Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-05-22
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
THE SINGLE TAX BEFORE THE
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.
Letter OF Warren Worth Bailey In The
Standard.

i
The expediency of adopting the single
tax will be investigated by committee
OF the Illinois legislature. This much
we are sure of as the result of our trip
to Springfield on Tuesday, when the
question of appointing a special COM
mittee to inquire into the subject was
set for hearing in the house Our
club sent delegation of five, consisting
of Messrs. John Y. White, Edward Os-
good Brown, Herbert Darlington, Frank
w. Irwin and w. w. Bailey. Several
others had intended to go, but could not
get away. The single tax delegation
was reinforced by Mr.. John C. Harding,
president of the Illinois Federation of
Labor, the whole crowd going down
Monday night on the Legislative train
from this city. At Springfield they were
joined by Messrs. Hill and Buchner, of
the Peoria club, and number of the
local friends, who treated the visitors
very kindly during their short stay.
The resolution calling for the appoint
ment of the desired committee was in
troduced by Hon. John T. Noteworthy
editor of the Carmi Partisan, and the
matter was in his hands. He had sue
| ceeded in having it made special order
and it was arranged that the house
should go into committee of the whole
for its consideration. This was done
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, on Mr.. Norsworthy's motion,
the republicans voting solidly against il.
as they did when the questson was on
the adoption of the resolution itself.
Valuable assistance was lent to Mr..
Noteworthy by Representatives May
and ODonnell of Cook and Gehr of
Peoria, and Speaker Crafts was obvi-
ously inclined in our favor. When the
house went into committee of the whole
Representative Craig was called to the
chair, and then we were invited to ad-
dress the house in behalf of the matter
under consideration.
John u. White was the first speaker.
When he began his argument l noticed
that at least third of the members
were engaged in anything but listening
Some OF them were reading, others
were writing, still others were chatting
with neighbors or moving about the
chamber But Mr.. Whites first sem
fences and the voice in which he de-
livered them, very quickly commanded
attention. The gentlemen who were
looking over their mail laid it aside,
newspapers were folded up, writing
was suspended and conversations were
stopped abruptly. The faces of the
scornful took on first look of curiosity
and then one of thoughtful interest. In
little while nearly the whole body
was intently listening, and particular
ly observed that none were more abb
sorbed in following Mr. White than the
legislators who wore upon them the air
of the farm
Mr.. White IN opening his remarks ex-
planned that We were not there to adj
vocate the single tax, but to ask the APP
pointment of a committee to investi-
gate and report the facts from which
might be drawn a conclusion as to the
merit of the single tax system as COM
pared with the present Chicago's val
uation, Mr.. White declared, four years
after the fire was $500, 900, 900, in 1884
$20S, 000, 900, and last year $3.50, 900, 900.
This, the speaker maintained, would
indicate that Chicago was growing
steadily poorer, something that was
manifestly absurd. II was patent that
the wealthy of this city were escaping
taxation for obvious reasons. If a per-
son went into any of the large houses
and tried to justly levy an assessment
the word of the owner or his hirelings
was all that could be secured. 1t was
different with the farmer. His proper
ty could not be secreted and all his
neighbors were taxed with some show
of fairness. Mr.. White showed in the
local valuation in the six most populous
counties in the state, Cook, Peoria, St.
Clair, Kane, Mclean and Adams, that
but Is per cent was personality, where
as in the six least populous the person
atty amounted to 20 per cent. Mr..
White contended that the repeal of the
personally taxes would relieve six
rural counties of 20 per cent and six
urban counties of but Is per cent. of
their present burdens. The single tax
advocates would also like to have the
committee of investigation report in IA
vor of local option in the matter of tax
alton, allowing each town to raise rev.
enue for its own expenses in such man.
ner as might be deemed best. With
this much accomplished the single
takers would undertake to secure a trial
of their plans, and in this way demon
strate their truth or fallacy. He cited
two cities-Aurora and Elgin-by way
of illustration, and held that if the for
mer adheres to the present system and
the latter relieves all industries of pub
lie burdens Elgin would be preferred
by manufacturers. IF this is true"
inquired Mr.. White in conclusion, lis 1t
not an admission that the present sys-
tenn is a hindrance to production, and
that our proposed system would encour-
age manufactures to the same extent?
DO you wish to encourage or retard
the development of the various en-
terprises in which our citizens are en-
gaged?"
Mr.. White was followed by President
Harding, on behalf of the Federation of
Labor, which, after full discussion,
had asked for the special committee,
not because it was prepared to accept
the single tax, but because it was ready
to receive light from any and every
source. II can not say that fully be-
lieve in single tax" said Mr. Harding,
but l can say that | believe it would
be great improvement upon the sys-
tenn now in vogue. No man will deny
that taxes now fall heaviest on those
least able to bear them, nor will any
one maintain that these taxes do not
discourage and retard industry.
The single tax promises relief from OBJ |
vious and terrible evils, and am there