The Globe-republican., 1890-10-15
The Single Tax Conference.

ST. Paul Globe.
| 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 ma
! tional politics for good many years to
come. The single tax is remote ideal;
still, the results of the New York con-
| ference will lead to a discussion and
agitation of the Henry George theory.
and perhaps will serve to make it bet.
| ter 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 hob
by. He came back to be greeted by a
convention Of four or five hundred rep
resentatives OF single tax leagues, rep
resenting about thirty different 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
u L
former denunciation of the private own
ership of land, the contention that all
land belonged by right to the commun-
ity, and the proposition that the State
should confscate and hold as its own
possession all land regardless of the
vested rights of individuals these
theories have been abandoned, and the
single tax idea reduced to a more prac-
teal form. As now announced it is not
so visionary or revolutionary. The sim
gle tax as now interpreted ignores or
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
proposition is a remote ideal. 1t IS too
full of subtletieS to commend itself to
popular approval without vast deal OF
argument and explanation. There must
be long agitation and many progress
sive advances before it can become pop
ular. And yet, despite the popular pref
udice against it, the single tax PROPOSE
ton possesses some advantages. AL
though unattainable for good while to
come, it presents more nearly than any
thing else that has yet been suggested
the ideal system Of taxation 1t would
reduce taxation TO absolute simplicity.
and would bring the greatest ratio Of
revenue with the smallest cost and diff
Guilty 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 free trade which would
be exempt from restriction and perver-
sion by public authority.
In view of these facts, the single tax
inaugurated in New York
yesterday promises to bring Mr.. Georges
theory within the range of practical dis
cussion and feasible legislation Tho
great masses of the people are always
willing to listen and to learn. The Or
ganization of national league is done
for the purpose of bringing this question
directly to public notice, and to make
the effort to revolutionize public senti-
ment in favor of Mr.. Georges scheme.
Still. there must be q vast deal Of this
process of revolutionizing public senti-
ment before the single tax proposition
can become a practical question in poll
tiles and legislation.