The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-21
doors, it is impossible to hide, its value is
known to ALL
Another claim is that il land values are

|
known to ALL
Another claim is that il land values ar.
taxed, no one wonld desire to owl
land who did not desire to ust
it in order to raise money to pay the taxes
There would be no such thing AS holding
city lots or farm lands FOR speculative pur.
poses Henry George says: NO one
would want to own land unless he wanted
TO use il; and for all who would u.s. land
there would be land enough and 10 spare
Again, il is claimed, land in this country
ives worth nothing 200 or 800 years ago
although when the rich man wound over
our prairies and through the forests the
land was just as good If not better than
now. Its value has been increased by the
growth of society and civilization. 1t was
increased not by the eXertIon of labor or
capiral-but by social growth. Therefore
the land value is the proper object OF
| taxation o he maintenance of society
The tax, Mr.. George says. would stimn-
late industry. would cause capital to seek
work at remuuerative wages for
the poor. would give every man "a
home-would chase poverty" 70 the
bct.omless pit. This rainbow of promise
has pot of gold at both ends.
This theoretical reform means the over
turning of all existing conditions before
relief can come, Just as another class of
system. They can see no possible good ia
what already is in practice. They are like
| our Democratic friends have been for the
last thirty years Except for brief period)
they wanta change. It's "a theory which
now contronts US, noi condition
Now let US look at the other side Of this
! Aladdins lamp
The annual amount of revenue to be
raised by taxation in this country every
year is about 500, 900, 900. This includes
national, state and municipal revenues
| These taxes are assessed and collected
/ in various ways. The state and
municipal revenues by direct assess
ment upon land, upon buildings, upon
/ goods, upon stocks. bonds, mortgages, up
on Licenses to sci! liquor, and in some cases
| upon licenses to carry on business. The
| national revenue are raised by duties up
on foreign imports and by taxes upon the
! domestic product Of whisky, beer, tobacco,
! etc.
| Now, If all these were abolished, and the
| tax laid upon land alone. the burden upon
land would practically be five times as
| great as it is at present. From the best
data obtainable Sl40 900 $50 Is now raised
upon land alone, while the whole amount
needed is s100, 900, 0u0 If the tax upon land
We're tive times as great AS at present,
could the poor farmer, the mechanic, or
the artlZan OF moderate means, or, III fact,
could any one who did not possess ample
capital accept the conditional possession
of land upon such terms? A Kansas quar-
ter-section farm valued without improve
ments) at $50 per acre, tor 1t would then
be assessed at its real value, would
have to pay annual taxes to the amount
Of $500. Jerry Simpsons saving would
then be true that no man OF sense would
want a farm as a gift.
This scheme is to induce individual own
ership and use of land, yet it appears to
work the very opposite result.
The claim that this industry would be
stimulated aud cost of necessary articles
decreased, because the burden of taxation
had been removed, is also fallacious. This
$780, 600, 900 must be raised in some man
ner, and the people must pay it. II the
poor man is to be induced to occupy and
use land, then he must bear his share in
possibly greater proportion than now, and
the wealthy escape his just proportion.
But would articles be any cheaper? Would
not the consumer III the end be compelled
to pay just AS much for his goods? The
raw product is raised upon the farm and
dug from the mine; they are taxed; If they
hope to exist their prices must be increased
to help pay these taxes. What is the Diff
ference to the consumer il the raw prod
ucJ pays the taxes or the manufacturer
In the end 1t comes upon the consumer.
The present system of taxation may not
he perfect, and then it may. and there is
much poverty aud wretchedHess In the
land, but this theory will never correct the
abuses complain ed of. The removing of
tax from loo articles aud placing it upon
one will not bring about the millennium.
Our Saviour said: 1.-The poor We always
have with YOU Recognizing the fact that
many of the causes of poverty are deep
seated in mans Observation-Disclosures, vicious
ness, bad habits, weak judgment, etc,
Henry George says: The cause of poverty
is not in human nature; it is noe in the
constitution of the physical world; it Is
not in The natural laws of social growth.
1t is in the injustice which denies to men
their natural rights Gin land)
This is the best country ON the face Of
the globe for the poor man. There are no
bars to his obtaining land, or home. The
government has been lavish with her
domain, and the oppressed of all nations
have come here for homes. The average
tax which each individual pays is $ll 90 or
about 3 cents per day; less than in any
other country and more money to pay with
This system certainly cannot be the cause
of poverty, nor the single tax the remedy