Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-02-27
IN F.lTOR or SINGLE TAX.
A North Farmer Gives His Rea
sons for Believing in Henry George.

A North Dakota Farmer Gives His Rea-
sons for Believing in Henry George.
EDITOR TRIBUNE: In the TRIBUNE for
the 18th Griffin 4 Co of jamestown make
some suggestion about wooden mills. They
rightly assume that WOODEN mills would
be a good thing for the state and for that
reason want the legislature to exempt them
from taxation. heartily agree with them
in this. 1t is certainly a very foolish pol
icy for the state to put a tax upon in
dustry and fine people for doing what is
good. If we want less of a good thing, tax
it away, if we want more of it, Just leave it
alone; Now we do not only want wooden
mills Dut lots OF other industries to come
here, and then we want more of such good
things as we already have a little of. Is
there a single solid reason why we should
discourage the ownership of and try to
keep away, from us by taxation such good
things as sheep, cattle, horses and machi-
merry or merchadise, or fine a man for
69lldlnE up and improving this state ?
Would it not be wise for the tax gatherer
to 3leave off tineing people for doing or
making anything that is good,
lest they should make less OF
IT. or take it out OF the state? We DO not
need to tax prosperity away from us, as
there Is one thing we may tax and still
have the same amount of, and that is land
me more we tax land the more is it used
because it does not pay to keep it idle and
pay a big tax. If the owner don't want IL
use IT,. he must give it up to someone that
VIII. II we tax anything that man lEG
made, we tax prosperity away from us, but
If we tax The land. which no mar has
made, we actually compel people to be
prosperous. But someone will say you
| Gro IJGiJSt r ~ thn D,,} NINA n-j tl-, ,..x
farmer at that. Bless your soul, the poor
farmer owns very little of the land values
here. if you will take the trouble to look.
And. then, speaking Of injustice, every
man, woman and child in this state has
helped make values attach to the land. and
these values belong to the people collect
lively. 1t is not SO hard to understand that
ialld values is the property of the euplt
at large. and should be used for the com.
mo good OF all the people, because they
al helped to pile them UP step by >teh
though a few only got the benefit. Is
there any Injustice in the people reclaim
ing their own property through taxation "
1t Is becoming generally admitted thar il
Is not, and the more you think over it the
more o wonder how foolish We. nave
been these many years.
But | Straytd away from the subject OF
wooden mills. | am afraid thai til" iHeis
laturc cannot exempt them or anything
else from taxation under our constitution.
Ii requires uniform taxation, and wGOltl.
mills are not on the list of exceptions. Tie
first thing to do is tn amend the cUlistliu.
tloH. and | hope some one will propose it
If for no other purpose than to stir uE
thoughts on the subject. 1t will take Sumt
time after il is proposed fur ignorance and
prejudice to vanish.
To >nt,Sidi>r wnnlrn mills would not do
Any m"nry paid for that pnrpusr wnu!!
not hep us to Get cheaper WUrlen goods
or help the wnolurDWrr To get more fur his
won't. These prices would he regulated b.
the ca tern market. Eth" business wnu.l.i
not pay. il is not we'll for the state, poor ~
1t Is, to make mp the deficiency in "A ln>in"
business. and il the cuisines, would he -
profitable one. why should the state give :
money to mill nWlrrSe
There is. however. something W. might
do. Let ME Legislature send a memorial
to congress asking that the duty III, taken
OH of . used by the wooden manufar
tuners to mix witt! the home prUdilc!.
This will enable our manufacturers 10
compete both in the markets OF thu. w.,rid
and at home, and it would crea'e il demand!
Tor the Wonl we grow. and give us b:i,rr
prices, and at the same time give II.
cheaper WOODEN goods. recently SAW y
resolution passed by a big wool grower
association in the east asking rnngr. s.
Tor this very thing, and New England
woulrn Manufacture have publicly
stated that they are being protected to
death. r. $. FH0SLlD.
Hatton, y. d.. Feb. 90, 1891.