The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-10-22
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
The PLATFORM
Adopted at the Conference of Single Tax
Clubs.

Clubs.
We assert as our fund amental princi-
pie the self-evident truth enunciated in
the Declaration of Americn Independ-
ence, that all men are created equal
and are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights
We hold that all men are equally en-
titled to the use and enjoyment of what
| God has created and Of what is gained
by the general growth and i'm
provement of the community of
which they are a part. Therefore, no
one should be permitted to hold natural
opportunities without a fair return
to all for any special privilege thus ac-
corded to him, and that value which the
growth and improvement of the COM
munity attaches to land should be taken
for the use of the community.
We hold that each man is entitled to
all that his labor produces. Therefore
no tax should be levied on the products
Of labor
To carry out these principles we are in
favor of raising all public revenues for
National State, county and municipal
purposes by single tax upon land val
ucs, irrespective of Improvements, and
of the abolition of all forms of direct
and indirect taxation.
Since in all our States we now levy
some tax on the value OF land, the sin
gle tax can be instituted by the simple
and easy way of abolishing, one after
another, all other taxes now levied, and
commensurately increasing the tax on
land values, until we draw upon that
one source for all expenses of govern
mcnt, the revenue being divided be-
tween local governments, State govern
ments and the general government, as
the revenue from direct taxes is now
divided between the local and State
governments, or, direct assessment
Icing made by the general govern
ment upon the States and paid by
them from revenues collected in this
manner.
The single tax we propose is not
tax on land, and therefore would not
fall on the use of land and become a tax
on labor.
1t is Il tax, not on land, but On the
value of land. Thus it would not fall
on all land, but only on valuable land,
and on that not in proportion to its val
uH-the premium which the user of land
must pay to the owner, either in pur-
chase money or rents for permission to
use valuable land. 1t would thus be
tax not on the use or improvement of
land, but upon the ownership of land,
taking what would otherwise go to the
owner rs owner, and not as user.
In assessments under the single tax
all values created by individual use or
would be excluded, and
the only value taken into consideration
would be the valuo attaching to the bare |
land by reason of neighborhood, etc.,
to be determined by impartial periodi-
cal assessments. Thus the farmer would |
have no more taxes to pay than the
'peculator who held a similar piece of
and idle, and the man who on city lot
erected valuable building would be
5aXed no moro than the man who held a
similar lot vacant.
The single tax, in short, would call
lpon men to contribute to the public
'evenues, not in proportion to what
hey produce or accumulate, but in pro-
portion to the value of the natural op-
)ortunities they hold. 1t would compel
M IL
and idle as for putting it to it's fullest
Use.
The single tax therefore. would
]. Take the weight of taxation off of
he agricultural districts where land
las little or no value irrespective of i'm
'rovements, and put it on towns and
tiles where bare land rises to value of
Millions OF dollars per acre.
2. Dispense with multiplicity of
axes and horde of taxgatherers, sim
'lify government and greatly reduce it's
ost.
3. Do away with the fraud, corruption
nd gross inequality inseparable from
ur present methods of taxation, which
How the rich to escape while they
rind the poor. Land can not be hid or
arried off, and its value can be ascer-
aimed with greater ease and certainty
han any other.
H. Give us with all the world as per-
ect freedom of trade as now exists be- (
ween the States of the Union, thus en-
bling our people to share, through free
xchanges, in all the advantages which
allure has given to other countries. or
'hich the peculiar skill of other people
as enabled them to attain. 1t would {
estroy the trusts, monopolies and cor
options which are the outgrowths of
ne tariff 1t would do away with the {
mes, and penalties now levied on any {
nc who improves farm, erects house, l
uilds machine, or in any way adds to
he general stock of wealth. 1t would S
ave every one free to apply labor or s
Spend capital in production or exchange 6
lthout fine or restriction, and would ]
ave to each the full product of his ex- t
'tion. S
s. 1t would, on tho other hand, by +
king for public use that value which t
,taches to land by reason of the growth I
Id Improvement of the community, j
axe the holding of land Improbable v
the mere owner, and profitable only I
the user. 1t would thus make it i'm i
'ssible for spectators and monopolists G
hold natural opportunities unused or +
lly half used, and would throw open to s
Dor the illimitable field of employ L
ent which the earth offers to man. 1t
ould thus solve the labor problem, do L
way with involuntary poverty, raise t
ages in all occupations to the full t
innings of labor, make overproduction S