The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-15
Communication.

CARRoLLTowN. Pa June 1884,
ED FREEMAN:-In his letter of week be IRE last
]. NJ. says he did not think would be foolish
as to lose my temper. l was far from ae ms
temper but II seems that his was little rpfied
by the remark that he evidently did not uud-r T
stand the Single Tax theory. What he has since
written confirms me in that opinion. tNo Of
tense intended)
looked an1iousIy for his graduated land tax
theory and am surprised TO mud that IL is the
single tax in another through crude and imper-
feet. form. II he had ever studied the single tax
he would have seen that all the good in the grai.
uated land tax is contained in the former with
the evil lett out. The principles he lays down as
as those underlying the Henry George theory
And his calling the latter DANGEROUS doc
trine'' ad mfts of no explanation except gant of
knosledge. But as no one can be expected to
know e. cry hing. 1t is no disgrace for man of
be thus un familiar with a system or theory which
is comparatively new, especially when many
otherwise intelligent people are. through lack of
SPECIFIC knowledge, vigorously cOndemnfnS it
He says: However much political economists
may ta TX about high tariff. low t,rit or absolute
free trade u panacea ior the present Industrial
depression the overshadowipg problem is the
o cs the bulwark OF social political and economic
I cedom." Noble words and true. They sound
as If they were copied from the writings OF Henry
George. yet they were written bs one who calls
the single tax dangerous doctrine.
He saws iurtLer. "As the world was created for
all. IL is by right a con mon heritage Very
true and right so far. But now observe: Each
with the rig the free OF so much OF Gods
earth IL suffcien: Tor him to provide by means
OF his labor, either mental or manual. or both.
sufticieney the necessaries comforts of civ
iized lie for himself and those OF right depeni
ent on him. He who holds more than this TO the
exclusion of his neighbOr is usurper and
should in equity be dispOssessed of all holdings
above the limit OF nis natural AID iLaII able
right "
Is each one to be the Judge to now much OF
the earth he Will need provide for his wants by
means of his labor And what kind OF LAHORE
And where the portion he is To have the free
of Is to be situated? Perhaps some might prefer
TO live by nshing bunIIDg some large
town where they could md a ready market lur
their products. This would be nice, indeed. and
they ale To have it tree. which l suppose means
free of taxation But no, lie cannot mean Tree
after all. for he explains For the support OF
government Justly and economically administer
ell all land all pay certain pro rata of a iair
valuation The man who holds no more land
than is necessary 10 support himself and family
by their exertiOus, shall pay nothing hut this
tax-say ior a iarm OF good land not exceeding IeO
acres, or a valuation of 5000. II a man holds
land in excess OF this limit. increase the rate. If
he have tW ice this amount increase again say
double the rate on land in excess OF the limit;
DOUBLE again at twice the limit at three times
the limit double once. and so on Gd iIGHifHm.
With the surplus thus raised, create a Iund
each county TO he !, ahed to persons purchasing
omesteads-not in excess "f the limit allowed
on nrst mortgage. Tor a term OF years sufficient
10 enable the. head OF II family 10 acquire home
on easy payments"
The nrst proposition: that all land shall LAY
tax ON tair valuation for the support OF govern
mett, Is the essence OF fairness and equity. But
upon what princiDIe OF equity the others be
deiendedf 1t would be In effect cunhscation of
the rOpeTty OF the wealthy. suppose the rate OF
taxation To- be 40 mills On the dollar Tor all land
above the limit 50 UOJ; then at twice the limit
ID ,u0O. the rate doubled would be 20 mills: at
slZ UUO ~ mills; at 81 VOO. 50 mills, ana on,
an entire cOnnscaton oi all all large estates i'm
prUvemenJs and all. What utter aDsuTdityi
Now let ham look for a moment at the Justice,
beauty and simplicity of the platform OF the Sin
gle Tax League of Pennsylvania:
We assert our fundamen tai principle hat all
men are equally EFT tied to the of the earth.
Therefore. No one should be permitted hold
land without paying TO the community the value
OF the privilege thus accorded and from the fund
so raised al expenses of government sb 1uld be
paid.
We would therefore abolish all local. state and
natlo-al taxation except a tax upon the value OF
land exclusive OF improvements This tax
should he collected by the Local government and
"A certain proportion he paid to the state govern
ment. National revenues should be raised by di-
rect tax upon the several states.
This system OF taxation wOnld dispense with a
horde OF lax gaiheTers. simplify government and
II would do away with the corruption an gross
inequality inseParab e from our present methods
1t would kive with all the world that abso-
lutte Tree trade which now exists between tine
states OF the Union.
the manufacturer Ot those taxes 10y which they
unustly burdened. and take tor public uses
those values due IL the presence OF population.
Ii would make It Impossible for specuIators to
hold land Idle, and would open unlimited OppOr
tuni'ies iUr the employment of lahor ID capital
which is essential to the solution OF the Industrial
problem
cupations, do away with Involuntary poverty and
make overproductiOn impOss ible until ali mater
ial wants are satisfied.
may have honestly acquired land that
Is now oil great value. and all that the community
can Justly demand Is that he pay equitable
rate ON the value OF the same. exclusive Of Ihe
Improvements. As long as does this he should
be h, Id secure IN his possession OF it and the
improvements. The graduated land tax would
cOnhscate il all. which would toe great injustice
The single tax would do no injustice. hut on the
other hand IL would do away with the mOnstrOus
inIustI"e OF the present system double inIus-
| tIce mich, Icy allowing he landlords aIpro-
pirate To themselves the fund which TighttulIy
belongs TO the stat Ito tie people in commnn) and
thus leaves the Latter no alternative but To in
wade the domain OF private property and wrong
fully take iOr public uses what belongs to the in
dividual. thus rObbIng and grievously depressing
| labor, while encUurh ging and strengthening mo
nOpoly OF the worst sort.
Hoping our fr end !. NJ. will study the single
| tax doctrine apd heip along tnis greatest and
| cEiel social reform, am Sincerely yours,
| }.