Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
SINGLE TAX IDEAS.
Bureau Of Labor Chiefs Listen to Some
Arguments.

Bureau Of Labor Chiefs Listen to some
Arguments.
The tenth annual convention of the
chiefs and commissioners Of the bureau Of
labor Of the United States reconvened today
at the board rooms of the interstate COM
merce commission. During the forenoon
much Of the time was consumed in the
presentation Of reports by the representa-
tives Of state labor bureaus. The first
business out Of the routine order was a
presentation of the single tax theory by
DR.. B. F. Longstreet of Worcester, Mass.
official lecturer Of a single tax propaganda.
DR.. Longstreet made this address by in
vitation OF the convention, and circulated
several OF the advance sheets Of the April
number OF consular reports on land taxa
ton in New Zealand. He stated that the
taxation laws of New Zealand had been
Violently assailed as experimental social.
istic. confiscatory and impracticable. but.
regardless Of this terrible arraignment
the taxation laws had been given practical
effect, while other countries were theorizing
on the same principles. Mr.. ]. II. Ralston
explained how the single tax had operated
in Hyattsviiie during the year Of its life in
that town. He drew a picture Of what he
termed the fictitious land values and The
number of fictitious transfers affecting
Washington real estate. He stated that this
disorder would be avoided BIZ the adoption
Of the single tax plan. He prophesied that
the worst Of the financial panic had
not been reached. There was a ten
dency on the part of several of the
delegates to join issue with Mr.. Ralston
and matters promised a warm discussion,
when President Carroll d. Wright insisted
that the discussion be closed. as Mr. Rails
ton had simply been invited to present the
single tax idea to the convention. md 1t
could In no way be construed that this
hearing by the convention was an indorss-
ment OF the theory. Commissioner Schill-
Ing OF Illinois moved that Representatives
Tom L. johnson and MCCLURE, two NOTED
single tax advocates. be invited to address
the convention tomorrow. Commits ioner
Thomas j. Bowling of New York objected,
and a discussion led to the defea, Of the
resolution. by a vote Of Is to 8. The cleo
ton OF officers, which was suspended yester-
day. pending the arrival Of other delega ties,
was continued, and resulted as follow :
First vice president, u. r.. Lacy North
Carolina; second vice president. George w.
Waits Of California, and members of the
executive committee, Horace c. Wadrn
OF Massachusetts, A. B. Howard 1r,
Maryland. and Charles H. Morse Of M,chi-
gan.
The reading of individual reports was then
resumed. A communication was recei, ed
from Commissioner McGann CT Connect
cut, asking that the convention furnish
the labor bureau Of his state with statistics
showing how many skilled tradesmea had
been forced into unskilled trades by COM
petition. The proposition of Commissioner
zimmerman OF New Jersey, relating to the
printing Of detail tables, was taken I'D for
discussion, as was the question of provid-
ing penalties for the failure Of manufac-
turers to make statistical returns when
requested by labor bureaus. Commissioner
Wadlin presented his view Of the matter
and the session adjourned to take up these
questions as unfinished BUSINESS tomorrow
morning.