New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-18
THE SINGLE-TAX PROBLEM.
ECONOMIC FORCES THAT MAY BE SUPPOSED TO
MEET IN ITS SOLUTION.

MEET IN ITS SOLUTION.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.f
sir: IA. h. X, in The Tribune Of August o, ohers
I'm criticism Of the ~slngle-tax the following argument
q ~ economic rent be taken by the communities shahUg
T., ts creation. the town State and Nation, present
owners will DO compelled to increase rents. This IN
crease will be paid by the consumers Of goods ana
the moor will be worse off than now" = We must not
Insult the anti poverty theory by proclaiming ourselves
liz defenders. Justice defends men. But tho JUSTICE
| nj The s~lngle-tax Is still q matter very much on uiaL
The movement, according to It's supporters, mas IoSs
in intensity less than n has gained In breidth' anu
will become powerful ultimately or die out; not as
Il is economically wise. but as 1t Is OF Is noe e"noany
lust. It's attack against modern law lies here; Legal
title to land one Is not using himself is not based upon
moral right. and hence thc fruits Of such title, economic
rent. should go to the public.
Here enters tho counter-attack OF "A. u. b." IN
assertion that the s~ingle-taX cannot cure the alegeu
evil: will, indeed, make matters worse, by rehuen"s
the consumer victim of two landl0rds-the o'dVo MN
the Individual owner. Inasmuch as a faulty argument
In opposition recolls upon those who make 1t, leu us
test the truth Of the criticism. C0mmerclai rent Is
made of two artIcles-econOmic rent for the use OF the
land and economic interest for the use of the prodacts
Of labor invested In or upon the land. Inc slhgi|oaA
has no intentional bearing upon the second eiehen''
And even II owners Of buildings should desire 10 III
crease the clement OF the return from them, they arc
met by the meN0rdDlt ~ " NJ
which, together with such statutes as stipuhte Icgai
rate Of interest. determine the price Of capital but
the economic rent the ~sfngie-tax would appropriate
is under a very different law. we DO hU pay '.mV
because other men own land we want TO use Tor
ono nurpose and another. We pay rent because oho
niece Of land, by reason Of fertility or access'o'iroy' II
moro valuable than another that we could rent for
less or for nothing. Imagine the single-tax appheu.
This rent, whether going TO ourselves as owners OF
the land We are using or TO Others as owners III tne
exact amount now paid, so far as this Is deterhill"oe
by the officers Of the law, Is turned over 10 uo 0Va.1
we do not get 1t. To our great annoyance-p'SS'O'
10 so great annoyance as to c0mpei Hore aOo y.
DIR part in the direction OF earning a hVIhs' ~ VI
receiving an income-a portion Of our yearly returns
d,sannearS. We try TO regain by raising rents
TO n poInt above the economic rent anu u
tenants whether on farms or in city bullulhgs'
procced in two directions. The less COURAGEOUS o"''
depart for lands less valuable, and our DulehisS ".
vacant. The more courageous ralSs tner PrNO' W."
our stores lose their customers ana our 60
vacant. Meantime The value of the rents IN uSSIVe
to which those went who pref rred loss valuable spo'S 10
raised. The tax officers discover TINS, anu coh"So"vo
the economic rent. II so be that not all VINO rc"a"'
IN tbe old locations have failed to pay the higher venus
no tax officers tax this out Of the landowners III
cases where buildings and farms are deserted Oh 'en"h'S
and the owners will not re-let at lower prices, no
rent Is paid and no tax Is ~collectible except oy dAHi-
the land itself into the community . H""S
fhe apparent resource Of raising rent cannot avail 'ne
landowner.
Every rational man is L" anti poverty in his desires
The better off people are about him the better OH no
must be. Whether taking all the tax OIL products Oh
labor and putting it upon the accidents OF nature anu
human nature, more fertile lands, moro crowded as
tricts, IA the way to get a larger proportion OF wslttoeo
people, is a question Of no little concern: Inc iG tSs
seems TO be finding favor In some quarters Oh tne
conntrv after a mild fashion. But If history be any
fair criterion. it will doubtless be found that the cure
of poverty Is not first by laws tending this way anu
| that. but rather by personal and social effort 10 IN,
crease Intelligence, TO prevent sickness ana TO re-, ~
the light upon fraud. Laws should follow hot Ie@d
nublc sentiment They are no more than the lorIndl
rxpr,Ssion of a peoples will. If this Nation hnds the
single tax Just, It's will may be relied upon u eApesS
Itself IN law. ,ostod
rights. euch as ownership Of title to land, II is Wen
! worth remembering that slavery Is simply, a eOnuluSn
| in which every necessity IS in the hands OF a Few why
have thereby power to levy upon labor 70 me nhlo
Of the cost OF the physical maintenance OK the aoorgis.
Hence obedience to whatever offers 10 lessen the power
20 own the titles to such necessities Is not always
unreasonable in the citizens OF a nation whose end Is 10
give TO every member OF 1t q true freedom.
e"' WILLIAM f. CHANCELLOR.
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y, Aug 9, lool.