The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-12-16
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
PROMINENT DETROlTER'S ON
THE SINGLE TAX.

THE SINGLE TAX.
In the Detroit News of Sunday. May
II, appears a series of interviews on
the single tax with leading citizens of
Detroit, which will have wonderful
influence in stirring peoples minds in
that city because of the positions the
interviewed occupy in the city govern
ment and in business.
Hazen S. Pingree, the mayor, is
boot and shoe manufacturer and owns
about $3.50, 900 worth of real estate. He
was absent from the city, but his bust
ness partner, ]. B. Howarth, author
lied the News to state that Mr.. Pin
gree favored the single tax theory be-
cause he believed that its enactment
into law would relieve both capital and
labor from The present unjust and op-
pressive system of land tenure.
j. B. Howarth, of Pingree & Smith,
boot and shoe manufacturers, and own
ers of $50, 900 in real estate, said he had
been an advocate of the single tax for
seven years; first, because it was q just
ent, Here, it might be noted, paren-
thetically, was another influence that
may have swayed Mayor Pingree In the
| gallant fight he has been making.
Frank c. Pingree, who is largely in
terested in real estate, was single
taxer, because he believed that the
adoption of the system would prevent
| oil c{oto hof n,1rvf,
it the land now held for speculative
purposes would be forced into the mar
ket to the benefit of all the people, ex-
cept land SPECTATORS who now thrive
at the expense of the Industrious
James E. Scripps, who, with his broth
err, owns about $500, 900 worth of Detroit
real estate, favored the single tax be-
cause it seemed to him that tax on
land values was the fairest and most
equitable system that could be devised.
The present complicated system of
taxation, he thought, offered too many
opportunities for evasion and fraud.
Cornelius j. O'Flynn, lawyer and
owner of $25, 900 in real estate, said that
in his opinion Henry George had pre-
sented the only feasible remedy for the
evils connected with the land question
That remedy is to make the holding OF
large tracts of land burdensome by
placing all the expenses of government
upon real estate. There is as much
suffering among the poor in our large
cities caused by the present tenure of
land as there is in Ireland.
John Bridges, assistant superintend-
ent of the Detroit water works and
owner of $500 worth of city property,
favored the single tax because it will
be to the future generations what
christianity was to the plebeians OF an
cient Greece and Rome. The single
tax will elevate the human race by Civ
ing labor its full reward.
James Gourlay, of Gourlay Bros,
owner of about $780, 600 in real estate.
said the single tax was much to be pre-
ferred to the present system.
Ex-Congressman VIM. G. Maybury,
owner of about $4,000 in real estate,
said that when first presented to him,
the single tax appeared preposterous;
but now lie confessed it was gaining in
favor with him.
Edward T. Hance, lawyer, postmaster
of Detroit and owner of $40, 900 in real
estate, believed the single tax to be the
only correct method OF collecting the
money necessary to defray the expenses
of the government
Theodore P. Hall, grain dealer, and
owner of about 5000, 600 in Wayne coun-
ty real estate, said that, in his opinion,
land values ought, alone, to bear the
burden of taxation. Said he: 'Frhe UNI
earned increment argument is really
unassailable. 1t comes within every
mans experience and observation. A
landowner who fails to improve his
property, and stolidly waits for the
community around him to work, plan,
build and produce, to the end that his
real estate shall increase in value with.
out any exertion or expense on his own
part, is taking legal but unjust ad
vantage OF his fellow-man. Ninety.
nine persons out of one hundred will
reprobate his conduct as mean and sci
fish, but it is less his fault than that OF
the present system of land tenure and
taxation. The single tax will stop all
this. It goes without saying that any
law that will stimulate improvement OF
property will do the greatest good te
, the greatest number, which is the enc
of all good government. This, firmly
) believe, the single. tax will accom-
plish."
, Joshua Waterman, retired lawyer
} capitalist and owner of $500, 600 in req
estate, said he believed the principle o
taxing land values alone, as advocate'
by Henry George, was the only correc
method of raising revenues for the sur
: port of government.
D John G. Talford, boot and shoe dea'
er, and owner of $1,000 in real estate
e favored the single tax because it woul
Immediately stop speculation in res
a estate, SO that the great mass of me
who now placed their surplus capits
in land and waited till the labor {
" other men had enhanced the value {
Il their property. would then, under singl
Z, tax, be compelled to invest it in NAM
featuring or other industrial pursuit
and thus increase the production of ii
e community.
e Victor Collian, engineer, invento
and manufacturer and owner of abo,
q $40, 900 in Detroit real estate, said th'
% the single tax idea seem to him to
is the very essence Of economic truth.
]. w. Donovan, lawyer, and owner
d 81, 900 in real estate, favored the sing
# tax on land values because more me