Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-10-24
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
THE SINGLE TAX WILL DOT.
a Labor Paper of Alabama stands Square
To-. n,,~ ri

I council OF that city, and is Endorsed by
! The Knights of Labor and the Farmers
: Alliance of Alabama. 1t is anexponent
| 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 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 a 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 us
created.
Has merchant largo stock Of
goods on hand, the production of which
has given employment to labor? The
State must have a 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 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 rob
berry.
N a n fD ~ At
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 DO
loss. 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 tho senseless cry Of over
production 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-
terprises in the South. In maay 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 a boom, not O. boom in sand
lots, but boom in business, in building
and manufacturing, and legitimate en-
terprises of every kind. We want to make
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 ct 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-
lily 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,
a factory or a business block. Such
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 tany wonder that men
are 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."
1t is great injustice to tax one man
for the benefit of others, when he has
already increased tho 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 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, IL
We wish TO tax the man who receives
the benefit, we must tax the value of
the land only.
have to be raised. Well, suppose it
were, what difference would it make
whether man paid $50 year on his
house and lot, or $50 year on his lot
alone? Not any; but it would make
great difference to the Spectator, who
blocks improvements by asking big
prices for vacant lands.
Mathematical demonstration will
show that II all the taxable land in this
city was assessed at its market value,
and all other property exempted, it
would not be necessary to raise the rate
in order to obtain the full amount of
taxes now levied. If we want our city
to prosper let US endeavor to have a
change made in our constitution and
laws that will enable us to adopt the
common sense plan OF exempting the
products of industry and enterprise, and
taxing nothing but land values. Land
values are created by the community