Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-04-10
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
SINGLE TAX MOVEMENT IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA,

| says:
The work that has been going on for
some time in Victoria, Vancouver. New
Westminster and other towns through
ont the Province has had very encour-
aging results, and we have abundant
evidence to show that public opinion is
being slowly, but none the less surely,
nodded in our favor. This new coun-
try, like most others. has been and is
now handicapped in its development by
land grabbing and speculation. To such
an extent had this evil become manifest
that the Provincial Government last
August withdrew all that remained of
the public lands under its jurisdiction
from sale, pending legislation on the
subject. As several good single tax men
have lately been elected to the Provin-
cial Legislature, we hope that their in
fluence, backed up by the pressure that
will be brought to bear on the outside
will have the effect of procuring legis
lation in accord with our principles.
In municipal matters, too, there is q
steady movement towards the final
abolition of taxing improvements. In
the city of New Westminster petition
was presented to the city council last
week containing over four hundred sig
natures of the most influential citizens
there, praying that body to enact by
law exempting improvements from tax
alton. The indications are that the pc
titions will be successful and score a
victory. Victoria has also been moving
in this direction, and Single Tax men
there are active in spreading the light.
They have well-attended club, which
has been powerful factor in directing
public attention to needful reforms, and
that the single tax idea is not a mere
fad" but has come to stay and grow up
with the country.
In Vancouver we have several out
and out single takers in the newly
elected city council, and some others
more or less favorable to our views, so
that we feel confident of good results to
the city generally and the single tax
cause in particular. Some of our min
listers have been interesting themselves
in the movement, and alluding to it in
their sermons as being worthy of con-
sideration; but, like some of our East
ern professors, they are not anxious to
accept its teachings and forsaze the
moss-covered fallacies concerning our
social and economic conditions that
have played their part so long in the
worlds history. We believe, however,
that their conversion, inwardly if not
outwardly, is only question of time.
On the 10th inst. the single tax men
of this province held a convention in
Vancouver. Delegates attended from
the principal cities and towns, and alto
gether it was most successful in the re-
suits attained. An organization was
formed to be known as the "British
Columbia Tax Reform Association"
ard the following officers were elected:
David Evans, Vancouver, president;
Alexander Hamilton, New Westminster,
e-president; w. A. Wilson, Vancou-
yer, secretary, with an executive com
mittee having one or more members in
each city. The following platform and
resolutions were adopted:
We hold that all men born into the
world have an equal right to life and
the means of living. The earth is the
only source from which the physical
wants of mankind can be supplied.
earth, the common gift of the Creator
TO the race, is the one essential condi-
ton of his existence. With a reason
able amount of labor the earth is capa-
BILE of producing abundantly for the
support of its population, and it be-
comes the duty of all citizens to use
every reasonable effort to secure to CAPT
tai and labor free access to the land
which is the source of all wealth.
To carry out these principles we ale
in favor of raising all revenues for
governmental purposes by a direct tax
on land values, irrespective of improve
ments.
The adoption of this method of taxa
ton would be of an untold benefit to
all classes of the community. 1t would
stimulate industry, reward enterprise,
and secure to every man Just and
equitable return for his labor, and at
the same time would render it unprofit-
able to hold valuable land for merely
speculative purposes.
With respect to monopolies other than
the monopoly of land, we hold that
where free competition becomes impos-
sible, such monopolies are then prop |
er social function, and should be con-
trolled and managed by and for the /
whole people concerned
The following resolution was adopt
ed:
Resolved, That this Association would |
impress upon every voter in the Prov
ince who believes in the views advocat-
ed by Single Tax men, to take careful |
interest in the matters discussed by the |
local Legislature, and especially the |
action taken thereon by their represen-
tatives in that body, in order that they
may be prepared at the next Provincial |
election to select candidates who will |
work for the adoption of laws in accord |
with the principles of the Single Tax.
The conference adjourned to meet in
Victoria on the second Saturday in Jan
uary, 1892. Last Saturday we had a
spirited debate in the city Market Hall
on the Single Tax, in which delegates
took part, and much interest was taken
in both the convention and debate by
both the press and the general public
The Greatest of Monopoles.