St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-04
SINGLE TAX CONFERENCE.

The single tax conference held in New
York yesterday and the day before is
notable event, and yet its results are
not liable to have disturbing effect on
national politics for good many years
to come. The single tax is a remote
ideal: still, the results of the New York
conference will lead to discussion and
agitation of the HENRY GEORGE the
DRY, and perhaps will serve to make it
better understood.
1t must have been gratifying to Mr..
GEORGE. on his return from a trip
around the world, to discover the growth
of his single tax idea. When he went
away he was the only public advocate
of his hobby. He came back TO be
greeted by convention of four or five
hundred representatives of single tax
leagues, representing about thirty diff
ferent states. 1t was the evidence of
the progress his ideas have been making
within the last few years.
1t is noteworthy however, that Mr..
GEORGES doctrines have undergone a
good deal of revision and modification
since he first put them forward. The
former denunciation of the 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-al these
theories have been abandoned, and the
single tax idea reduced to more prac-
tical form. As now announced, il is not
so visionary or revolutionary. The sin
gle tax as now interpreted ignores OF
neglects the question of title and owner
ship in land, and simply maintains that
all revenue should be derived from a
tax upon land values apart from their
improvements
As we have stated, the single. tax prop
Osltion is remote ideal. 1t is too full
of SubtletieS to commend itself to popu-
lar approval without a vast deal of az
gument and eXpanation.> There must
be long agitation and many progress
i've advances before it can become popu-
lar. And yet, despite the popular preju-
dice against 1.-The single tax proposition
possesses some advantages. Although
unattainable for g good while to come,
it presents more nearly than anything
else that has yet been suggested the
ideal system of taxation. 1t would re-
duce taxation to absolute simplicity, land
would bring the greatest ratio of reve-
nue. with the smallest cost and difficulty
of collection. In these respects, at least,
it would remove serious defects In the
existing system of taxation. We fail to
see how it could accomplish that relief
from poverty which its advocates claim,
but we do see that it must afford the
very largest measure Of individual and
commercial freedom. 1t would at least
establish a free trade which would be
exempt from restriction and perversion
by public authority.
In view of these facts, the single tax
movement inaugurated in New York
yesterday promises to bring Mr..
GEORGES theories within the range of
practical discussion and feasible legis-
lation. The great masses of the people
are always willing to listen and to learn.
The organization of a national league is
done for the purpose of bringing this
question directly to public notice, and
to make the effort to revolutionize pub