The herald., 1894-11-20
THE SINGLE TAKERS.
THEY DISCUSS SOME ECONOMIC
QUESTIONS OF INTEREST. 4'
An Invsstment That Paid Seveuty-fivt
Thousand Per Cent = The
Claims of the Now
as Cult.

One of the largest audiences of the
series OF single tax meetings assembled
at Unity. church last night, and en-
ioyed an intellectual and musical treat.
In attendance were intelligent men and
women representing nearly all the re-
spectacle walks OF life.
The exercises were opened with eoul-
stirring song by Prof. James G Clark,
which 80 delighted the audience that the
poet balladist was obliged to respond to
recall. His singing later in the evening
was also greeted with the most hearty
applause.
The chairman introduced as the
speaker of the evening DR.. A. p. Mil
ler. formerly of Oregon. who for about
three.quarters of an hour addressed the
audience. ON A New Declaration. The
speaker eloquently painted picture
of social conditions at the present
time, which he thought we're deplora-
BILE, considering the vast natural re-
sources OF this country. Like other
speakers who view the situation from
a poDulistic standpoint. he thought the
chief cause of the trouble was too much
competition and lack OF co operation.
He also advocated the organization by
the general government OF what he
called q great "peace army" in which
all unemployed men could enlist and
then be supplied by ths government
with employ ment continuously and
with tools to work with.
DR.. Miller's Kddress was scholarly,
we'll delivered and listened to with
close attention. In the discussion that
followed, however, the single takers
pointedly dissented from the speakers
theories, and in their own estimation
com pletely reiu,ed them. They insist
ed that the chief cause of existing evils
is landlordism, and that the only ade-
quate remedy is the abolition of that
cause. Brief speeches on that line OF
| argument were made by Ira B. Wood,
, 9. A. Miller and others. The remarks
of each speaker were we'll received and
frequently applauded by a large percent
age of the audience.
Ralph E. Hoyt called attention to a
couple of striking object lessons in this
city. He said: "A lew days ago l read
two items in local daily paper which
afford food for profitable thought on the
lines of taxatiop. One item described
fine improvement on costly business
block which was being made by tine
owner, who is an enterprising woman.
The writer adds that the owner OF the
bulding deserves and will receive much
ptaise from the public for thus beauti-
fying her property. But how will the
city authorities express their approba-
ion? Simply by raising the assessment
on that building and increasing the fine
which the owner will have to pay for
bsiug enterprising. n And that ia what
our unjust and idiotic system of taxa
ton always does in such caaes.
''In the same paper read OF O real es.
tate sale Of q valuable corner near the
bu ,iness center of the city. A few years
ago resident OF Los Angeles bought a
large corner lot for $50 Alter holding
it out OF use while other people built up
the city, ne has now cold one.half of
thnt property for the sum OF $25, 900.
! lie stili ;etains the other half, which is
worth even moro than the one just sold.
Now. here s n case whero q man by sell.
ing for $50 900 that which cost him s26,
has made75 900 per cent on his invest
ment, less the taxes. And as the land
I brought no income to the owner, the
assess ora touched it very gently "a is
their custem in such cases. So here we
have two very striking object lessons.
In one instance individual enter
prize is punished 40 ii it we're
a ime. In the other case the land
owner is paid by the community for
having kept everybody elee frcm using
that particular piece OF ground daring a
series of years. ! say paid by the COM
munity, because 1t Is An unbeatable fact
that the value attached to all land is
! due entirely to the growth ana enter
pr.se of the community, and not to pri.
vate ownership.
The chair announced that next Mon
dsy evening the subject Of woman suE
rage you'd he up ior consideration
Mrs. Alice McComas will address the
audience in behalf OF woman's enfran-
| chieement. and Hon. Abbot Kinney
and perhaps other speakers will oppose
| it, the exercises to be enlivened with
mueic. After another delightful cong
by Professor Clark the large audience
dispersed. evidently well satisfied with
the axarciaea