The herald., 1894-12-18
SINGLE TAKERS PLANS.


Tho Single Tax club is going into the
charity business. Not exactly because
the Single Tax club is greatly interested
in charity 10 it doing this. but because it
has an idea, This idea will BIZ fully
apparent to the reader Of the following
memorial, which was presented to the
council yesterday and referred to COM
mittee:
The presence in L1, Ange les OF a
large number Of involuntarily idle men.
many of whom are residents OF this city,
with families dependent upon them for
support, is generally admitted and de-
plored. Ths want and distrss5 that are
inevitably the effeots OF nonsmploym
threaten to tax both public aud private
benevolence. and will, in many csses,
produce o degree of desperation imperil-
ing the security nf life and property.
The Siugle Tar club of Los Angeles
believes this condition Of enforced nov.
erty, with its CONGO mitants OF su fsring
and crime. in the midst of vast areas of
productive and unused land, the source
of all that sustains life, is unuAturAl,
therefore,, unneoeHsary, aud that hui
msnity and self interest dictate
the immediate consideration OF
some proper plan OF helping
those willing to help them
selves. This organization also
believes that it would be inconsiderate,
to say the least, to impose burdens upon
the generosity of the citizens charitably
inclined, and impolitic to compel people
willing to labor to become the recipi-
ents Of aims. And it 10 certainly not
function of the municipal government
to donate means Of support to people
who are needy. even though they be de-
serving, or to furnish employ ment for
the mere purpose OF 80 doing. Holding
and thus with honesty and selfrespect
obtain q living, and that people can and
will employ themselves il given access
to natural opportunities. the Single Tax
olub begs leavs to submit the following
suggestions in solution of the vexed
problem OF what shall be done for or
with the unemployed and destitute men
who are now in this city.
Within and adjoining the corporate
limits of this city are many lots and
tracts of ground, amounting in the az.
gregate to several thousand acres, vacant
and unimproved. The Single Tax club.
acting with such other organizations as
may desire to cooperate. will endeavor
to procure from the parties holding this
unused land permission for the occu.
pancy OF the same. under proper restric.
tions and conditions, for q season sutfi-
cient for the planting and harvesting of
appropriate crops by deserving people OF
the class we desire to aid.
The officers of several organizations
having for their object the relief of those
who need assistance. and W which are thus
cogsizsnt of the want prevailing in this
community, among them being the AS
lsociated Charities and the Free Labor
ibureau, have signifed their approval of
1.-THE project we have outlined, aud have
assured this club Of their sympathy
with the movement. Realizing the i'm
lportanoe and the wide moral effect
(which your sanction and indorss mont
of the plan would have. we respectfully
request of your honorable body the adop.
tion of the following resolutions:
: Whereas, 1t is apparent that large
,npmbsr of deserving people in this city
are sincerely but vainly seeking en-
,ployment; that in consequences Of their
ienforced idleness these people are now,
.or soon will be endaring hardship and
distress. and humanity and policy de-
,mand that something be done to at
least aid the deserving, and
J Whereas, The Single Tax club of Los
Angeles has undertaken the work of
Occurring from the owners OF the numer-
'ous vacant and unused lots and tracts of
land in and adjoining the city, permis-
sion for worthy people to enter upon
and cultivate said land for such time as
will enable them to plant and harvest at
least one crop OF such products as may
be appropriate; be it
Resol we'd, That this body heartily en-
dorees and approves the plan suggested
by said club as being natural, prac-
ticabls and legitimate method of assist
ing those who desire to help themselves
BY honest labor, and be it further
Resolved, That providing the rights
and interests of the owners to allow the
use OF their lands be properly guaran.
teed, the council OF the city of Los An
geles hereby formally and earnestly re.
qnest the owners OF unused realty in
and near this city to allow the free use
OF their lands in accordance with the
plan suggested.
II the suggestions OF this memorial
shall meet with the concurrence of your
honorable body, we would esteem the
appointment OF one or more Of your
members to act with the representatives
OF the Single Tax club and other orPan.
izations important and helpful, and We
hope you will see fit to make such an.
pointment.
Respectfully submitted by the Single
Tax club of Los Angeles.
[Signed] RALPH e. HoYr,
CLARENCE A. MILLER,
L. d. STIMsoN,