The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-07-15
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
Is DON N. DICKINSON A SINGLE
TAxER7
{The Standard.)

IAAEkT
{The Standard.)
In recent speech before the legis-
iative committee of the lower house of
the Michigan legislature, Postmaster
Gen. Don NJ. Dickinson laid down GER
tain principles which will be pleasant
reading to single takers generally, and
which show that the gentleman is very
close to our ideas. In his address Mr..
Dickinson endeavored to show that the
failure to tax land values resulted det-
rimentally to the interests of the city
of Detroit, for which city he was speak
ing. Said he:
AS our population increases, as the
commercial Importance of city grows,
as all Influences including, as great
factor, economical, just and fair local
government, add to the desirability of
city for the objects of business and
homes, so real estate values increase,
and so taxation increases going hand
in hand with the needs of progress.
Like Henry George, Mr.. Dickinson
calls it a natural law" by which tax
alton increases as land values increase.
1t ''makes area important" and "un-
necessary land holdings are sold to
those who will utilize the space for new
and competing business purposes, and
thus holdings become smaller, popula-
ton becomes denser and diversity of
trades, manufactures and occupations
widen, all tending to, and evidence of,
prosperity and greater wealth." Hen
ry George himself" says the Detroit
Journal, doesn't state the principle as
tersely, and it is principle which all
can test by observation"
Then Mr.. Dickinson proceeded to
show how violation of this natural
law operates in Detroit We quote
from the review of his speech in the
Journal of that city:
When the land isn't taxed at all, as
in the case of the railroad property in
this city, it can be held in large tracts.
In this case holdings" do not become
smaller population does not "become
denser:" and there is not that diversity
of trades and manufactures which Mr..
Dickinson thinks necessary to wealth
and prosperity.
In proof he presented an elaborate
statement showing that the railroad
companies of Detroit use 1O7 acres of
business land for their business pur-
poses, to say nothing OF large holdings
in the suburbs but within the city linn
its. Of this 107 acres, SO belong to the
Michigan Central; % to the Detroit &
Milwaukee and Grand Trunk; 40 to the
Wabash, and 6 to the new union depot.
That these land holdings are largely
speculative, and are possible only be-
cause of their exemption from taxation,
Mr. Dickinson makes very clear, by a
comparison with cities in which rail-
road property is taxed for local pur-
poses. Thus the Dearborn street depot
in Chicago, which has nearly as many
trains per day as all of the Detroit
depots combined, occupies only 81
acres Of business land; the Canal street
depot, only 81 acres. The Grand Cen
trail depot in New York occupies only
81 acres; the Boston & Albany depot in
Boston, 6. IL acres.
The reason of this wonderful contrast
is the one item of taxation. In New
York, Boston and Chicago the railroad
land is taxed, and hence the companies
hold as little area of land fit for bust.
ness sites as possible. Their yards and
freight houses are on cheaper land, far
from the center. So it would be in De-
trcit with wise system of taxation,
and the city's business would have
more of chance to expand
Mr.. Dickinson said that for years
and years Detroit was accounted slow. 7"
He thinks this is true in spite of her geo.
graphical position, which invites an in
flux of population and capital 1t is this
violation of laws of natural growth, -
which has retarded Detroit's prosperity,
the same violation which "has permit.
ted low taxation on great tracts of real
estate held in families" And with all
due reverence, the speaker added: God
and the more equitable assessments for
taxation have removed some of the
stones upon its head; help us to remove
this one'-that is the exemption OF
railroad property.
The Journal endorses Mr.. Dickinson's
position, and practically places itself in
line with the single tax movement in
the following words:
The principles which Mr.. Dickinson
presented in his mastery argument will
in all probability ultimately govern our
system of taxation. Even the farming
community, which has been esteemed
an opponent, is changing its opinions.
At any rate, the Farmers Alliance and
Jerry Simpson are advocating the single
tax. BY placing state, county and
municipal taxes wholly upon land val
ues, the best and most productive use
of land would necessarily follow. Spec
ulative holding of land would be dis
couraged, and the city would have g
healthy boom. It is foolish to ia,
houses and furniture, because the city
wants more houses and furniture Why
discourage the making of what we al
need? But we don't need land monop
oily and speculation; we should seek t.
discourage the holding of land out o.
use or in inferior use, and. hence i
should bear the burden of taxation.
The bill for which Mr.. Dickinson wa
addressing the legislative COMMITTEES
was introduced by Senator Park, ant
provides for the repeal of the specia
charters and general railroad laws tina
exempt railroad property from loca
taxation. The measure originated will
Manor pinuraa of detroit som afta'