The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-02-27

IA
change, but let US carry this case a little
further. Suppose these daughters could
cash the interest IN their fathers land,
they each marry men who have no land
would not their husbands have to a
out all this money for land? Then how
much better off are they than they
would be under the single tax?
But take another: A man dies leav-
ing sons and owns no land. Under our
present system they must pay to some
other person a part OF all they a pro-
duce Tor the privilege OF using what by
nature was given to them free. Is not
here an injustice?
8. Why will it be cheaper for land
owners under the single tax to pay all OF
the revenues OF the country, while.now
they pay only part? q
You forget that all users OF land pay
rent now, either as purchase price or
rent to an owner. This under the single
tax would go into the treasury instead
OF the pocket OF a private person and
all indirect tax would be taken off, as
well as Off Of improvements.
8. Will levying all taxes on land en-
able the farmers OF the United States to
recover that fifty per cent OF their prop
erty lost in their Improbable business
in the last twenty-five years?
Not directly; but in the general pros
perity -hat will follow they will be able
to make more than they have ever lost.
10. In the settled portions OF eastern
states, what proportion OF a farmers
property is realesthte and what person
al property?
In Illinois thirty-six per cent OF the
farmers assessment is on personal prop
erty, while in the cities it is eighteen. l
can't give the ratio of Improvement
value as it is all assessed as realestate.
IL. What would be the rate per cent
OF tax in Pennington county, if we were
nov paying taxes under the single tax
theory?
/ am unable to say, but it would be
the rental value OF your farm or lot and
the unimproved farm and lot will pay
lust as much tax as the improved if OF
equal quality and location, which would
relieve the man who improves land.
And then you would not pay one dollar
for sixty cents worth Of goods either,
there would be d saving from this source,
would there not?
12. 1fyou enact single tax laws and
destroy one-half OF the value of real
estate would it not be equable to enlarge
the scope OF that proposed law and con
iiscate one-half OF all property and have
a general division among the people, as
history Informs us was produced by
some nations?
No. You fail to recognize the differ.
ence between land value and property
or wealth. Let me illustrate: A man
takes a tract Of land; it costs him
nothing. He goes off an leaves it. He
returns after a while and finds it worth
$4,000, the result Of the growth and
Improvement OF the community. Here
is another mai who spent his time in
building q factory worth $4,000, the
product OF his labor. The value at
taching to the land above referred to is
not wealth but is caused by the power
given its owner to appropriate Il part Of
the wealth OF him who must use the land
In the case OF the machinery referred toit
is wealth itself. DO you not see a differ
ence? Suppose two mcn on an island,
One says he owns the land, the other is
compelled to pay him half OF all the
wealth he q produce for the privilege
OF using the island. is this just? Suppose
some one should find these men there
and would give the man who claimed
the island $4,000 for his right. Would
it make it any more just to him who
must use the land because the new com
er had paid a price for the privilege 0
robbing him? This is an illustration o
our land system. There is as much dif
ference between land value and othcl
wealth as between black and white
Land value is the price OF a privilege OF
monopoly and it has been well sale
that privileges may have an end, but
the people are eternal. LEVI MCGEE.