The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-21
HOW JOHNS FATHER
SAW THE LIGHT,
BY W. G. woop, NJ. D.

'Fathel said John Gray, II have an
ioea that Henry George is right"
II John had declared himself a con-
vert to Mormonism. and announced his
Intention to take half dozen wives, he
could hardly have created a greater sem
sstion. Mr.. Gray sat down his coffee
cup untasted, and fairly gasped. Mrs.
Gray looked grieved; and Johns little
sister, seeing by the old folks's express
lon that John had something very dread
fui, puckered up her mouth for o cry.
$50 you want to have me divide mp
my land, that bought and paid for,
with, a-a-with Jem here, for instance" /"
said the farmer, finally, looking toward
the hired man as he spoke.
This Interpretation Of the united La
Dor platform seemed rather to commend
itself to Jem, whose face wrinkled into
broad smile; but the smile died away
as John explained that that was by no
means what Henry George proposed.
IAN he wants." said John, sis to put all
taxes upon land values"
"Oh! that's all, is it!' said Mr.. Gray,
sarcastically. Nothing more, eh?
Don't want my land; oh, no. Wouldn't
touch 1T with ten foot pole-give me
two or three more farms-beg me to take
them, and ship 'em by express with q
present In every lot; throw In q gas
stove, tin horn and a chrome, suppose.
All he wants is to put all the taxes on
the land, is it? Well, you are fool"
John seized the opportunity while his
father was taking breath to explain that
all improvements would be exempted.
Don't see how that would better mat
ters," said his father. "There'd be Just
as much money wanted, and the rate
would rise, of course"
John admitted that the rate per cent.
would be raised until it equaled the
rental value of the bare land.
This was red rag to bull, and John
received rather profuse explanation
of his fathers opinion of socialists, COM
munists and fools, with gentle intima-
ton that John was of the latter persua-
sion.
John waited till the old man run down
and then ventured the statement that
: the rate couldn't be over four per
cent, because any quantity Of money
could be hired for that on absolute Sc
curity, no tax and long time; govern
ment bonds, for instance.
This raised another storm, but Mr..
Gray finally admitted that four per cent
would take the full rental value.
Now" said John, shat would lower
the farmers taxes"
The farmer and the hired man stared
at him in silence, while his mother ven-
tured the query. "How?"
'Why, don't you see" said John, s'the
farmer thinks he is big land owner,
because he owns hundred acres, maybe. !
So he is, by area: but he is not much of |
one by value. By value he is very lit |
tie Of land owner and a good deal of a
capitalist and laborer. Why, there are
men in the city who own an acre Of land,
vacant and idle, that would sell for the |
value OF fifty or sixty farms, improve
ments and all.
''You pay more rent every year than
The rental value of your farm amounts |
to. Every bushel of grain you sell,
every bit of merchandise you buy, must
pass through the cities, the centers of
exchange, and, resting for awhile in
storehouse, Wholesale store or mill, is
taxed to pay its rent. You have to sell |
your grain for less, and you must pay
more for what you buy, in order that the
dealers in the city can get enough lar
ger profit with which to pay their rents.
Take of the value of the improvements
on your farm and the land value that is
left, If turned into money and invested
at four cent, would not yield sum equal
to one-ffteenth of your annual income
from this farm. In other words, you are
fourteen times as much laborer and capi-
talist as you are land holder.
''The holder of city lot worth fifty
times IS much as your whole farm, can
hold on to his lot, waiting for a rise in
value, which is sure to come, and he can
tax your products to provide the money
for his rent, and laugh in his sleeve as
he appeals to you to oppose the united
labor party, and tells you they want to
tax the farmer to death. He is the one
who profits by the monopoly Of the land,
not the farmer.
''If the tax Is taken of from the Inn
provements and put upon the land val
ues you will pay but little, even though
you are charged the full rental value
Of your land-all that its use is worth"
Mr.. Gray scratched his head refiec-
lively.
'Well." he said at length, 'if you can
prove that to me / will admit that
have been fool not to look it up instead
Of believing all the newspapers said
against it. But here is the question: :
Ny farm is highly improved; my neigh
boris is not, although the land is as good
and the farm as we'll situated as mine;
yet you make him pay the same taxes