Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
A SINGLE TAX IDEA
A Suggestion for Founding Town on the
Arlington Reservation.
Without the Annoynnces of Taxes and
Ltcenses-A No Monopoly City
Free Sites for Homes.


Washington is the Arlington reservation,
the property of the United States, con-
tanning LOO acres. about 200 acres Of
which are used as soldiers cemetery and
| military post, the remaining 900 acres
lying idle. There is a mile of water front
on the Potomac. and high. level ground at
the back. thus affording good sites for
manufacturing and for homes.
1t has been proposed to build city on
this site, to be known as Justicia, the plan
to be substantially as follows:
Congress to enact law authorizing and
requiring the Secretary of War to proceed
forthwith to lay off such land in suitable
streets, alleys. lots and other necessary
spaces; to grade and pave and otherwise
prepare for use a section OF such land. and
to provide comprehensive plans for supply
ing sewer, water, gas electric and street
railway systems. and a suitable bridge to
connect directly with the city of Washing
ton.
That thereafter any who shall so desire
shall be permitted to take for permanent
use one or more of said lots, on condition
that there shall be paid therefor semi
annually, a ground tax which shall be
equivalent to the full economic rental value
thereof. exclusive of any value due to i'm
prcvements thereon: such rental value to
be determined on the basi5 of demand in
the same m amer as ground rents in other
cities are now determined; that upon fail
after the same shall become due an &C.
cnpant may be forthwith elected from said
land and the improvements sold to provide
payment Of all unpaid taxes due thereon.
No Taxes or Fees.
That there shall not be laid in said city
any tax on persons, or on improvements. or
on personal property. or for licenses. or
for privileges; nor shall any fees be pay
able to any public officer; nor shall any
charge be made for water rent.
That all public expenditures shall be met
solely out of the revenue received from
such ground tax; and that all of said
At Of said city; and that the public uses to
which such fund may be applied, including
the ordinary uses incident to cities, shall
include baths. libraries. play grounds and
other form Of use for public benefit.
That In anticipation of such revenues
there may be issued in payment for public
expenditures notes which shall bear no in
terest and shall be receivable in payment
Of any pubic dues and legal tender in
payment of all debts; but such notes shall
not exceed in volume $1G5 per capita of the
population Of the city. except that $l.OOO.0o0
may be forthwith issued to be used in de-
fraying the expenses of laying out the city.
No other form Of public debt shall be con-
tracted
That the local government shall lay and
keep In proper condition all lines of COM
munication or transportation. requiring fix
lures to be attached to any public place
and shall retain ownership thereof; and
the same may be operated either by the
local government, or by private parties
under leases granted to those who. after
free competition. bid to render service st
the lowest price; or they may be thrown
open to free public use.
That within said city no patent right shall
be of force, but all inventions shall be free
to besused by any one. That there shall be
court which may grant to inventors suit
able compensation for ali patented articles
produced within its limits. to be paid from
the public fund. The assembly may eract
any proper regulations covering the pro-
duction of patented articles. except that
no restriction of any kind shall be placed
on such production.
That the local government shall consist
OF an assembly. which shall be composed
by residents of lawful age who shall have
resided in said city one year: that each
such person shall have one vote for one
representative, and may change said vote
at any time; that the power of each repre-
sentative shall be equal to the number of
his constituents: that said assembly shall
choose the executive and judicial officers
VINO shall hold office at the pleasure OF the
such laws and regulations as may be neces-
sary for the governpent Of said city.
That the executive shall be vested in a
mayor; who shall be responsible for the
authority to appoint all subordinate officers,
who shall hold office at his pleasure
Advantages Clnimed.
Some Of the advantages which will be
secured under this plan are: Work for all
who desire employment, higher wages, val
liable land without price, low ground rent,
low house rent, freedom from all local tax
ation-direct and indirect, and known and
unknown; cheaper water, cheaper gas,
cheaper electric light and power, cheaper
street railway service, cheaper commodities
right to transact any business without paw
ment OF license. exemption from payment
OF taxes on improvements exemption from
payment of taxes on personal property, ex-
emption from payment of marriage and
burial and other license fees, an actual
voice In affairs of government, a vote that
will count one at all times.
Some of the evils which the plan will
abolish are: Land monopoly, water mo-
nopoly, gas MONOPOLY. electric light and
power monopoly, street railway monopoly,
private business monopoly secured by the
license system, high house rents caused by
the increased cost Of materials due to taxa
ton thereon and by taxes on improve
ments; high prices of commodities due to
personal property and license taxes there
on, the robbery of widows and orphans
and honest people by personal. property
improvements; the interference with the
right to labor involved in the license sys-
tenn. the petty robberies involved In the fee
system
The Understanding public debt. the
money" monopoly, the patent right
monopoly, by which the people are de-
barred by high prices for a long series of
years from using Inventions; the failure Of
our electric system, the irresponsibility Of
our executive system, the unresponsiveness
Of our legislative system. an excess of pub
lie officials. unwieldy governmental system
Therefore, the City Of Justicia will at
tract
People OF wealth. as a place of residence
because there they will find beautiful
residence sites and exemption from per-
sonal property taxation; and when they die
their widows and orphans will not be
robbed under the guise Of taxation.
Manufacturers because sites will cost
nothing, and they will be at all times ex-
empt from taxation on plant and product
and they can make and use patented art.-
cles without the payment of royalties.
Mechanics and laborers-because there
they will at all times find opportunity for
employment at higher wages than else
where, lower living expenses. and home
merely at the cost of the building. the size
costing nothing, and freedom from ell
taxation.
And all other classes would find advan-
tage in residence, and all producing classes
in business.
A number of prominent and philanthropic