The morning times., 1895-09-29
SINGLE TAX COLUMN.

(The Times undertakes no RESPONSE
biIity for any views expressed in this
column.)
INTRODUCTION BY THE SINGLE TAX
EDITOR FOR THE TINES"
The Times has generously offered the
use of portion of its space for a discus
sion of the single tax question, and for
the information of its reaGcrs, regarding the
progress of the cause. This is q question
of wide and growing interest: one which
intimately concerns the welfare of every
citizen; and a metropolitan newspaper Is
certainly Justified In opening its columns
TO its discussion.
1t is conceded by all that the expression
'single tax" Is neither fully nor fairly
expressive of the doctrines advocated by its
adherents. 1t is used to signify q tax
levied solely upon the value of land; yet it
would be equally applicable to tax levied
solely upon land itself (which single takers
do not propose; but, on thecontrary, oppose,
or upon alcoholic beverages. or Goldfish,
or any other single" source of revenue.
Moreover, 1t is not a tax" as Will be
shown hereafter. Yet the term has come
into general use, and thus far no more
appropriate or acceptable one has been
suggested
SINGLE TAX PRINCIPLES.
The fundamental principles entertained
by the advocates of the single tax are In
brief as follows:
l. All property rights are based upon
human labor. No person can justly have n
property right in anything that is not the
product OF his own labor, or for which he
has not given in exchange the product of
his own labor.
2 All wealth that is the product OF hu-
man labor should belong (originally) to the
person whose labor produced it. tother
wise to whom among the persons who did
not produce it should it belong?)
g. Noperson should be compelled, by force,
by law or by the pressure of circumstances,
to part with any portion of his property
except In exchange for other wealth which
has cost an equivalent amount ofsome other
PERSONS labor. Based upon the theory
that all persons are created equal, endowed
with equal rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness)
4. All wealth created by nature, such
as air, light, land, including minerals un-
der the soil or trees upon it, should be con-
sidered and treated as being Natures gifts
TO all mankind alike. No human being has
the natural right to claim ownership of the
air, the light or the land, and demand trib-
ute of his fellow-man before permitting
him to use it.
8. Whatever value any piece of land
may have is conferred upon it by the
presence or proximity OF human beings.
In an appropriated country land is worth
less; in a sparsely settled region it is W orth
little. AS the population becomes denser
the value increases. In a city 1t becomes
still more valuable. Such value thus con-
ferred by community should be considered
and treated as belonging to community, and
the income arising therefrom should be
turned into the community's treasury, and
not into the pockets of some individual,
who, individually, has done nothing to
create the value of the land.
ABOLISH ALL OTHER TAXES.
6. The product of human labor expended
upon such land-cultivation, fences con-
structed, crops raised, trees planted,
buildings erected, other improvementsm made
should be regarded and treated as the
property of the person making them, of
which no man, nor even all men (com
munity) can rightfuIly deprive him. In
other words, the advocates of the single
tax consider it both unjust and i'm
polite to tax land thereby discourage) IN
dustry and thrift.
Z. Inasmuch as the income from land
values. G., the rent OF the land-is found
upon mathematical calculation and by ex
pertinent to be sufficient to defray all
expense sof Government. Federal, State, and
municipal, all other taXes-whether tariff
or internal revenue, direct or indirect
upon all other forms of property, could
be and should be abolished, and govern
mental revenue derived exclusively from
this single tax" on land values (Which
now go to Zurich spectators in 1and.)
8. In other words, the average citizen, in
stead of buying land, of paying rent for
land occupied to the landlord, and also pay
ingtaxes tothe Government, would pay land
rent that would go into the Government
treasury in lieu of taxes, SO that be need
pay no tax whatever for the support of the
Government, Federal, State OF municipal.
An important feature of the tax on land
values is, it is the only tax that 1t is pos
sible to collect. The land lies out of doors;
1t can not be secreted in vaults or spir-
tied away TO another State: and its rental
value can be ascertained to ascertainty
not attainable in the case of any other OBJ
ject of taxation. No inquisitorial examina-
tion into ones private affairs is necessary
and no premium is offered for perjury.
ITS CHIEF OBJECT.
The principal object of the single tax,
however, is 10 eradicate certain evils in
cident to the existing industrial system
which the present methods OF taxation
sustain and perpetuate- Under the wages
system Of industry. as now conducted,
the wage-laborer receives less than the
entire product Of his labor; the remainder
is diverted into the pockets OF persons " no
have donc nothing toward producing it.
TIE ar,icie produced il held at rrice
considerably higher than the wages paid
for producing ii. Hcnse ali articles pro-
decd are held at prices considerably