The morning call., 1893-07-23
Three Representatives in
Congress.
NAGUIRE IS ONE OF THEM.
Tom Johnson of Ohio Is Another
and Jerry Simpson of Kansas
Is the Third.
specisl to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON, July Zl.-1 n6 ueAC hOuSe
of Representatives will have three men,
bers VINO are out-aud-out sipge-tax advO-
Gates. There will doubtless be many
more of the members who are favorable to
this plan of Henry George. but Judge Ma
gure of San Francisco. Tom johnson of
Cleveland and Jerry Simpson of Kansas
will be the leaders Of this movement.
Judge Mcguire has already become we'll
known in and around Washington as
sirgle-tax man, aud this will probably
make him one of the conspicuous figures
in the next House.
Tom L. johnson of Ohio is. as most
who has made big fortune in the manu-
facture OF streetcars and car fixtures. No
account need be given of Sockless Jerry
Simpson, who is known in Kansas as the
"Sage of Medicine Lodge"
1t is about fourteen years since Hen-y
George. the economist. or rather tDe0rist,
brought out his book Progress snd Pow
erty." In it he laid down the principles
of single tax. wnich. until that time.
had not been discussed to any great ex-
tent. Since that time Henry Georges
doctrine has been preached slf over the
country. and he now bas quite respect
able following.
The pretty little town Of Hyattsvil!e in
Montgomery County, Md, which is really
suburb Of Washington. where many of
the Washington peo.le have summer
homes, enjoys the proad distinction Of
having been the frss place to try Henry
Georges plan. Il may have been by mere
chance that the Ryattsyilie citizens were
among the 6rst TO give this tax system
trial. OF It may have been selected, as some
said, because they wanted the first fell of
'heir operations 80 be ''QDder the very
shadow Of the Capitol
However that may be, the question was
econ being agtated in this little village,
ano tbs discussion became one of the I'M
portans topics of the day, not only in the
Town. But throughout NJ ontgomery County.
oid farmers, ~no had probably y never before
heard Of such thing as single tax. were
observed In all sorts of public places-at
tbs corner grocery, meeting-houses, and
perched on fences along the pixies, alb
sorbed in Iaborious perusal of progress
and Poverty" which had been issued in
cheap-print. paper covered form, at cent
copy. by Tom L. johnson. who not only
wanted to inculcate free-trade ideas in the
minds OF the rustics, but disseminate sin
ge-tax principles as well.
The great question was soon fairly rag
ing In that town. ''SEall we have single
tax or not?" Meetings were held at
schoolhouses roundabout and the question
at issue was discussed on all the street
corners by men. women and children. 1t
is said. too. though this may be an exag-
geration. that pupils in the schools were
encouraged to debate this question and
that references we're even made to the
matter from the pulpit. 1t was the burn
ing question Of the day and engendered
much bad feeling and a few fisticuffs.
After bitter fight Hyattsville became a
single-'ax town. This was on June 30.
1892 There was great rejoicing among
the followers of Henry George. The prop
erty-owners. however. were exceedingly
wroth, and raised fund to carry the case
into the Court of Appeals. where it was
decided to be unconstitutional.
On juno 80 last, Ryattsvlle returned
10 its old tax system (on three kinds of
realty instead OF one). 1t was thought
that the matter was forever settled against
Georges plan. but the question is again
being discussed as hoty as ever. The real
estate agents and large property-owners of
Hyattsville say that one year of single tax
did the little town a great deal of harm.
An attorney of Washington named Jack
son Ralston. who Is said to be the original
promoter Of the single-tax scheme in
Hyattsville, admits that his side will soon
explod boEb b in the camp of the enemy.
but declines to say just what is going to be
done. He declares the single-tax idea is
becoming very popular In Maryland, and
that the Governor Of the State. Brown, is
not unfavorably disposed toward the
scheme. Mr.. Ralston says: 1.-The three
sms Hest property-holders in Hyattsvile
are coored men. The taxes for all three
amounted to So cents under our system.
Under the present law they will be taxed
81 25, or more than twice as much.
"Dnring the year when we had single
tax the principal property-owner of the
town paid taxes at the rate of % cents,
amounting to S170. This year when the
same man has to pay three kinds of taxa
tiop. on land values. personal property
and improvements. at the rate Of IL cents,
his taxes will be $50 less"
Jerry Simpson says: whenever you
find siugle-tax man you will find an en-
thusiast. l know single-,ax advocates
that, believe. would die like the Chris.
tians Of old for the cause" Simpson saws
he docs not know exactly what the next
ste Of the Hyattsville single-taxers will
be. They may take tie case to the United
States Supreme Court or they may revise
their constitution.
ut is natural" said Jerry, "that the
spectators and land jo bbers should be
opposed 20 single taxation. A cardinal
principle of the plan is to prevent land
from living Idle. Ii q man has vacant
lot next to large rent-paying build
ing he can't afford to let 1t lie idle and
pay taxes on it, Out West, and, in fact,
all through the country. big farms are on
the increase. little ones on the decrease.
The census shows that 60 per cent of our
people rent their homes and farms. In
some of the big cities the per cent of land
less Is as high as SU"