Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-06-15
THE TAX CREED.

S~A~>A -
lessen them This is clear to any one
hats, and a smaller number viii be
bought; tax houses, and house building
will be checked: and 50 with every
other product of labor. Such taxes
lessen consumption and exchange, and
thus hinder the natural demand for
products of labor which satisfy wants
Therefore, say single takers. Limited. !"
no taxes should be paid on improve
ments or goods
4 tax on land values does not lessen
production or the reward of the users
of land: but it makes it improbable to
hold land out of use, and 50 opens nat
ural opportunities for labor, stimulates
production and makes exchange easier.
Such tax would Tighten the burden
OF farmers. since it would exempt stock
and improvements from taxation and
relieve laborers from the heavy taxes
now levied on all they use or consume
1t would give them new opportunities
TO better themselves by letting them
get at land now held ont of use by spec
ulatorx The stimulus it would give to
mining and manufacturers would IN
sure to the farmer a steady and increas-
ing market for all he could raise
All Others engaged in producing
wealth wo,ld similarly be helped by
increased production and exchange
Therefore. says Mr.. Henry George AL
taxes should be laid ON land values
All indirect taxes. import duties, in
ternal revenue taxes, and the like, fall
in the end on people, not In proportion
to wealth. but in proportion to what
they consume, and thrs bear specially
hard on the poor, who must spend
nearly or quite all they get
This hardship is increased under
man! of these taxes by the fact
that they enable individuals to raise
prices for their own benefit, and
thus practically to levy new
taxes They are burdensome
to the great mass OF people, and bear
With special hardship on the laborer-
Therefore these people say, indirect
taxation EnEst be done away with. and
trade relieved from all imoosts and re-
st-ict;onS
THIS far many are ready to go who
still object to the proposal that the tax
on land shall be increased Up to its full
rental -alue- For some years 10 come
such people can WORK with those who
so further. The great majority of
single tax advocates do ''go further
and believe that:
Evs-y man Is entitled TO the full re-
suits Of his own labor or enterprise
IN producing goods buildings improv-
ing land,o otherwise helping to satisfy
MS own wants or the wants of others.
<t.ar IN
land b. increased competition for its
use and by the growth OF population
and advance of improvements. Justly
belongs to the whole community.
Therefore. say single takers unlimited,
The public should take by taxation for
the common benefit the full rental
EaIue of LAID
When ground rent shall be thus
taken for the support of government
and for public wants: industry and en-
terDriSe Will be relieved FROM taxation,
and no reason will remain for holding
land without using it
Land speculation viii cease. and
natural opportunities. such as mines,
building sites and unused farm lands
viii be opened to labor. Workmen who
can not make fair bargains with en-
ployers will be able to employ them
selves: not that everybody will take to
farming. but that with agricultural.
mining. timber, building and all wild
lands open to those willing to use them.
there Will be no lack of employment
Therefore. wages In all industries will
rise to their natural 1eyel-the full
earnings of labor. The problem Is
how shall all men who are willing to
work always find work and THIS pro-
duce either that which itself satisfy
their wants. or that which will do so
through exchange for the products OF
other mems labor? The single tax. by
the same time relieving industry from
burdens. solves the labor problem
The method OF arriving at the single
tax Is By the successive removal OF al
OTHER taxes This should begin With
taxes on personal property or with
import duties
Thus. from different standpoiats- two
bodies of thinkers conclude that all
public revenues should be raised by
direct tax on land values
There is large body of owners Of
real estate. perhaps larger N numbers
than either of these. who believe that
land and improvements should bear the
whole burden OF taxation On the simple
ground that taxes on real estate are
nearly impossible to dodge
An Income Tax
Atlanta Constitution (DeEs-
The Chicago Tribune views the grow
inc r,o;,r,iarify of the r,roposed income