The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-02-13
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
PROMINENT DETROiTtR'S ON
THE SINGLE TAX.

t6E SINGLE TAX.
In the Detroit News Of Sunday, MAY
IL, appears a series of interviews on
the single tax with. leading citizens of
Detroit, which will have a wonderful
annuence in stirring peoples minds in
tnat city because of the positions the
interviewed occupy in the city govern
ment and in business.
Hazen s. Pingree, the mayor, is a
ooot and shoe manufacturer and owns
about sl50,0o0 worth of real estate. He
wa absent from the city, but his bust
ness partner, j. b. Howarth. author.
tzed the News to state that Mr.. Pin.
gree favored the single tax theory be-
cause he believed that it's enactment
into law would relieve both capital and
labor from the present unjust and OBJ
pressive system of land tenure.
J. b. Howarth. of Pingree & Smith,
boot and shoe manufacturers. and own
ers OF $50, 900 In real estate, said he had
been an advocate of the single tax for
seven years; first because it was a Just
eax, and second, because it was expedi-
emit Here. it might be noted. paren-
theticaiiy, was another influence that
may have swayed Mayor Pingree In the
gallant fight he has been making.
Frank c. Pingree. who is largely in
terested in real estate, was a single
taxer. because he believed that the
adoption of the system would prevent
speculation In real estate; that through
1t the land now held for speculative
purposes would be forced into the mar
ket to the benefit of all the people, ex-
cept land spectators. who now thrive
1t the expense OF the industrious.
James E. Scripps, who, with his broth
er, owns about $500. 900 worth of Detroit
real estate, favored the single tax be-
cause II seemed to him that tax on
land values was the fairest and most
equitable system that could be devised.
The present complicated system of
taxation, he thought offered too many
opportunities for evasion and fraud.
Cornelius J. O'Flynn. lawyer and
owner of S25. 900 in real estate, said that
in his opinion Henry George had pre-
scented the only feasible remedy for the
evils connected with the land question.
That remedy is to make the holding Of
large tracts of land burdensome by
placing all the expenses of government
upon real estate. There is as much
suffering among the poor in our large
cities caused by the present tenure OF
land as there is in Ireland.
John Bridges, assistant superintend-
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owner of $500 worth of city property,
favored the single tax because it will
be to the future generations what
Christianity was to the plebeians of an.
cient Greece and Rome. The single
tax will elevate the human race by Civ.
ing labor its full reward.
James Gonrlay, of Gourlay Bros
owner of about 500, 600 in real estate.
said the single tax was much to be pro
ferred to the present system.
Ex-Congressman VIM. c. Maybury,
owner of about $50, 600 in real estate
said that when first presented to him.
the single tax appeared preposterous
but now he confessed it was gaining in
favor with him.
Edward T. Hance, lawyer, postmaster
of Detroit. and owner of $40. 900 in real
estate, believed the single tax to be the
only correct method of collecting The
money necessary to dcfray the expenses
of the government
Theodore p. Hall, grain dealer, and
owner of about 500. 600 in Wayne coun
ty real estate, said that, in his opinion
land values ought, alone. to bear thu
burden of taxation. Said he: THE un
earned increment argument is really
unassaiiable. It comes within every
mans experience and observation
landowner who fails to improve hi
property, and stolidly waits for the
community around him to work, plan
build and produce, to the end that hi
real estate shall increase in value with
out any exertion or expense on his owl
part, is taking q legal but unjust ad
vantage of his fellow-man- Ninety
nine persons out of one hundred viii
reprobate his conduct as mean and sci
fish, but il is less his fault than that o
the present system of land tenure ant
taxation The single tax will stop al
this 1t goes without saying that an.
law that will stimulate improvement o
property will do the greatest good u
the greatest number, which is the en'
of all good government. This, firml.
believe. the single tax will accom-
plish."
Joshua Waterman, retired lawyer
capitalist and owner of $500. 900 in rea
estate, said he believed the principle Q
taxing land values alone, as advocate
by Henry George. was the only correc
method OF raising revenues for the SUI
port of government
John G. Talford, boot and shoe dea
er, and owner of $1,000 in real estat'
favored the single tax because it woul
Immediately stop speculation in re,
estate, so that the great mass of me
who now placed their surplus capits
In land and waited till the labor {
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