The morning call., 1894-09-09

SINGLE TAx-C. j., City. The following has
been adopted as the official statement OF the
sngle-tax principle by the advocates thereof,
Henry George chairman:
We assert as our fundamental principle the
selfeVident truth enunciated by the Decara-
tiOn of Independence, that all men are created
equal and are endowed by their creator with
certain inalienable rights.
We hold that all men are equally entitled to
the use and enjoyment OF wnat God has Gre.
ated and what is gained by the general growth
and Improvement Of the community OF which
they are a part. Therefore no one should
be permitted 10 hold natural opportunities
without a fair return to all for any special
privilege thus accorded to him, and that
that value which the growth and Improvement
of the community attaches to land should be
taken Tor the use Of the community; that each
is entitled 10 all that his labor produces there
fore no tax should be levied on the product of
labor.
To carry ont these principles we are In favor
of raising all public revenues for national,
State, county and municipal purposes by a
single tax upon land values. irrespective OF
Improvements, and all the obligations or all
forms of direct or indirect taxation.
Since fn all OF our States we levy some tax
on the value of land, the single tax can be
instituted by the simple and easy way OF abOl-
ishiDg, one after another, all other lakes now
levied and cOmmensuratrly increasing the tax
on land values until we draw upon that one
source for all expenses of government, the
revenue being divided between local govern
ments, State government ana the General
Government, as the revenue from direct tax is
now divided between the local and the State
governments or by direct assessment being
made by the General Government upon the
States and paid by them from revenue collected
In this manner.
The single tax would:
Ftrst-Take the weight OF taxation OF the
agricultural districts where land has lille or
no value, Irrespective of improvements and
put It ON towns and cities where bare land
rises TO value OF millions of dollars per acre.
Second - Disp, nse with a multiplicity OF
taxes and horde OF tax gatherers, simplify gov
ernment ana greatly reduce its cost.
Thtrd-Do away with the fraud. corruption
and gross inequality, fnseparabe from our
present methods OF taxation. which allow the
rich TO escape while they grind The poor
FOurth-Glve US with all the world as perfect
freedom OF trade as now exists between The
States OF our Union, thus enabling our people
to share through free exchanges in all the ad-
vaDtages which nature has given TO other
countries, or which tue peculiar skill of other
people has enabled them TO obtain. IL would
destroy the trusts. mOnOpoles and cOrruptons,
which are the outgrowth of the tariff
FIfth-It would come on the other hand nv
taking for public use that value which attaches
10 land ny reason OF the growth ana Improves
ment Of the community, making the holding OF
land Improbable 10 the mere owner and pfofit.
able only to The user. IL would thus make II
impossible for spectators and mOnOpolists In
hold natural opportunities unused or only half
liable field OF employment which the earth
offers TO man. 1t would thus solve the labor
problem. do away with involuntary poverty
raise wages In all occupations 10 the fun earn.
lngs OF labor, make over production impossible
until all human wants are satisfied render
labor saving inventions blessing 10 ALI and
cause such an enormous production and such
an equitable distribution of wealth as wonId
give TO all comfort, leisure and participation of
The advantages OF an advancing civilization
With respect TO monopolles other than mon
Opolies OF land, we hold That when free CONNIE.
titiOn becomes impossible, as in telegranhs
railroads, gas and water supplies, etc. such
business becomes proper social fuDction
which should be controlled and managed nv
aud for the whole people concerned, Ibrough
their proper government local, State or ma.
tiOnal as may be.
GAME LAw-D. 7. p, City. Under the pro
visions OF an act OF the LeeIsIature
passed in 1870 1t is unlawful ar anv
time TO take, Kill or destroy in any
manner whatever any grouse, any specIea
of wild duck. crane. heron, swan. pelican.
snipe or any wild animal or game OF apy kind
or species whatever upon, in or around Lake
Merritt or Peralta In the county Of Alameda.
and within 1000 rods from high wafer marx
upon the.land around said lake. An ordinance
passed by the Supervisors of that county in
T,,l.-