensions
aud the support Of the poor. The land
is to be valued according to its loca-
tlOn, eligibility for business, etc., but
no account is to be made of improve
ments put upon the land. The theory
is that labor and its products are in no
case to be taxed.
The object of this proposition is to
break up land monopoly, reduce rent.
charges, etc., to which source MIR.
George traces Ill the evils of society.
II his method or raising governmental
revenues be adopted. Mr.. George claims
that the panacea for the maladies of
poverty will have been found, and that
the poor will no longer grow poorer
while the rich are becoming richer. We
do aot suppose that any great number
OF Western people are converted to
Mr.. Georges philosophy of poverty
cure. nor convinced of his infallibility
rs u inancier or statesman. Indeed,
We suppose many who speak favorably
of the ''single tax" plan know aud
care little for his speculations. But
they see, or think they see. u remedy
for land monopoly and speculation.
which retard the growth OF the new
States and Territories. This. we
judge, is the reason why many are dis
posed to try on, in part at least, this
hitherto untrled system of revenue
raising.
True craftsmanship is conservative
when propositions subversive of long
established policies are ventilated. A
new philosophy of finance may be
worthy of consideration, and, if found
to be sound and practicable. of conf
dence. But changes of a radical char.
acter should be very carefully pondered
before hey are thrust upon the atten-
tien of legislative bodies.
Heretofore the aim of the State ard
National governments has been to tax
both land aud its products, and labor's
products, as lightly as possible Dis
examinations, when made, have been
against luxuries and vices, which DO
not greatly complain Of their burdens,
even when the discrimination is marked
and extreme. This is not 50 much of
the nature of discouragenent to vice
AS It is to raise a revenue with the least
o preston to land aud labor. Hence,
the general government relies Chiefly
ON tariffs, and taxes even domestic
luxuries and vices only when war reve-
"ues and debts have to be provided for.
The States try to seek out wealth and
It's accumulationso of very sort to make
them share with the land in bearing
the expense of government.
This theory also overturns tie long
recognized principle that all who are
protected by the government should be
tax d according to the protection rem.
derel. Tie millionaire has much more
Deheht from the State, in afforded pro-
lection, than the man who has nothing
but his person to be protected. The
new theory would make the owners OF
land bear all burdens, of every sort.
Land monopoly is an evil. If it car
be fairly and wisely limited or pre-
vented, all we'll and good. But ought
the humble homesteader, the owner o1
aquarter section, take on more loaC
than he now carries, just to strike al
anevil of our social system2 To reacl
the Astors and other real estate mon
opolists, must the farmer of the Wes,
be compelled to say: my taxes ar,
greater than can bear!''
All we wish to say now is: Let u!
60 slow on untried theories. The new
theory may have in it something O
merit, but human experience is afte
all reliable instructor whose lesson,
ought not to be rudely or suddenl,
overturned. Hence, every man VIII
depends on his homestead for subsis
tence has an interest in the mainten
ance of sound and we'll tried methods
and ought to be protected against ex
periments of y doubtful character. Tn
agriculturist is not ready to take on
new burden, especially one of sucl
colossal magnitude.
The Democratic caucus, at its ad
journed meeting on December 18th, re
solved in favor of admitting Dakota
either as one or two States, as its pee
pie may desire. That desire has al
ready been made known. No reitera
tions are needed to make it more EN-
phatic. The caucus also favored tn
prompt admission of Washington
Montana and New Mexico. This &C
ton was brought about by the pei
suasions Of Cox, Randall, Holman an