New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-08
IF NOT A TARIFF, WHAT 2
WOULD THE SINGLE TAX PLAN BRING
THE. MILLENNIUM?
VIEWS OF MR.. HoRR n OPPOSITION TO THAT
THEORY.
(F5om Tie Weekly Trbunc)


Sir: Please explain in The Tribune the meaning Of
the Single Tax" theory l. a. MANNER
Muncy, Penn, Jan. 20, loV-'
Wbile deny that Il protective tariff is tax"
upon the people Of this country, there are some
who claim 10 believe that II Is, and OF this num-
bor tbarc are some who wish to see adopted for
roisnc the revenue required for all purposes,
National State and local, method which is
popularly known the Single Tax" system.
Without entering upon comparison of the
"Single Tax and protective tariff systems merely
as methods for raising revenue. | will reply to
Mr.. Warmers question and supply the information
desired, ard give my views broadly upon the
Single Tax" theory i'll general
The Single Tax theory proposed and advo-
Gated in Europe nearly one hundred years ago.
After examination. the financiers of Europe dis
carded the theory as visionary and worthless.
Little has been said upon the subject, az far as
| know anywhere in the world for the fifty years
Just past until the subject was revived by Henry
George in his work on Progress and Poverty
In that book he came ont boldly in favor OF
aboshing all taxation except that upon land'
Here YOU have il in his own words;
What l. therefore. propose as the simple yet so'eI
e!gn remedy which will raise wages increase the earn
ings of capital. eXtirpae paupcrism, ABOLISH poverty
give remunerative employment 10 whoever wishes It,
AFFORD Tree scope 10 HIlHdll PO"cAo' AOV7'' N''"'
morals and taste and intelligence, purify government
and carry civilization to yet nober heights, is TO APP
propriate rent by taxation
The theory. stated as nearly as l do il in
my own words. is this There should be no
such thing in the world as the absolute owner
ship Of land The advocates of this theory claim
that government, even though 1T be govern
ment of the people, can give clear title To real
estate TO any person, and that individuals can in
no way procure rightful ownership 10 the land
All that any person has a right TO enjoy they say,
is the use of the improvements made upon any
given tract of land. They claim that all real
estate is increased in value. first, by actual I'M
provements made by human toll and that such
improvements may be properly owned by the per
SONS making them: and second, by increase of
population and improvements of civilization, and
that this latter increase in value is given 10 all
real estate by the people at large and has not
been earned by the individual occupying and I'm
proving the same They call this the "unearned
increment" which, they claim. should always he
long TO the people; and they say the people of
one generation have no legal or moral power TO
Givest themselves OF that "u.earned increment,
but that il instantly belongs, in part, 10 every
new born babe, who comes into the world. The
theory of thesc single tax advocates is that that
"unearned" increase in value should be taxed TO
l
obviate any necessity for other taxes, would
abolish poverty, give employment raise wages
and in a short time, bring into this world the
millennium.
That may not he charged with unfair
in this statement. | again quote from the
apostle of the single tax" theory. Henry George
lie says:
do not propose either purchase cOnfscate
private property in land. The first would be unjust
the second needless. Let the individuals who now
hold it still retain, if they want to- possession Of what
they pleased TO call their land. Let them con
tinue to call ii their land Let them buy and
SELL and beQueath and devise it. We may safely
leave them the shell, if We take the kernel 1t is
not necessary condscate land It only necessary
10 conEscate rent
Let the parchments be ever 50 many or possession
ever long. natural justice recognize right In
one man TO the possession and enjoyment of land that
IS not equally the right Of AL his fellows Though his
titles have been quiesced in by generation after
Grafton to the landed estates of the Duke OF West
minister the poorest child that Is born In London to-
day has as much right has mis- eldest Though the
sovereign people OF The state Of New York consent 10
the landed possessions Of the As0rs the punest In
FAINT that comes waGs into the world in the squalidest
room OF the most miserable tenement house becomes at
that moment seized of equal right with the million
aires. And 1t is robbed If the right is denied
And still again, he tells us if this single tax
theory should be put i'll operation;
There would he a great and increasing surplus
revenue from the taxation OF land values. for material
prorTcss which would 20 Oh with greatly acceeraHn
lapdity, would tend constantly to Increase rent tbs
revenue arising from the common property c0uld bs
applied 10 the common he eht as we're the revenues
Of sparta. We might not establish common tables
that would be unnecessary-bu we could establish
pubc baths, museums, libraries, gardens. lecture
rooms music and dancing halls theatres, universities,
technical schools shooting galleries, play grounds
gymnasiums etc. Heat, light, and motive power
as well as water, might be conducted through our
streets at public cxpen.e; roads would be lined
with fruit trees discoveries and inventors rewarded,
scientific Investigations supported and in thousand
WAYS the public revenues made foster efforts Tor
the public benefit.
Ny readers will see from these quotations that
/ have stated accurately the plan Which tlese
single tax" theorists seek TO adopt, and that l
have not oyeIstated the marvellous results winch
they claim will follow this novel kind Of taxa
ton This is o subject to which | have gwen
long and patient study. If it is possible ny
any such method TO bring about such wOhoerlW
and desirable results, there is nothing would not
do TO secure the adoption of the plan. IL IL IS
possible in any way to prevent poverty and want.
if il is possible TO make profitable employment.
peace and plenty the unvarying condition IN this
world of ours there is nothing / would not sacrl-
flee to secure such glorious result. However.
the more | have studied the plan, the more | an,
convinced that the scheme is simply to con
iscate the earnings and savings Of the industrious
people of The world, and would end only in the
destruction Of civilization itself.
My first objection to the plan is that it would
end simply i'll the cOnfscaton Of all the real
estate and the Improvements on the same with
out regard 10 The rights of the men who have
made such Improvements Nj. George himself
virtually admits that such would be the case.
For he tells us "t this simple device Of placing all
taxes on the value of land would be, in effect.
putting "a, the land at auction to whoever would
nav the highest rent 20 the State" The difficulty
l.. snln IL this