The herald., 1894-02-10
THE LANDLESS M|LL|ONA|RES,
How the Single Tax Will Reach
Them.
Clarence A. Miller Explains the New
Idea.
The Single Tax Meeting Last Evening.
Some Interesting Features of the
Gathering-A Lively
Discussion.

Single lax CluO WAS n6lu laeb ulRub at
Unity church. The attendance was
large. the audience comprising ladies as
we'll as gentlemen, many of whom are
prominent in business and literary
circles. In the audience were also sew
eral residents OF Pasadena, who came
expressly to attend the meeting.
Ralph E. Hoyt presided, and an
nounced fine musical and intellectual
programme for the next meeting, to be
held February 10th. He alao stated that
in all probability Mr.. T. D. Stimson,
now in Chicago, would be present at the
next meeting.
Mr.. Bennett announced that the mid
winter fair lecture committee had sent
an invitation to Henry George to visit
San Francisco and lecture on his favor
tie topic. Also that William Lloyd Gar
rison would he invited to do so. 1t was
expected that If these distinguished gem
tlemen came to the coast they would be
induced to visit this city and speak on
tax reform.
A large number of persons added
their names to the list of members, and
much enthusiasm was manifested. After
the transaction OF some further business
Mr.. Clarence A. Miller was introduced
as the speaker Of the evening. He was
greeted with hearty applause at the
opening, and during his concise and
logical address he elected frequent de-
monstrations of approval from nearly
all present. After Mr.. Miller's address
some time was spent with questions
from the audience and answers by me M
bers OF the club.
Following is synopsis OF what the
speaker said, ON How Will the Single
Tax Reach the Millionaires W ho do Not
Own Land?
1t is safe to say that in nine cases
out of ten this is the first question that
suggests itself by way OF objection when
one first hears OF the proposition to con-
fine taxation to land values. The ques-
ton, in all its direct and indirect bear
ings, touches the philosophy OF the
single tax throughout its length, across
it's breadth and down in its depths. A
complete answer to that question would
involve complete exposition of the
doctrines Of the single tax.
And yet. while the bearings of this
question are 80 comprehensive, the
question itself ia not 80 broad as would
at first appear. Who are the rich men
whose fortunes do not materially involve
land ownership?
Land, as we mean it when we pro-
pose to tax it's value-land as any reput-
able writer on political economy means
it-consists of and includes all natural
resources, whether the soil, building
sites, city or farm lots, mines, water
courses, lakes, water power, water
fronts. natural forests or the like-eye-
kak f.xx .oA
material from which, by labor, we make
food, clothing, shelter and the countless
things that minister to our wants, de-
sires and pleasures, and which in gem
eral constitute wealth, In the scientific
sense of the term, as used by political
economists. And the term land, as we
use it and propose to tax its value, ex-
cludes all wealth-that is, excludes
everything that is produced by labor
of any kind - excludes houses,
excludes orchard trees and grow
ing crops, mineral after it
ia taken out-water after it is stored. 1t
includes the reservoir site and excludes
the artificial reservoir. 1t includes the
springs and sources of water, but ex-
cludes the water when collected in the
artificial reservoir. 1t includes the gold
and silver and coal when in the bowels
of the earth, but excludes it when
brought to the surface.
The millionaire whose wealth consists
in mining stocks, and who is therefore
part owner in valuable mines, is conse-
quently land owner. So also he whose
wealth consists in railroad stocks, be-
cause the railroad franchises and rights
of way are land, whose value we tax,
But in 30 far as these stocks have value
from the Improvements on those mines,
such as stamp mills; or the improve
ments along the railroads, such as rails
and ties, the rolling stock, depots. and
the like. they will go free; we want
them to go scot free OF taxation, and
hope that by this encouragement more
and more OF such improvements will be
made.
1t is true that under the single tax
all stock in corporations OF every de-
scription would not be taxed as such.
But the property of that corporation,
30 far as it consisted of land, as already
defined, would be taxed so far as it
consisted of wealth exclusive OF such
land it would be untaxed.
And yet this still leaves large for
tunes consisting of stocks in banking
corporations, steamboat corporations,
MISUNDERSTANDING COuCeIue, immense
wholesale and retail stores and the
like, which would go practically un-
taxed. And the question is: How will
the single tax reach them? This, it is
evident, is only part OF the more COM
preheneive question: How will the sim
gle tax reach wealth that has been
created by laborP And the answer is
directly, it will not reach it at all. 1t
is the very purpose of the single tax to
lift the burden of taxation from all en-
terprise-from all wealth produced by
labor-from all the products of labor
and therefore from labor itself.
"Dare you PROPOSE" l think l hear
some one ask, 'to exempt from his
share of the expenses Of this govern
ment the millionaire who has been
shrewd enough to deal altogether in
personal property ?"
The speaker in answer to this first
asked the question: "How do you reach
that millionaire now?" He showed
that for centuries the world had been
trying to tax that millionaire and had
failed.
He showed how all taxes upon the
products OF labor under conditions of
competition are added TO the price of
those products. and are visited finally
upon the consumer. He showed how,
in addition to that, because OF the i'm
practicability OF discovering and valuing