The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-03-26
Two Single Tax Criticisms Criticized

Two Single Tax Criticisms Criticized.
Taking first the argument that THE
theory derives all it's vitality from the
principal OF confiseation," 1t must be
plain to everyone who will stop a mo-
ment to consider, that the tax levy
against any persons possessing i'm
provements and personal property, or
either of these. OF equal values to their
land holdings. would not be increased
by the adoption of the proposed sys-
tenn, as the adjustment Of taxation on
one'half their property would compen-
safe them for the increase rate on the
other half, since all forms of property
are at present taxed at the same ad
valorem rate. Admitting however, that
those who had recently purchased more
land than they could adequately inn
prove might not find the increase of
business actively due to the absence of
taxation on products sufficient to en-
able them to dispose of their land
holdings at cost plus the additional
tax levy. the system might be said to
AhsOAvO COuhoCdtlOh- Dut ~ IL uStlcSS
to think of cffecting any reform with
exact justice to all. We are. strictly
speaking. never called upon to choose
between absolute justice and injustice,
but Between a greater and less in
justice.
The hardship the inauguration OF the
single tax In the manner suggested
might bring about to the class named
could certainly be no greater, if nearly
as severe, as every change in our i'm
port tariff schedule, whether wise or
unwise, and every prohibitory game or
fishery law.
1t has been further objected that the
single tax could not be adjusted equit.
ably, as there are some improvements
which become SO Incorporated with the
soil that 1t is impossible to estimate
their value separately, and they would
be taxed as part of the land value.
But what real improvements are there
that do not add to the value Of the land
and thus become indirectly taxed
Have not railroads and canals alone add
ed more to the land value of the United
States than NIL the cultivation. fertil-
izers or other UNREASONABLE improve
ment that the soil has received since its
discovery? Do not commercial and IN
dustrial centers outlive even ter out
ward form. and their past regulations
become the guarantee of new and even
more prosperous life, though the build
ings and wharves and railroads have
been ruined by fire or flood? Under the
present system the reckonable improve
ments are taxed twice, first through
the additional value they give the land
(the land tax always being paid ulti-
mately by the uscrof the location). and
again in specific tax on the things
themselves The benefits to be derived
from the proposed measure lie in the
fact that the improvements on any
piece of property could. be increased
indefinitely without any such I'm
crease in the owners share of
the tax levy as follows their cre-
alton at present; for although the
Increase of improvements would add to
the accessible land value it would aug
ment not alone that of the land on
which they were situated, but all lands
in proportion to their public useful-
ness A justly eminent social and po-
litical critic, Mr.. Edward Atkinson.
has attempted to demonstrate that the
colt of land rent in the United States
is so small per capita that it can not
have any serious effect against the
prosperity of the working classes
Were the charges collected in equal
proportion from each individual. the
figures he gives might not seem exor-
bitant provided any adequate benefit
accrued from the payment 1t is very
different matter, however, when, as is
actually the case, this charge is orig
inally mainly levied. as he himself has
at industrial or CONNER
cial centers. In ether words, it is toll
collected on the interchange of COM
modities. paid only by those who
are industrious and capable enough to
have anything TO exchange. The more
idle or incapable man Is, the less he
shares In the tax; and the high cost Of
marketing wares, acting as restraint
on business, accounts for the compare
lively low cost per capita of the entire
II It be true that the ma
jority of the middle men" are Shy
locks, why do not outsiders step in and
share in their gains, and by the compe-
tition thus created reduce the rates of
commission, retail profits, etc Is it
not becs use when others seek to do
this they ind the enormous profits"
vanish in laad costs9