The herald., 1894-02-27
SOME SINGLE TAX ARGUMENTS,
The Reformers Meet at Unity
Church.
Five Minute Speeches by Many
Citizens.
Tho Proceedings Enlivened by Music
and Made Interesting by Many
Questions Asked and
Answsrsu.

club at Unity church last night was the
largest of the series thus. far. A very
intelligent audience enjoyed the exer-
cises, and much enthusiasm was mani.
tested by those who already believe in
the Georgian theory of taxation, while
those not as yet believers in it seemed
anxious TO learn what it really means.
Evidently the interest excited by the
organization OF the club is spreading in
the community, as the question of tax
alton is one that concerns everybody,
directly or indirectly.
A noteworthy feature Of last nights
gathering was the presence of numerous
business men and property owners, most
of whom doubtless feel that they are
victims of unjust taxation, and are
therefore anxious to learn whether or
no there can be a system OF raising pub
lie revenue adopted under which in
dustry, enterprise, improvements, pro-
duction of needful things will cease to
be treated as evils, while persons who
live and perhaps grow rich on what the
community as q whole earns for them
pay little or no taxes. Single takers
declare there is one natural method of
raising all necessary public revenue
without burdening industry or crippling
individual enterprise and they claim to
be able to show this to the satisfaction
of every unprejudiced mind. Hence
the existence of the local club and the
public meetings which it is holding.
The president of the club, Ralph E.
Hoyt, on taking the chair last night,
briefly outlined the principles advanced
and the purposes of the organiza-
ton. He also announced that
two more Chicago daily papers, the Post
and the Mail, had recently opened their
columns to single tax discussions, while
the Times OF that city was printing col
umne ON columns OF matter exposing
the infamies of taxation methods there.
Many OF the revelations made by the
Times were OF the most sensational
character, yet they were substantiated
by facts and figures such as no one dared
dispute. All these things, the chair
man said. indicated widespread feeling
among the people that they had too
long submitted to being robbed under
the forms of law, and we're at last look
ing for better, because more equits-
BILE system of taxation.
The single tax, he said, wss not a
scheme to compel the rich man to part
his wealth in the middle and di-
vide it with the poor; nor a plan
for tinkering with effects while
causes remained untouched. 1t
was intended to open up natural oppor-
tunities and offer all persons equal
rights, with epecial privileges for none.
Briefly stated the difference between the
advocates of the single tax and those
who oppose it was this:
Single takers cay "The community
should not tax itself for public revenue
because its own earnings Gland vslues)
are always sufficient for that purpose .
Opponents of the single tax say in
effect:
'The community should not take it's
own earnings Gland values) to meet pub
lie expenses, while it can tax individual
labor for that purpose, and thus permit
most of the community's earnings Gland
values) to 60 into the pockets OF private
land owners"
The experience of previous meetings
has demonstrated that the audience de-
sires short speeches from a variety Of
speakers, having disposition to get all
the pith of the single tax idea rather
than to hear eloquent and lengthy
speeches. The talks of the evening were
at the outset limited to five minutes
each.
By request of the chair, the we'll
known single tax advocate, Clarence A.
Miller, opened the discussion with a
short argument allowing that the single
tax theory was not complicated. but ex-
ceedingly simple.
Mr.. Fay, however. not agreeing with
single takers, raised q number of OBJ
jections, which were ably handled after
wards.
Mr.. Owens protested that not only
should the products of labor be free
from tax, but opportunities for labor
should be free.
Mr.. Miller being called for by vote oil
the audience to answer Mr.. Owens,
showed that opportunities are 80 free
now from taxes that spectators gobble
up the natural opportunities and keep
labor from tho land.
y MIR, Stewart then elaborated upon the
details of sugar beet raising with view
to showing that single tax would not
free land labor for beet raising.
Mr.. Durham of Pasadena then showed
that the single tax would apply to beet
raising land with similar effects that
opening up free opportunities or land oil
any other kind would have on labor. 1t
would enrich the community and give
industry a chance.
Mr.. Walright then said that in the
San Joaquin valley was an owner OF $780,
900 acres of land. together with some
other elephantine planet owners, and
asked some DIRECTORS to The single tax to
show how those owners benefit the in
terests OF labor.
Music hath charms, therefore the en-
thusiastic audience halted il the midst
of warm discussion and listened TO q
most beautiful song entitled, Nos Marie,
by Miss Pearlie Gleason, accompanied
by her skilled touch on the guitar. An
encore was insisted upon as matter OF
course.
Mr.. Wixon then resumed the discus.
sion by showing the comparative value
of valuable land and Invaluable land
and succeeded in making his point very
clear.
Mr.. Bennett dwelt upon the possible
density of population, showing that the
whole Caucasian race could dwell in the