The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-02-02
Come 10 the sssscue.
Editor Times:

Edtl0F IlneS'
As we are about applying to our leg
islature fora city charter it IS neces-
sary for us TO engraft within said char
ter several very important demands.
AS our immediate surroundings are
insufficient as an agricultural commun-
ity to assure us of a prosperous future,
we must necessarily look abroad and
invite capital to locate amongst us.
Our bay front has been squandered,
and the principle of bonuses cannot
last forever, consequently we are OBJ
liged to look i'll another direction.
There IS a way for Superior to meet
this emergency in an honorable way
and III way that people coming here
VIII give us credit for 1t Will surely
make Of this town what nature or
dained ii 10 be, the coming metropolis
OF the western hemisphere; this may
to some seem utopian in idea, but give
us the opportunities of which WE are
now robbed and ten to one we will be
an eye opener to the world. There are
well grounded reasons why Superior
cannot progress and the most potent
factor in the sad history of her career,
Is the curse Of LandlOrdiSm. Large
tracts Of Land in the hands of either
resident or nonresident spectators is
a curse anywhere. Although we may
hold title deed for land the govern
ment still is the owner, you still pay
taxes to the government, and if neg
lected it passes back to the same.
The only changes from the present
system in comparison to the Henry
George theory are, that individuals
could not sell to each other, as each
would simply be a renter from the
government, and that would strike
the death blow to speculative values.
The other is that it could not be sub
let to others. The tax i'll each case
would go to the government, but the
government would not give any deed
whatever, simply rent it. But i'll this
case we have land ownership to deal
with and that brings us down to the
question of our charter.
The personal property tax should be
lifted from all products of labor and
taxes levied entirely on land 1t is
great mistake to tax man for increas-
ing the wealth of community. If
man commitsa crime, punish him. That
is justice. If he is benefit to society
do not stand over him with the cud-
gel Of taxation and discourage him.
That IS no way TO build up a city. If
there IS no tax on the building and the
machine, how soon will capital flow to
the shores of Superior from every d
recGon. Superior could do no more
honor to herself than to adopt the sin
gle standard of taxation; it would lead
TO the greatest boom III building and
material growth that she has ever ex-
perienced, and it would be a lasting
and continual boom. This method
would not change the amount of tax
to be levied, but it would change levy
ing Of tax on where it rightfully be-
longs, where none could eyade taxa
ton or belle an assessor, that is what
we want
| trust that the Times VIII see the
necessity of this reform and give US its
moral and editorial support. 1t will
be benefit to our town in every re
sFect, and it cannot do any injury.
Meetings should be called for the
further discussion of this subject, and
petition signed demanding said pro-
vision IN our prospective charter.
Respectfully submitted to the citi-
zens by WALTER BEHLEN.