Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-11-14
THE NEW YORK TIMES SPEAKS

The Meeting of the Single Tax Men of the
United States in COnferensc Causes Il to
Say Few Words on Existing Methods of
Taxation; Meantime II Has Good Word
to Say For the Single Tax Idea.
New York Times Sunday, Augusta
Mr.. Henry George is to be greeted on
his return from a trip around the world
by single tax conference, which is to
hold its sessions at the Cooper Union
this week Between four hundred and
five hundred delegates are expected to
be present, representing single tax or
CARNATIONS in some thirty different
States. This will certainly afford to Mr.
George, after his somewhat triumphal
tour, significant evidence OF the pro-
gress which his ideas have been making
in the last few years. This progress
has been made, however, after the prac-
teal suppression of one phase of his
land theory and the fuller development
of another phase. When his doctrines
were first put forward, that which
appeared most prominent and striking
in them was the denunciation OF private
ownership of land, the contention that
all land belonged by right to the COM
munity, and the proposition that the
State should confiscate and hold in its
own possession all land regardless OF the
vested rights of individuals. This idea
was not only revolutionary, but it in
volved such manifest injustice as TO be
generally repelIent. To be sure, Mr..
George argued that there was nothing
wrong in it, and that 1t was very simple
and easy matter. All that was neces-
hn -
land, irrespective of improvements,
equal to it's full rental value Then it
would not be worth any body's while to
insist upon holding title to it; occupa-
tions Is all that would be of any moment
to the possessors, and that would have to
be fully paid for, while the compensa-
ton would come in relief from all other
forms of taxation.
This side of the Henry George doc
trine has developed into what is known
as the single tax policy, while the land
ownership side of it has been rather lost
sight OF. The single tax idea in it's
present form practically ignores or neg
lects the question of title and ownership
in land, and simply maintains that all
public revenues should be derived from
tax upon land values apart from i'm
provements, which tax may rightly be
carried to the point of appropriating
fop the State all that properly belongs
to the rental value of the land. 1t is
maintained that the bare land, that
which is valuable for mere occupation,
and is in no measure due to labor or ex-
pense put upon it by individuals, is the
natural heritage of the community, to
which all should have access ON the
same terms, and that the income deriva-
BILE from advantages of location or quail
ity fairly belongs to the community.
Moreover, it is argued that the increase
of value for occupation due to the
growth Of the community and the null
tiplication OF advantages through social
and industrial development, and not due
to any labor OF expense of the occupant,
belongs by right to the community.
But, leaving all these subtleties
apart, the single tax proposition is cap
able of being considered in very sim
pie form as mere question of taxation,
and as such it is not without interest, as
recent discussion in many quarters am
ply shows. We have not hesitated here
tofore to express our belief that it was
the ideal of taxation, unattainable for
good while to come and without a long
agitation and progressive advances, but
resting on irrefragible logic. Its ad.
yantages would be many. 1t reduces
taxation to absolute simplicity and Ger
.ainty and the utmost efficiency-that is
20 say, the form which would bring the
greatest ratio OF revenue with the small
est cost and difficulty of collection. i
would absolutely free from the inequali
ties that characterize all existing sya
TENS Of taxation, for all land, by WHOM
Sewer held and Tor whatever purpose