Feliciana sentinel., 1890-10-04
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
the SINGLE TAX WILL DO IT.

Ala, is tho official organ of the trades
council of that city, and is indorsed by
the Knights of Labor and tho Farmers
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 the single tax:
Unemployed labor means dull times
for business, but tho 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? Tho city and State
| will punish him by taxing the value thus
| created.
Has q merchant a large stock OF
| goods on hand, the production of which
| has given employment to labor? The
! State must have q share of their value
also.
Even tho 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
| tho same effect. Taxing the poor mans
furniture is no better than highway rob
berry.
Our manufacturers say they can not
compete with Europe in the prod
t,1y tox Oft ha
| manufac turer's 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 brv. and hard times are the nec-
essary II 'nlt.
We also hear tho senseless cry of over
prod uction at the very time when those
whose labor produces all wealth are suf-
fering from want of tho things they
have produced.
Ruinous taxation is the main cause of
there being such few manufacturing en-
terpriscs in the South. In many States
these Industries are wholly or partly
exempt m taxation, but here all the
costly buildings and machinery are tax
ed to the fullest extent, some paying as
high as $1,000 per year.
We want 4 boom, not a boom in sand
lots, but . boom in business, in building
and manufacturing, and legitimate en-
terpriscs ofevery kind. We want to make
work plenty and business brisk, and place
our city on n broader basis of prosper
ity. Therefore we must abandon this
stupid plan OF taxing industry and en-
tcrpriso.
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
cvcry 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
rilinous taxation.
Taxes are necessary, if justly laid and
honestly expended, they arc 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-
ter prising; the man who builds house,
a factory or business block. Such a
man increases the value of every foot of
land in the city, and We discourage him
by fining him for every nail he drives
and for every brick he lays.
Is it any wonder that he grumbles
when we tax him for giving employ
ment to labor? Is itany wonder that men
arc out of work when we punish capital
for employing them? We have adapted
the Turkish method of taxation: when
you see any thing, grab it."
It is a great injustice to tax one man
for the benefit of others, when he has
already increased the value of their
property by his improvements. The
burden of taxation falls mainly upon |
the man who improves, while those who
stand in the way of improvements are |
left off with a nominal tax.
This is not equitable. Those who re- |
ceive the benefit of taxes spent should |
pay them. This is but simple justice, |
and the only question should be who |
reaps the benefits?
Do public improvements increase the |
value Of buildings? No; but they do in
crease the value of land. Therefore, if |
we wish to tax the man who receives
the benefit, we must tax the value of
the land only.
1t may be said that the rate would
have to be raised. Well, suppose it
were, what difference would it make
a man paid $50 year on his
house and lot or $50 year on his lot
alone? Not any; but it would make a
great difference to the speculator, who
blocks improvements by asking big
prices for vacant lands.
Mathematical demonstration will
show that il all the taxable land in this
,ity was assessed at its market value,
md all other property exempted, it
would not be necessary to raise the rate
n order to obtain the full amount of
,axes now levied. If we want our city
20 prosper lot us endeavor to have n
:hange made in our constitution and
avs that will enable us to adopt the