The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-06-10

Ut the same SEXUAL value, are assessed
for taxation at the same valuation, sir.
respective Of improvements" but such
assessed valuation is but . variable per-
,entage of the actual value In the case
IF improved lands, the same percentage
IF the actual value of the improvements
Is added to the assessed value Of the
land As the annual increase in
value Of unimproved land out
side of business centers amounts
70 eight or ten times the
amount of the tax, the land owner holds
On and pays the tax until he chooses to
sell. when he recoups himself for all
The taxes he has paid and "shifts" them
On to the buyer Of the land, who, if he
occupies and uses such land for income
producing business, collects the interest
upon the cost of his land from his Gus
toners, or patrons Under the opera
lion of the single tax limited" the re-
suits would be the same, but in less
marked degree. But under the opera
tion of the single tax unlimited" there
would be taken as an annual tax, the
greatest amount offered by any individ-
ual annually for the use of the land. I
freely and without reserve concede that
this course would force land owners
to either improve their land or abandon
it to those who would. But why inn
prove it if they must pay its full rental
value as a tax? In order that
they may rent both the land
and the improvements to tenant,
tom whom they would receive ,oth the
land rent or single tax and also the cur
rent rate of interest, sinking fund, in
,urance, ETC., for the improvements.
From whom would the tenant obtain
the money to pay the land rent, or
single tax? From his customers or pa
irons, of course, such tax being neces.
;arily included in the price of all he
sold, and of all services he rendered.
Thus the people, as consumers, would
pay for the business ''exploiters" the
license tax for their occupancy of these
valuable lands" which single takers
assure us would pay the bulk of the
taxes. The profits pertaining to the
occupancy of locations, or sites, for
business purposes, is what creates land
values. The varying scale of profits
pertaining to various localities, or sites,
Is what causes the difference in the price
Of land The single tax, by obviating
the necessity on the part of capital of
making any investment of money in
land, would give capitalists monopoly
Of as many of the choice locations as
they were able to improve, while the
rent for the improvements would give
them interest upon every dollar they
lad Invested.
The taxes Upon residence sites are and
always will be paid by those who oc-
cupy such sites. Taxes upon residences
cannot be shifted, living in houses or
habitations not being an income pro.
ducing business. The single tax must
be paid by all owners of residences who
occupy the same and by all tenants who
occupy other mems residence buildings.
Economic rent and all taxes levied
upon lands occupied for profit MAX
ing or income-producing businesses
are, under the present system,
shifted" onto those who buy and con-
sumo the goods, wares and commodities
offered for sale on such lands-those
who hire the services of professional
men occupying such lands and those
who patronize banks or loan offices To-
Gated upon such lands. Such would re-
main the case under the single tax sys-
tenn. Under the present system land
saxes are part of and included in rent
Of occupied lands. Taking the whole
IF rent as tax and changing its name
from rent to single tax will not change
the law governing it. 1t is unnecessary
for me to allude to the fact that all
taxes levied upon goods, wares and COM
nodities, offered for sale, add to or in
crease the price of such goods and COM
nodities and are shifted" onto the con-
sumner, the dealer, merchant or seller
Fonly paying any portion thereof as he
consumes certain proportion of the
goods and wares upon which they are
levied.
And so it is to the end of the chapter:
al taxes levied upon personal property,
except such as is kept for use and not
for profit, (the very kind that should
not be taxed) are shifted onto consump-
ton and paid by the people in proper.
ton to their ability to consume. But
there is an exception. When we get to
the farmer occupying his own land, or
the land he ostensibly owns, we find
the exception to this general rule. In
the case of retail merchant doing
profitable and prosperous business, the
goods he sells are burdened with the
following charges:
First cost of goods.
Freight.
Rent (Which includes land owners
taxes).
Taxes on merchandise
Sinking fund for repairs and insur.
ance.
Clerk hire, light, fuel, etc.
Interest on capital invested.
A comfortable living, including rent
Of residence.
Net profit.
If business should be poor, or compe-
tition sore and grievous, the merchant
may first lose his net profit, next the
interest upon capital invested, and at
last cut down his living expenses to bed
rock and yet be able to continue bust.
ness and avoid bankruptcy, without