Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-06-25
coMMuNTcATED].
The Single Tax.

MIR, EDITOR
AS my communications prove too long fD
inc ability ofyour columns, will not carr,
out the line of demonstration concerning
THIS movement, with which l started; will
only cndeayor, in the present article to show
as briefly rs possiblc-the nature of the
Single Tax as q opposed remedy to &C.
knowlcdged cvlls.
The object of the Single Tax is the rcmoy.
al OF all taxes, of every degree or kind save
only the tax on land or more definitely, "a
t1r on una ralues." Inasmuch as a tax is
necessary and right to procure revenue for
the expenses of the government OF the com.
munity, this tax we desire to see levied in an
equitable manner; bearing justly and fairly
upon all, which we claim can only be done
by taxing the value Of land. That is to say
the value of the land derived from the com.
munity IN its production. Its worth is
gained only by relation to labor. Tho hun.
dreds OF thousands that crowd our cities RIM
up the value Of their lands to an almost in.
calculablc degree. 1t is the holders of these
lands who derive the enormous profits that
have been first made by labor, as production.
but gaming only the wages that competition
has crushed down. 1t Is there that the
weight OF the tax ought to come, but now |
does not. The poorest laborcr IS taxed in
exactly the same proportional degree as the
richest. His life his food, his clothing his
shelter, his needs and his pleasures, are taxed
exactly in the same degree mot ampunU rs
he millionaire. With this difference: that
now, every traction of his little possessions
an DC seen, known, and valued by the tax
'alherers eye, While thousands of dollars
worth OF all these things, scattered tar and
'lde ny the landed proprietor, are neither :
'ho"1 OF, or their true value appreciated by
lie t"x-gatherer; and SO escape any levy
instead then OF taxing these things, all, and
Universally alike taking ten cents out of the
oiiar OF the millionaire who owns the land
iat the other mines or the factory that the
|her labors in, and calling that equal taxa.
on'-lnstead OF this, tar that land up to the
'sue Of 'ohat 1t produces in that situation
The farmer need not be alarmed. It will
~ hurt him. Because lie owns a farm il 4
III not, therefore, swamp him IN delugc of
Not at all ; his land value will not be
creased by it ; unless indeed the boom of
me newcomers develop town at his
or 1hen let him suffer, just what he
gnu TO suffer, e. an immediate and large
eiiing OF his tax up TO the full value of his
" d''oed gam, prorortionally to his old tax.
you see the cat? as the slang term goes.
Is only when the added values come in
u there can be the added land tax. Pos
~ there might be somewhat added per- SA
'age IN proportional degree to the rela-
general rates Of universal values but il W
lld be but trifle. The wonderful relief w,
ne tax that is lifted of his improvements
prosperity as it now is, will fur more IN
onset slch increase. The complete re.
al Of the taxes upon his improvements WI
home. Ills furniture, his barns, his farm. IN
implements, his stock, his groceries, his -
goods all these Will largely reduce his ID
'e taxation, AID relieYe the grinding VI
sure Of the present imperfect and unjust
lods OF gaining revenue.
M einber too. in this method the millions
liars that would be saved by atxoIlshipc
rmY 0ftax. gathercrs, and with them the CAl
iiIlIons that are now brlbed, or eIeated INn
~ faise-sworn away from their know.
of tax. Land cannot be hidden. can. AM
denied; cannot be spirited away. Its CA,
can be readily and directly found by '''A "
ID single valuer and gatherer then d O CIA'
work nf an hundred in the present
nF uncertain, oppressive methods.
b ",