Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-03
SINGLE TAX VIEWS.
What Some Prominent Men
Think of the Scheme.
MUCH SYMPATHY BUT NO CONVERTS

w. c. p. Breckenridge Approves the
Spirit, but Cannot Quite Indorse the
Letter A Couple of Clergymen in
Much the Same Position-Harter AL
most Persuaded, but Not Sufficiently
Posted-An Old Mans Advice to sena-
tor Hill - Rhode Island Democrats
Notes from the Political Field.
New YORK, March BIN response to re-
quest that he should sign the declaration
In favor of removing all taxes except that
upon land values, Hon. W. c. p. Brock
inridge, of Kentucky, has written the fol-
lowing letter dated in the house of repre-
sentatives:
DEAR SIR: have received the enclosed
which l return unsigned. 1 cordially
agree with the first three prOpositions-I
have not reached the fourth l have at no
time said aught in either criticism or CEN
sure of your movement. For while l did
not see my way clear to the conclusion
reached by you, Mr.. George and others, |
do so cordially approve OF the spirit ex-
hibited, of so much said, and of the real
object in view that 1 wish you most
sincerely God speed We are striving TO
attain the same end-the Obliteration of
class distinction based on legislation, the
repeal of medieval and burdensome
modes o: taxation. the equalization of the
burdens of government and its limitation
within its true boundaries-and therefore
while cannot agree with the details of
your proposed remedy | do hail you as
workers in the same great cause
An Episcopal bishops Views.
Ri. Rev. F. ID. Huntington, bishop Of
central New York, writes from Syracuse:
at does not quite satisfy me either TO
sign or refuse to sign the declaration Per-
haps it will explain the state of my mind
70 say that / could sign it if after the word
therefore the following were substituted
for what is proposed, viz: 1t is the duty of
Legislators, statesmen. and jurists TO give
fair and prompt consideration to the claim
of the single tax to be the best tax pos
sible' l do so earnestly desire that the
subject should pass from the sphere of
theory or speculation to that OF practical
demonstration that | would gladly con
tribute any aid in my power to measures
for putting the doctrine to the test of eX-
pertinent
Single Takers So FAR Ahead.
"The arguments against it are familiar.
y
answer has been made, l believe to the
claim on both religious or personal
grounds that land should be regarded
along with air and water and sunshine as
in the direct ownership Of the creator and
held for the free and impartial use of man
kind. No safeguard has been proposed
against the threatened and almost certain
upheaval of government and disruption of
society by the unrestrained monopoly of
the earth as "a necessary means of subsist
ence. To deny or doubt that single tax is
regarded with favor by thinking mem is
now possible only for men who think to
little purpose"
Goes Too Far for DIR. RainsfOrd.
DR.. Rainsford, of St Georges Episcopal
church, New York, says:
"You ask me in your letter of Feb to
be one of a number to sign a circular al
dressed to the public which shall have for
its object to stimulate general inquiry
into the merits of single tax But when
] Dome to read this circular it goes far be-
yond this, and says that the single tax on
the rental value alone is the best possible
tax To say this is deliberately to indorse
las the circular is intended to indorse-
the single tax as the only just and posi-
BILE thing for me to do. would be- most
glad to do what l could to bring this most
important question up for public consider
ration but it is quite impossible for me to
declare myself without reserve as it's advo-
cate.n