The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-05-17

Oy iiicik u enipiOy Iiiotic, WHICH NC see
under the present system of allowing
a few forestallers to monopolize the
natural resources of the earth and eX-
act tribute from the masses. We be-
lieve that even editors would have a
happier time than now; that they
ould manage to secure a greater Dor
ton of this worlds goods than they do
at present. Respectfully,
A. FRFFLAND.
ST. LOUIS, Mo.
To Editor Statesman.
We claim for the single tax:
First-It is the easiest, the cheap
est a.d therefore the best method OF
raising revenue.
Second-It will solve the labor ques-
ton.
Third-It will elevate society.
AS A REVENUE MEASURE.
All assessors agree that land is
easier assessed than any othsr kind
of property. Therefore if all other
property were exempted from tax
alton and the entire revenue collected
from tax on land values, the cost of
collection would be less than under
our present system. By abolishing
the tariff and the internal revenue,
we would save the expense
attached to these two SYSTEMS
and less revenue would be
required. AS means of raising rev.
enue it is superior to our present sys-
tenn.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
By exempting all production and
exchange from taxation we would en-
courage industry. If all license and
other restrictions were removed from
the production and the exchange of
commodities, evidently it would take
less capital to engage in business and
many who are now employees would
engage in business, thus becoming
employers. This principle applied to
all kinds of industry would solve the
labor problem. The solution of the
labor question simply means thar all
can work when they will and receive
the full product of their labor.
Nothing short of this is satisfactory
solution and upon this depends the
elevation of society.
WILL THE SINGLE TAX ELEVATE So
Getty?
In nature, so far as we know, every
thing tends to the line of least resist.
ance-water, light, sound, force, etc,
and man Is no exception to the gen.
eral rule Man seeks to satisfy his
desires with the least eXertiop; he
will exert his forces of vitality and
energy in the direction which he be-
lieves will give the greatest return for
given effort.
Mans desires are of two fold, the
desire for sustenance and the esteem
of his fellow man.
Under our present system his first
re-sustenance-is satisfied only
by getting possession of those things
which are necessary to sustain life,
getting wealth, and we'll being hard
to get, the possessor of great wealth
is envied, admired aud esteemed. So
then the satisfaction OF both of his
desires, under our present social sys-
tenn, is obtained by getting wealth;
and as long as wealth is hard TO get
the getting of wealth will be the great
effort of life.
But if, by the single tax we make
wealth easy to get, by giving all men
an opportunity to work when they
will, and allow everyone the full pros
duct of his labor, the fear of poverty
being abolished, the accumulation of
great wealth will cease, for
no one would care for
any more than would satisfy
his desire for sustenance and che eat
faction of his second desire-ihe
esteem of his fellow man-would be
obtained by some other effort.
Now, the desire for great wealth
having been abolished, we can
imagine only one other way by which
he can command the esteem and ad-
miration Ct others, and that is by do.
ing good to others. BY Inventions,
by discoveries, or by visiting and adj
ministeriDg to the unfortunate briefly
by doing all the good he can.
This would be the line of least re-
sistance, the way in which he would
obtain the greatest return for given
effort.
By turning mankind's efforts
into this channel, who can place the
limit to the blessings we may enjoy;
or imagine the heights to which
civilization may not attain?
No, the single tax is not limited 1T is
1t would revolution
ize our entire social system.
j S. LEWIS.