The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

of the opinion that the single-tax idea IS
the best that has been publicly advanced
up to the present time, and he hardly ex-
poets that anything better can be evolved
for long time to come.
''There should be no taxation of any
kind" he said during an interview, "be-
cause, take it any way you like, taxation
is burden on the producer. Besides there
is no absolute necessity for levying either
direct or indirect tax. will presently
explain how to AVOID the evil.
II believe in the single tax as the best
system of taxation, but l don't think the
single tax will accomplish all the social
reforms which people commonly think 1t
will. believe it is just as wrong for a
nation to permit speculative private own
ership of land as it would be to permit
private ownership of sunshine and air If
such things were possible. The evils Of
speculative industriallsm are nowhere
more manifest than in speculation in land,
which is the most subversive to social
morality of all forms of gambling. There
is divine reason in the old Hebrew feeling
against land speculation as treason to the
nation and blasphemy against God.
Compared to land speculation, the various
forms of gambling against which we have
legislated are innocent of evil to society.
The land and its natural resources ought
to be held by the State in sacred trust for
the people, never to be surrendered.
''In parting with the vast domains of
the people, held by the Nation as the COM
munion of GOD with the National life, the
birthright OF the people has been sold as
for mess of pottage, and the Govern
ment and economy of the people have been
surrendered to great private and spec
ulative corporations. The power given to
these corporations has raised the question
of Government ownership Of railways,
which is at present answered by a large
measure of virtual railway ownership of
the Government. There is scarcely any
! longer denial that our great railway sys-
| TENS constitute the largest legislative in
| tluence in America. And these systems
| have obtained their power through legisla-
| tive gifts of the Nations lands and fran
| chises.
''But place of repentance for our
National prodigality.. may even now be
found, though our unholy prudence be Of
Tended at, the despised movements that
lead US to this place, in the $50, 600 900 acres
! that remain of our inheritance, which only
| need the wise and profitable employment
| of the unemployed to be converted into an
| empire OF industry and fruitfulness that
| shall remain the property OF the Nation and
| be sold in small and conditional holdings
orrented in terms OF years or in perpetulty.
Il see nothing to ridicule. l see nothing
| but the profoundest and most prophetic
economic craftsmanship in this PROPOSE
ton. And when the judgment OF history
passes between the National Legislature OF
| 1894 and the vagabond citizens who were
mobbed by the police for bearing this
| proposition to the Capital steps. l want
to be judged among the vagabonds.
"Call them by what names you please,
I H. 81 Ia foo4r
| OF better national future these men will
rise up in judgment against this generation
| and the cynical stupidity and wicked
| ignorance of it's legislators.
81 don't believe" he continued, "that
| the Nation ought ever to have surrendered
the final title in the land, but am not
sure but what the best system would be
National land ownership with the land
| rented in terms of years. No Nation has
recognized such an exaggerated doctrine
OF private ownership OF land as America.
| The best of land systems ever enunciated
is that of the old Hebrew commonwealth.
'But, after all, do not believe in the
| lndlvldualism and free competition which
are involved in the single-tax scheme.
am through and through a collectivist. In
| the end / am not sure that believe in
| any system of taxation at all, in one sense
| of the word. But / do believe that the
Government should earn its own living
through the operation of the railways,
which are the public highways, and the
operation of other vast public properties
now privately owned and managed. Like.
wise, the city governments might earn
| their own living by the operation of munic-
| lpal properties, such as street railways,
| lights, water, tenement-house properties,
| and the like The London County Coun-
| Gil has taken the first steps in this direc-
ton by getting possession of the city tram
ways and building tenement-houses."
Mr.. Heron will deliver lecture on the
subject, "The Present Social Crisis in
Metropolitan Temple tomorrow evening.