The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-11-03
The Single Tax and Transportation

Under this caption W. E. Brokaw fur
nished paper which was read before the
Single Tax Congress at Chicago, Aug. 80.
Mr.. Brokaw attempts 10 demonstrate that if
the government would take possession of
the railroads, keep them in order and per-
NIT their free use to all who chose TO put
trains on the roads, that cheaper transporta-
ton and perfect equality among the people
would be insured. OF course this is all
theory and speculation with Mr.. Brokaw.
Such loose method of railroadipg has
never been tried, but the proof is not far TO
find that such a project would be little less
than farcical if put in practice.
Competition has been cracked up as the
perfection of a business system till recently.
A most exhaustive trial has proven it one
of the most dismal failures Of the nineteenth
century. Competition in every line of
bushes has literally devoured itself and has
| forced syndicates, combines and gigantic
trusts in business, the main purpose ofwhich
is to destroy competition, and thus save
business from its inevitably ruinous conse-
quences. Had it not been for the demon
alizing effects of competition when it had
reached its full fruition, the despotism OF
trusts and great aggregations of capital
necessary TO their success, and the blotting
out competition, the dangerous power of the
trust and the immense consultations of
capital which have recently invaded the
field of the industries would never have
been known.
Competition on free railroad lines would
result, as it has in all other lines Of business,
in the formation of transportation trusts
which would drive every weaker party,
whether individual or company, from the
roads, when the wealthy trusts would dictate
freight rates and passenger fares at their
pleasure. Mr.. Brokaw and all of his class
who run mad on theory should have learned
this lesson from what is Transporting around
them. Free competition is the life of
trade" has been buried beneath its own
ruins, and this maxim of business, so long
considered the very essence of wisdom, has
proven, under thorough test, to be the
most false of business maxims
This same school of reasoners would
throw the mail service open to free COM
petition, the word Stree" has such charm
for their ears. They never stop 10 test any.
thing that threatens to conflict with their
dear theory of single tax, but shut their eyes
and close their ears, lest they may be shown
their errors.
MIR. Brokaw, compares or attempts to-
the railroad TO the freedom of the country
road or public street, and TO water carriage
on the ocean. There is no practical COM
pariSon between them. 1t is all theory,
with the obstrncting causes left out Such
sweeping claims for that system of taxation
is liable 10 iniure, rather than promote the
cause. In unfolding his competition (played
OUT theory, Mr.. Brokaw says:
SIT is obvious that Single Takers must
choose between government ownership and
operation free OF toll, and government
maintenance of roadbeds, with the carrying
trade left open TO free competition. | hold
that the latter is all that is necessary to
secure equal freedom, and II it is, for society
TO do more would be for il TO infringe upon
the equal freedom of Individuals
All of which, in the face of abundant facts
to prove the contrary stamps Mr.. Brokaw's
opinion as veritable bosh /!