The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-19
THE SINGLE TAX.
Justice of the Tax Set Forth
by E. c. Lewis.
A Carefully Written Thesis on q
Queer Illusion.
The Writer Challenges Controversy
and Is Ready TO Meet Ii.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NRwsi

''h pl Nnltn W icioo
revenue under taxing land values applies
merely TO the naked earth, the bare surface
exclusive OF every Improvement resulting
from human exertion, absorbing only the
economic value. which is not product OF
iADor, but "a self-producing factor falriy com
paring with Increased value OF vine py age,
Mhloh, at time of vintage, barrelod ana kept
hve years, will be worth, interest added, -
cents per gallon, Will sell at that age Tor Sl
per gallon, of which IS cents Is economical IN
crement to which the seller IL entitled Tor
having manufactured the product. It's opera
tion Will not tax food, raiment, shelter CT
land. IL will collect interest on the value
which land inherits on account OF the pres
ence OF Inhabitants. by whom all land values
are made. Strange, but true, that the peo-
pie who have little or no wealth DO "A larger
traction of creating land values than the rlch,
on account of exceeding IN numbers. The
former have done most of the sowing, while
the latter have harvested tho crops OF this
particular economy in absorption OF this nat
ural wealth.
Land values being created by the people col
lectively considered belong 10 the people.
improvements on land or in land Of any name
or nature are made b. individuals seyerally
or corporately, 10 whom they untaxably De-
long, and appropriately, by reason that our
unexcelled civilization has solved tho problem
out OF which Will be developed taxationlsss
government, paid for by its own earnings
Collecting interest on land values does not
imply tax or tribute, but compensation.
1t will be optional with the citizen whether
he will contribute TO the maintenance OF
the government in sharing its expense.
Al lnt same tllne al Will Do dNiudNeu WIN
the same kind of ambition TO have private pos
session Of land that they would have In the
private ownership Of houses, furniture ana
apparel. on account of the independt nee, safe
~ and comfort the security pledges. Again,
We by nature being earthly, does IL not com.
mend itself to our reason that the race VIII
always desire portion of that creation on
which life depends? Therefore, at any and all
events, we must have land, for Its being the
source OF ali wealth and for its embracing
all the raw material OF the world which
muSt ba continually cOnyprtp1 and trana
formed TO continue generation ana reproduc-
tion. All will be as pleased with private posses
sion Of "A portion of this natural wealth, a. they
woald bo with any other thing desirable.
Therefore, DO relieved Of the fatuity OF believ-
ing that nobody will want land on account OF
paying the interest on the principal with
which the people have inherited IL; OF on ac-
count OF its optional conditions embracing the
fear that what will be required for public in
provisions. i would be quite as reasonable to
declare that man would not enjoy happiness
or comfort, or pay for indispensable protec-
tion. unless compelled. Human intelligence
Will not be bereft OF reason on account OF
righteous laws develoning justice TO the race:
The time was when the land was divided
among the people by law an act by people
moro foolish could nOI have been imagined
for after the elapsing OF few decades
the former condition appeared.
Collecting interest on land values hinders
monopoly in the source Of all wealth (the
land), by reason that this way of creating
public funds Will be so mutually compensa-
tory that the community VIII not be more
anxious to sell this unearBec increment than
the individua! or corporation will be eager TO
buy, ceiling ana speculative values In all
land Will be absolvea by reason that all the
rental value Will flow into the public treasury,
which the community. ana not the individual
Will produce: while the earnings win contin-
ually increase as above values decrease.
What can l write 10 those readers who are
suffering from the state OF things which
monopoly of land induce? The question is
for tho serious consideration of manufactur-
far nd thaar ,lnvn h.,
are all producers OF substantial wealth and
on whom we depend for the good things we
enjoy.
thoughtlessness the resistance OF all innova-
tions and reforms and who believe every
change for Improvement and reform is inn
practical and that every burst of sunlight
tending to enlighten is myth
Vague ideas exist in defining tax. In com.
mon parlance Is heard, viz: How much did
the tailor tax you for the suit of clothes
How much did the jockey tax you for the
horseY When the proper question should be:
What equivalent did you impart for the suit
The only equitable difference between ex.
changes are qualifications of choice, for we
change as nearly equal "a we know for bene-
fits of equal preference; therefore, fair deal
ing and exchange is not tax, but mutual
qualification, remuneration and selection,
which please apply to the occupation and use
of values i'm plal tied la land by the communi-
ty. The mer camille difference in exchange is
graduated by the difference in the abilities of
the exchangers.
When a race of human beings at their incep-
ton transgresses the unwritten law that God
made the earth for his children what can we
expect in consequence The cause has been dis
cussed effecting our civilization remedies rec
have been tried, and even equaliz-
alton Of ability been invited. How futile all the
plans have been because the solvent only is
equalization of natural opportunities, which
the land, when scores OF millions OF acres will
revert to tho people to whom by creation. II
s' Sa NV anu apd a of whom occns,able enS
whore except locations already occupied and
paid for whom tho annuity, in
@ wl be ony
bered in history.
The subdivision os the text named the un-
earned increment Is unquestionably labor
less product inhering with commercial value.
which is reward TO the enterprise OF all.
Interest on moneys, advance in prices on
account OF scarcity, all articles increasing In
value by age are examples One hundred dol
lars will legally earn six dollars per annum,
to whicn the lender has exclusive right. since
AZ some time or somehow this principal was
a compensation OF labor, while the principal
'land)is gratuity and inheritance for present
and all future generations, as Is also the un-
earned increment
will contradictY Who pays into the treasury
his lard value compensation, do so for value
received and the community Will guarantee
private possession for value received: where
IN is mutual compensation resulting in equal
advantages, including remuneration to and
rom the exchangers. The payer for value
received is merely cashier for the community,
paying the debt, taking receipt therefor ns
evidence OF tho proper discharge OF his debt |
m this mutually advantageous manner Of de- |
raying expenses of government without tax |
ng the individual, without taxing thrift, |
without taxing production, without taxing |
and.
You will nay the government (tho pcople) |
he compensatory price for the use OF an op- |
Dortunity in which IL has created value, and |
iou will merely pay for the use OF that value. |
To you 10 IL not tax or tribute more than |
he purchase of "a watch or coat, because |
G Is optional and not compulsory, but ohvl. |
,usly compensatory. DcfinitiOnally, 10 IL the |
,ooplo collecting interest on the uncarned in |
not the government taxing tho indi- |
'idual and therefore cannot bo possibly con |
trucd 60 define other phrase than mutual |
Ne should nay the rortsl value OF the land |
bto the public treasury In the same manner, |
md with the same honest intent we should |
,ay for the use Of things belonging to a per. |
on, corporation or government, II the value
nhoring H. other production than the users. |
md upon which improvements have been he /
towod, or not possessing value, IL public
wealth.
No tenant would occupy more of this nat
lral public wealth than he wished 20 improve |
nd land speculators then would only be too
lal % dror, the I'M urIon. landforda v-oull