The morning call., 1893-07-31


their importance; but they are small in
comparison with that which the singie-tax
theory proposes - cure. be became 4
candidate for Congress not because he
thought he could handle the tariff better
than the leaders who had 1t In hand. but
economic doctrine relative to land.
The present hard times. he said, Will
pass away without legislation when the
landlords feel the effect Of the financial
crisis and let rents fall to the natural
economic line. Rents will be lower when
prosperity returns than they were during
the financial depression, and then as they
begin to go up hard times Will begin to
return.
The speaker said landlords think they
have right to deal in land as in any other
commodity, owning it like any production,
just as if they had made it with their
hands or with hands that they had en-
ploved. He would not appeal to them TO
change the present system. but to The PEG
tie who made the land laws and who can
correct them.
why should any man." continued MIR.
Mcguire, buy and hold land that he can
not useP Why should man seek to have
the absolute control o: 1000 acres 10 one
city. as resident of this city does? =,
he wants the income without labor"
came the response from an auditor.
lords hold on to the land so that they may
reap the benefit of the increase OF values
which goes silently on without effort on
their part. The producers OF the incre-
ment should appropriate 1t TO their own
Use, he said. and not let those to whom it
is unearned wealth continue to keep 1t.
The community produces This additional
value, called unearncd increment, and 1t
should it be devoted to the common pub
Tic use OF those who made 1t. They should
not be called on 10 pay for The support Of
the Government un il this increment has
Jailed to satisfy the needs 0f the Govern
meDt- Thus needless aud annoying forms
OF taxation that tie leopie revolt against
can be Done away with.
Congre sman Mcguire showed that the
tendency Of the singe-tax system Will be
TO reduce rents TO the natural economic
basis. He said that he owns two lots in
the Mission ana put such improvements on
them that the tax on his house, furniture
and library is about twice that on lis land.
The owner of the lot next door has left
it unlmpl owed. H. has been waiting for
his neighbors to build so that he might
profit by their labor and investments and
get larger price for his lot. He did not
need a sidewalk in front Of his unOccupied
lot, and his neighb0rs had to shovel the
mud that came from his premises Off their
sidewalks in winter. 1t was hard 10 force
him to lay sidewalk.
This is an illustration that the man
who does not use his land is an obstruc
ZIONIST and should be discouraged. and that
the man who does use his land should be
encouraged by the community. That j.
what results under the slnele-taX sy TEN.
Mr. Mcguire remarked that under that
system the tax on his ladd in the Mission
would be doubled, but that on his improve
mruts would be much reduced, and be-
81 h. hn.x Ill ~ n NOV N
would thus be paying less than now. The
tax on the vacant lot would be doubled,
and there would be no offset because of
the reduction on Improvements. 10 get
some income from the property The
owner would erect a building, and the
same pressure would be brought on all
owners of lots to improve them.
The number of buildings being thus in =
creased the competition 10 let them would
cause rents TO 60 down until they reached
the economic line. Then there would be
no land DoOms and banks would not lend
money on in flated land values, losing half
Of IL when the values reached normal
figures.
Mr.. Mcguire said he thought the single
tax reform would be brought bout speedily.
1t is time, he went on. that special priv
ilegas TO corporations and monopolies
should cease and that the doctrine OF equal
rights to all men should be respected aud
maintained in its purity and simplicity.
He does not expect Congress to pass a
siDgle-tax act Immediately after his first,
speech, but his hope is that some State
will put the system In force to give it a
trial. Il vii! % foster industry there that
neiRhboring States will have to ADOPT it
aIso to keep their Industries from crossing
the boundary line. and thus 1t will spread.
The speaker was literally appla uded.
He will leave for Washington this after
noon.