Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-08-08
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
SINGLE TAX THE INSTRUMENT
address OF william Lloyd Garrison Re-
Tore the Unitarian Ministerial Union at
Shanhing Hall, Boston, April 2s, 1890,

Address Of william Lloyd Garrison Re-
Tore the Unitarian Ministerial Union at
Channing Hall, Boston, April 20, 1890,
CONTINUED FROM LAST IssuE.l
VI hear you say: Under the single
tax would not the rent be taken Just the
same? And what matters it il the town
OF Killarney or the Earl OF Kenmare ex.
act lt?' A pertinent inquiry. Mark the
distinction. Whom the town gathers
the rent of tho land, who gets it? The
town gets 1t and it belongs to the town,
and the town is the people. Justice pre-
walls. When the Earl takes the rent
tho Earl gets it, and squanders it, and
the town gets left" When the Earl
sees farmer improving his soil and en-
targing his house he puts up the rent
nigh enough to absorb the improvement,
and can always take the product of the
farmers industry, provided he leaves
Just enough for scanty living.
Under the single tax the farmer would
not be taxed for single improvement.
lie may have an adjacent ncighbor who
neglects his farm and lets IL run down
out as both have by situation land Of
equal value he will pay no more rent for
his prosperous farm than the sloven will
pay for his neglected one. Now il those
TWO farms were in Massachusetts and
the farmers were the owners, the idler
would pay low tax and the Industrious
one high rate. The law would thus
reward idleness and punish thrift
In the city what happens now? Crowd.
ed tenements and lofty buildings and
vacant lots. 1t is computed that New
York City is to-day only half built up
on. Per contra, in Philadelphia, where
personal property is highly taxed and
ground rents are common, there are
more homes and more comfortable ones
Ior the working people than in any city
OF tho Union, and fewer tenement
houses in proportion. Manufacturers
gravltate there. l saw it stated the
other day that the manufacturing inter-
ests In the city of Philadelphia eoualed
those OF all New England But think
how much more Philadelphia would
prosper and labor secure its comforts IL
the ground rent went to the citv
treasury and not to private peck
cts. Prof. Ely, of Johns Hopkins
university, at one time an assessor of
baltimore, asserted that with the single
TAX on land values in that city, it would
be the most desirable place for living in
the United States. Not only would the
land yield sufficient revenue for govern
mental needs, but enough for other pub
TIC purposes, including reduction of
the tares on the street railroads Per-
uaps no single expense of municipal or
town government is so great as of the
streets and roads. They are in a per.
petual state of repair and extension.
1hey have great capacity to absorb
the money paid in taxes. None of them
are too good, most of them are far from
satisfactory, but they represent an i'm
mense Investment made by the people.
Notwithstanding their Importance and
eost, private corporations have no diff
Guilty in getting for nothing the street
franchise for their railroads or gas pines
OF electric wires. Here is an enormous
value created by the community, and
belonging to it, practically confiscated
by few shrewd men who profit by the
simplicity and blindness of the citizens.
VINO submit to and ratify the Injustice.
II the revenue were paid to those who
nave the rightful claim to it, it would
llit the burdens of labor instead of
swelling the pockets of the Spectators.
Inc single tax would prevent such
'pollatlon, and corporations would nav
or the privileges granted them.
But you are wearied by my exposition
ot the wrongfulness of prevailing meth
ods OF taxation and impatient for con-
'loeration OF the remedy. l once asked
David A. Wells this question: "Suppos-
ng the country were to start afresh and
Individual ownership of land not rooted |
n law, would it not be better for all
and to be rented by the people?" "Un-
luestionably," he answered.; but the |
rouble Is to reach that desirable Sondi-
lon without confiscation and great in
ustice." And this is the position of
Herbert Spencer. The principle we CON |
end for is granted, but its application
S deprecated
am one of those who believe that |
light principles are always susceptible
II application, and while, popularlv
peaking, Wells and Spencer would be
allied safe and considerate guides on
his point and Mr.. George a theorist
nd fanatic, | venture to prophesv
hat posterity will give different YER
let.
NO reform is possible without disturb
ng vested property and privileges.
hen railroads were first proposed the
tago coach interest fourht than tooth
nd nall When gas was introduced the
lakers of lamps the dealers in oil and
he whaling interest protested against
as ruination to their business. In
urn gas antagonized the electric as
ing as lighting chance" was left.
Investments made in good faith, with n
elief in the stability of things, are
ften wiped out by new discoveries and
lnoyations. 1t is unquestionably hard
or the sufferers, but the many are ben
tied and blessed, and progress is the
NV of life and civilization.
SO in your sympathy for the monopo-
SITS of land, who are to be the
hicf losers in the day of the single
AK, think Tor moment of the millions
no crowd the ranks of poverty and
ant, simply for the reason that tho
pportunities to labor have been closed
o them by the iron hands which grasp
atural privileges, and save few tears
or them. Who can remunerate them?
ity tho owners of the rich stores of
mineral wealth, the iron and copper and
pal, for whose benefit nature, for thou