Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-20
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
THE SINGLE TAX WILL DO IT.
A Labor Paper of Alabama Stands Square
ly on Our Platform.

Jne hn1RDUS OF LaDOr anu inc ChrInerS
Alliance of Alabama. 1t is an exponent
of the principles of trades unionism, but
especially advocates the single tax, and
ballot reform. Here is its argument in
favor of tho 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.
To aggravate matters, the assessor
now calls upon every citizen for state
ment OF his property, that large per-
centage of its 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 large stock OF
goods on hand, the production of which
has given employment to laborP The
State must have share of their 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 1t 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 rob
berry.
L Our manufacturers say they 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 abil-
ity to buy, and hard times are the nee
essary result.
We also hear the senseless cry of over
| uduction at the very time when those
whose labor produces all wealth are suf-
fering from want of the things they
| have produced.
Ruinous taxation is the main cause OF
| there being such few manufacturing en-
| terpris $ in the South. In many States
these Industries are wholly or partly
| exempt from taxation, but here all the
costly buildings and machinery are tax
ed to the fullest extent, some paying as
high as 81, 900 per year.
| We want boom, not boom in sand
lots, but boom in business, in building
and manufactu turing, and legitimate en-
terprises of every kind. We want to mako
work plenty and business brisk, and place
| our city on broader basis of prosper
| ity. Therefore we must abandon this
stupid plan of taxing industry and en-
| terprise.
We have great natural advantages that
should give us the foremost rank in al
most every branch of manufacture.
Work can be performed to advantage
every day in the year. 1t is never too
hot nor too cold. All we need is that
we shall cease to hamper and discourage
our industries by unwise, unjust and
ruinous taxation.
Taxes are necessary, If justly laid and
honestly expended, they are benefit,
not an injury. 1t pays to have effective
fire and police departments, good sew
ers and well-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 pro-
portion of the benefits. Some pay heav.
ily and get but little benefit, while 9th
ers who are greatly benefited pay little
or nothing.
Who pays them?
The man who is industrious and en-
terprising; the man who builds house
n factory or business block. Such 6
man increases the value of every foot ot
land in the city, and we discourage hin
by fining him for every nail he drives
and for every brick he lays.
Is it any wonder that he grumble'
when we tax him for giving employ
ment to labor? Is itany wonder that meI
are out of work when we punish capita
for employing them? We have adapted
the Turkish method of taxation: "Wher
you see any thing, grab it,"
1t is great injustice to tax one maj
for the benefit of others, when he has
already increased the value of thei
property by his improvements. The
burden of taxation falls mainly upoI
: the man who improves, while those wh'
stand in the way of improvements arr
left off with nominal tax.
This is not equitable. Those who re
ceive the benefit of taxes spent shoult
pay them. This is but simple justice
and the only question should be wh'
reaps the benefits?
Do public improvements increase tn,
value of buildings? No; but they do in
| crease the value of land Therefore, i
we wish to tax the man who receive
tho benefit, we must tax the value o
the land only.
1t may be said that the rate woul'
have to be raised. We'll, suppose i
were, what difference would it max
: whether man paid $50 year on hi
house and lot, or $50 year on his 10
alone? Not any; but it would mako
great difference to the speculator, VIII
blocks improvements by asking bi
prices for vacant lands.
: Mathematical demonstration will
show that II all the taxable land in thi
| IA st, Il Irr,N, n1,,x