Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-10-18

ponse put upon IL BY tnoividuais, II tuo
natural heritage OF the community. to
which all should. have access On the
same terms, and that tho income deriva-
BILE from advantages OF location or quail
ity fairly belongs to the community.
Morco' or, 1t is argued that the increase
OF value for occupation due to tho
growth OF the community and the null
duplication OF advantages through social
and industrial development, and not due
to any labor or expense Of the occupant
belongs by right to the community.
But leaving all these subtleties
apart, the single tax proposition Is cap
able OF being considered in q very SIM
pie form as mere question OF taxation,
and as such IL is not without interest, as
recent discussion In many quarters am
ply shows. We have not hesitated here
tofore to express our belief that 1t was
the ideal OF taxation, unattainable for
q good while to come and without long
agitation and progressive advances, bus
resting on irrefragible logic. Its ad-
vantages would be many. 1t reduces
taxation to absolute simplicity and GER
tainty and the utmost efficiency-that Ii
to say, the form which would bring the
greatest ratio Of revenue with the small
est cost and difficulty Of collection. 1t
would absolutely free from the inequali"
ties that characterize all existing sys.
TENS Of taxation, for all land, by whom
soever held and for whatever purpose
used, would pay revenue in precise pro-
portion to tie advantage derived from
holding and using 1t. Moreover, u
would be the form OF taxation that
would interfere least with the processes
of production and Of trade, and there
fore be the least Of q burden upon the
community. We do not think 1t would
accomplish all that has been claimed
for it in afiording opportunities for Ia
Dor and relief from poverty, which has
many causes, but 1t would afford the very
largest measure Of industrial and COM
mercial freedom and facilitate q more
equal distribution Of opportunities and
of the results Of production and ex-
change. 1t would bring about free
trade which would be absolute in its ex-
emption from burden, restriction and
perversion by public'authority.
As an ideal system 1t is well that this
form Of taxation should have its earnest
and persistent advocates, that it should
be the subject OF agitation and discus
sion, that organizations should be form
ed and conferences held to promote It
1t has sort of analogy to the old free
soil and anti-slavery idea without its
sectional aspect; but there is vast deal
of this process OF revolutionizing public
sentiment to be done before 1t can be-
come O practical question in politics and
legislation. But all tax reform must
move in this general direction-in the
direction OF removing burdens and re.
strictions from industry and trade, and
in the direction OF simplicity and GER
tainty. We have long advocated deriv-
ing all taxes for State and local pur-
poses-excepting such special expedi-
cnts as obtaining revenue from corpora
tions that hold public franchises-from
real estate as distinguished from per.
sonal property, and reducing the ma
tional system Of taxing trade toa purely
revenue basis with as much simplicity
and effectiveness and as little interior.
ence with the natural laws Of trade a.
possible. These would be long steps in
the direction OF the single tax move
ment. and they are steps that may be
taken as soon Us the people can be con-
WINGED Of their advantage. They are
steps that must be taken before there
can be any Roadway beyond them. They
are within the range of practical discus
sion and feasible legislatiOn- The single
tax is . remote ideal, and the conference
Of this week will serve to make 1t better
understood and will stimulate the work.
ing Of the leaven.