The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-10-17
THE Farm,
The Single Tax Will Do It.


the Knights OF Labor and the Farm.
ers' Alliance of Alabama. 1t is an
exponent of the principles of traders
unionism, but especially advocates the
single tax, and ballot reform. Here is
its argument in favor of the single tax !:
Unemployed labor means dull times
for business, but the rent collector
makes his unfailing monthly round,
and gas and water bills must be met,
rain or shine.
10 aggravate matters, the assessor
now calls upon every citizen for a
statement of his property, that large
per centage gifts value may be taken for
public use.
Has lot owner erected building,
thus giving employment to labor and
creating business? The city and State
will punish him by taxing the value
thus created.
Has a merchant a large stock Of
goods on had, the production of which
has given employment to labor? The
State must have a share Of the value
also.
Even the household furniture of the
poorest men and the most unfortunate
women must be taxed by the sovereign
people.
Is this just? Is it sensible? To tax
Improvements is to discourage the en-
ployment of labor. Taxing goods has
the same effect Taxing the poor mans
furniture is no better than highway
robbery.
Our manufacturers say thoy can not
compete with Europe in the production
of goods. If we take the taxes off the
manufacturers plants and products, he
then can compete with them.
If we take the taxes off houses, goods
and furniture, the cost of living will be
less. Wages are the last thing that
should be reduced, for good wages mean
good times. Reduce the workingman's
ability to buy, and hard times are the
necessary result.
We also hear the senseless cry of
over.production at the very time when
those whose labor produces all wealth
are suffering from want of the things
they have produced.
Ruinous taxation is the main cause
of there being such few manufacturing
enterprises in the South. In many
States these industries are wholly or
partly exempt from taxation, but here
ell the costly buildings and machinery
are taxed to the fullest extent, some
paying as high as $1,000 per year.
We want boom, not boom in sand
lots, but boom in business, in build.
ing and manufacturing, and legitimate
enterprises of every kind. We want to
make work plenty and business brisk,
and place our city on broader basis Of
prosperity. Therefore we must aban-
don this stupid plan of taxing industry
and enterprise.
We have great natural advantages
that should give us the foremost rank
In almost every branch of manufacture.
Work can be performed to advantage
every day in the year. 1t is never too
hot or too cold. All we need is that
we shall cease to hamper and discour-
age our industries by unwise, unjust
and ruinous taxation.
Taxes are necessary, if justly laid
and honestly expended. they are a
benefit, not an injury. 1t pays to have
effective fire and police departments,
sewers and we'll paved and lighted
streets. Then why do we grumble at
paying for them?
The principal reason is that those
who pay the taxes do not get their just
proportion of the benefits. Some paw
heavily and get but little benefit, while
others who are greatly benefited pay
little or nothing.
Who pays them?
The man who is industrious and en-.
terprising; the man who builds house,
factory or business block. Such a
man increases the value of every foot OF
land in the city, and we discourage him
by fning him for every nail he drives
end for every brick he lays.
Is it any wonder that he grumbles
when we tax him for giving employ
ment to labor? Is it any wonder that
men are out of work when we punish
capital for employing them? We have
adopted the Turkish method of taxa
ton: "When you see any thing, grab
it."