The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-12-29

From the Martin County Sentinel.


There is an oranization in this state
known as the Single Tax League which
is vigorously disseminating the Henry
Geore theories Of the assessment and
collection Of public revenue. The pur-
pose Of the League are succinctly set
forth in the following petitions 10 the
Legislature which is being indust-
riously circulated in different parts of
the state.
To the Legislature OF the State ofMinncso'a:
Whrcas, II Is unjust that one nan should be
taxed for making land useful ana cIup.o ing
labor ON it, than mother is taxed fOI holding land
idle and keeping labor of it.
ThrcfO-e, We The undersigned citizens Of Mimi
e.otn. petition your honOrable body 10 submit 10
The PEOPLE Of the STATE at their next regular eject
ions such amendments To the constitution rs well
permit the exemption Of personal property aud
improvements oil land from all taxation.
The advocates of this new doctrine
claim that to tax improvements is to
retard progress and place a ine upon
industry and enterprise; that the own
er OF vacant property is a stumbling
block III the way Of the advancement
and upbuilding Of community and
that his do-nothing policy is made pro
iitable by the enterprise of his fellow
men; that the drone is rewarded and
the ruStllng energetic man who risks
his money in great industrial and com
merciai undertakings is handicapped by
having his taxes increased. The single
tax idea, like that of free trade, is very
plausible on paper; IN theory it IS just
and equitable, but we doubt very much
if its practical operations would not
prove ruinouS to the very ones whom it
is intended to benefit. In our great
cities there are acres of costly Struct-
ureS reaching far into the heavens,
built without regard to expense and
with every appointment that the in
genuity OF human intellect can con-
ceiye to satisfy the eXtrayagant desires
of comfort and luxury. These magnifi-
cent edifices are the properties of the
rich and aflluent-men who see but
little Of the th0rny pathway Of life.
Their wealth came to them without
much effort and in many cases prim-
arily through the industry Of the toll
irg millions on farm and in workshop.
The rich have 4 faculty of escaping
their share of taxes by putting their
money into stocks bonds and m0rtCa-
ges, but when they crafty their pride
and vanity by erecting for themselves
gilded palaces, they are compelled to
contribute towards bearing the public
burdens. The farmers and the mech
anic, on the other hand, usually have
modest domiciles and their real estate
comprises the greater share of their
belongings. The increase i'll taxes
which non assessment of personal pro
perty would entail would certainly fall
most heavily upon the agricultural
community, which under our present
system Of raising public revenue, al
ready pay more taxes in proportion to
the value of their property than any OF
Their class of people. The so-called re
form would also have a dangerous tend
ency in discouraging the acquisition Of
homesteads by actual settlers and in
this way its evils would be far-reach-
ing and general. Although the dis
ciple of Henry Georgeism are quite
numerous and active we are satisfied
that when their doctrine is thoroughly
understood the people viii decide that
there is no place for it inside of Min
neSOta statutes.