Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-03-13
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR SARGENT's MESSAGE.

Mr. Sargent is well-l>nown manufac-
turer and student of political economy
who has advanced views on social cues
TONS and he evidently has the courage
of his opinions. The first part of the
message relates to the Improvements
necessary to New Ravens growth and
prosperity. He recommends the owner
ship by the municipality of gas, water
| and other works and the street car lines,
and the establishment of new public
parks and public comforts and conven-
| fences.
| The message closes with a discussion
| OF the relations of labor and capital, and
a flat-footed declaration for the single
tax in the following words:
Capital is absolutely necessary to the
civilized employment of labor
None of the operations of business,
manufactures, building or farming can
be carried ON successfully without the
friendly union of the three elements.
Labor without capital is the labor of
the crude barbarian working without
tools
"A country with no capital, but with
| labor and directors of labor tor chiefs),
is in savage stage. A country with all
three of the elements tremendously
united is civilized, enlightened and pros
porous. Civilization can not exist with
| out capital.
NO civilized community would for a
moment think of taxing labor nor man.
aging ability. No intelligent conmu-
NIFTY would attempt to tax either of
| those two elements of all successful in
dustry and business for fear of driving
them away. Why should civilized So
ciety punish successful industry by tax
ing the results of it? Why should civil
lied society punish capital, the savings
from successful labor, and try to Danish
1T and leave labor unemployed?
Capital is timid and flies away on
the first approach, or apprehension of
danger 1T worlSeth where it listeth
and we know not whence it cometh nor
whittier it goeth. 1t surely will not re-
main when in danger, nor will it work
in any community except mt market
prices over and above all charges and
risks.
1t seems To me that it would be for
the benefit of all labor and all enter
prise in the city of New Haven and
would greatly increase its growth in
business, population and capital, if cap
ital were as free of taxation as is labor
and as is managing ability If such
were the permanent policy of New Ha-
ven, capital would make its home here
and work at lower rate with labor.
securely free from punishment for
coming here and feeling safe in abid-
ing here. Neither labor nor en-
terprise is taxed, nor should capital be
taxed
Land, as our forefathers found it, is
not capital. 1t was not created by the
labor of the hand or head of man. Ma
lures God gave it to humanity and to
the animals without price 1t should
supply funds for all needs of govern
ment, and the rate of taxation on the
land in the various localities should be
in proportion to market price. 1t can
not be concealed and all owners can be
served with exact justice. No encour-
agement should be given, through low
taxation, for the holding of land out of
use in order to compel the land-needy
In the taxation of land only, for all
necessary public revenues, the distribu-
ton of the tax over the whole commu-
nifty would be equitable and in proper
ton as natures God intended.
Capital may be driven away and
labor paralyzed by the taxing of capt.
tai, but the land can not be driven
away. The owner can annually or
monthly recover from the user or renter
the tax he has paid on lands used or oc-
cupied, but the tax on lands not in use,
but held waiting till the increase in
population compcls its purchase at an
expensive price, can not be recouped by
distribution over the people in the form
of rents or otherwise. The owner of
unprotitably used or vacant lands
would thus be tempted to sell for occu-
pancy or use, and thus poor men II ight
get homes and the city would grow0in
consequence.
1T is claimed by students on the sub
ject of taxation that the taxation of
capital and all other personal property
is unequal and unjust to the conscien-
tious and truthful, because only the few
give true statements of their personal
wealth. One of the commissioners of
taxes in New York has recently testi-
fed, under oath. that the taxation of
personal property is almost an entire
failure; that it leads to efforts and very
strenuous efforts, on the part of CAPT
talists tall owners of personal property
are capitalists to remove their property
beyond the jurisdiction of the city and
State. 1t offers no encouragement for
capital to come here; that the law. as
construed by the courts, enables any
one who chooses to so dispose of his
personal property that the tax depart
ment can not reach it. Those who I'M
derstand the law and can take advan-
tage of it, do SO in ma iority of cases.
Those who are ignorant of the law and
do not understand their rights pay
taxes The foregoing testimony was
given concerning the present tax laws
of New York which were made for the
express purpose of increasing and
equalizing the taxes on capital or other
personal property, but resulting, as
usual, in harm to enterprise and labor,
and in no corresponding gain to any
other property nor to the body polite
in morals or wealth.
1T is claimed by investigation that
tax on buildings discourages the cree
ton of buildings, and that old small
and unsuitable buildings are allowed to
remain on valuable city lands, because
of the fear of taxes on expensive and
more useful buildings, and thus building
enterprise and employment of builders
| lnl. =, % =.