The herald., 1894-06-12
THE SINGLE TAKERS DEBATE.
The New Economists Tackle the
Tariff Question.
Some Pointed Resolutions Which
Were offered.
Practical Politics Decentralization
by William 8. Creighton and
Brief Remarks by
Others.

attended the single tax meeting at
Unity church last evening. Alter an
noancing the donation to the club By
Robert E. Tener OF complete set of the
issues Of the Standard, President Ralph
E. Hoyt said that while California was
more highly favored by nature than any
other portion of the United States, 1t was
one of the most tax-burdened and
monopoly-cursed states in ell the list.
The natural conditions In California
were unequaled in their capacity to
supply human wants; but the man
made conditions were in many respects
deplorable. 1t was high, time for
change in the matter OF
taxation. go that the cost OF government
would fall on monopoly instead of bur-
deninx industry, as row. Local option
in taxation was the first step to be
taken, and the people should not lose
any more time in taking it. La many
of the eastern states the sentiment in
favor of local option was rapidly grow
ing, and sensible men of ell parties were
advocating it. California was behind
even Alabama in the matter OF tax re-
resting under the curse Of chattel siav-
cry, a step toward industrial freedom
was recently taken. At the last session
OF the legislature law was passed per-
hitting counties to exempt from taxa
ton all new industries, such exemption
to continue for any period not exceeding
10 years from their establishment. At
the election next August the peo-
pie of that state will vote on
proposition for local option in tax
alton for school purposes, and there is
every probability that the measure will
be adopted. No reasonable man in Ala
bama, California, or anywhere else, can
object to allowing the people OF each
county or municipality to decide what
kind of property shall be taxed and
what shall be exempt from taxation.
Mr.. W. y. Creighton was selected as
the opening speaker of the evening, and,
like all good single takers, Mr. Creigh-
ton Is always ready with tax reform am
munition, and therefore "opened the
ball" with the following resolution:
Resolved, That the members of the
Single Tax club of Los Angeles will sup
port no candidate for state or federal
office who does not commit himself un-
equivucally to the doctrine that tariff
upon imports is vicious and inequita-
BILE system of taxation, and can have no
justification for it's imposition save as a
temporary agency for gathering neces-
ssry government revenue: that a tariff
framed in recognition of the principle OF
protection is. to the extent OF such recog-
milton, an unmixed evil and curse, and
has no justification either in science,
public expediency or morals.
After considerable discussion. partici-
Creighton, Williams, Finlayson and
Levi, the resolution was adopted by the
audience. as was also the following, oil
fered by Mr.. Conkling:
Resolved, That the Single Tax club OF
Los Angeles will do all within its power
to induce the political parties in this
state to adopt plank i'll their platforms
fsyoring an amend me Mt to our state con-
stltution providing for local option in
taxation.
MIR. Creighton also addressed the
meeting an bstantially as follows:
"There is an old sophistical saying
that the truth is that which ia boldly
ASSERTED and plausibly maintained the
Republican press OF this city and OF the
whole country Is now engaged in strenu-
ously asserting and clamorously pro-
claiming that by reason OF the dill
tariff tinkering on the part OF the Demo-
cratic majority at Washington the eoun-
try is plunged into sea of trouble
swimming in the SOUP 80 to speak I;
that the only proper way to tinker
tariff is to tinker it up, never to tinker
it down.
There is more than modicum Of
truth in the charge that tinkering with
our high old federal tariff always affects
enterprise dissstrously. There never
WAS a time in the history OF this country
when the tariff was not the fruitful and
potential source of trouble to our people,
whether it was being raised or lowered,
or was simply riding our neokH, secure
and undsturbed, like Sindbad's old man
of the sea. But am aware, Mr. Presl-
dent, that there are thousands OF states
men in this country who recognize the
inherent defects of the tariff system, and
| would like to see it superseded by some
more equitable system OF taxation, out
they are yet unacquainted Will any
| better agency for gathering government
revenues. Pending the education OF
such men in the gospel according to st.
I George. we must not withhold from
them our support. But, sir, a Demo
cratic protectonst would have No con-
sideration at our hands. His attitude
ia utterly untenable. His mental vision
is too obliaue and his moral perceptions
are too obtuse-from the standpoint Of
a single taxer-lor him to distinguish
between meum and tuum. The time
will come, Mr.. President, when protec'
tionism will be accounted no more thar
EN- bezz ement.
We single takers have Diagnosed the
malady OF the public patient, and We
come forward with an adequate remedy
Our treatment is not superficial anc
empirical; We go 20 the heart OF tht
matter. We will not turn aside to treai
AN exema. which is only one manifesto,
ton OF the disease. To abolish lane
monopolization is to conquer the worlc
for the children of men and secure tht
comfort of mllions yet to be- Soldiers
snlieted in this great quest, we canno
afford to scatter our forces. We mus
move in solid phalsnx right IN the mid
die OF the road.
A resolution was offered by Mr.
Creighton, to the effect that single tax
ers should solely attack the policy o.
raising revenue by taxes on mportetions
leaving other financial questions alone
This was also discussed, but finally lal(
over for future action.
At the meeting next Monday nigh
Mics Kelso. the city Librarian, will al
dress the audience.
County Delinquent Tax List.