The Opelousas courier., 1895-06-29
Single Tax Municipal

Let us first state exactly what the
eingle Tax proposition is. We propose
TO relieve from taxation all personal
property, incomes, buildings; and inn
nrovements to real estate generally.
The only tax we would retain is the
TAX now levied on the value of land;
and that tax we would increase sufi-
GENTLY to make up the deficiency
caused by the relief of the other items.
90 THE ADVANTAGES.
For this method the following ad-
vantares are claimed:
/. Il would be certain; chat is to say.
the lax could not be evaded. Land
lies out of doors" and can not be
hidden. Land values are more easily
appraised by the assessor than any
other species of property, especially
when the speculative element is elm.
mated.
,. 1t would be wise, because its eff
fects would be to remove burdens from
commerce, industry, and business gen
orally. BY discouraging the withdraw
al OF lane from use, and encouraging
its improvement, it would expand OPP
p%ortunity for labor, augment wealth,
and increase the reward of industry
and thrift. Tax dogs, and there are
less dogs. Tax trade, and there is less
trade. Tax houses, there are fewer
and poorer houses. But tax land, and
there is not a square foot less land.
3. 1t would be equal, because every
n would pay taxes in proportion
to the amount of land value which he
appropriated to his own use.
4. 1t would be just, because it would
not fall upon enterprise, labor and
thrift, but upon the value of a special
privilege-namely, the privilege of APP
pr"priating a part of the value created
by the community. The value of
land is a thing which is created
entirely by the community at
The value of each par
lot is caused or created by
the whole of the people, not by any
particular individual.
WHAT WOULD BE ABoL1sHED.-See
how uncertain, unwise, unequal, I'M
just and expensive are the tax on per-
sonal property and the tax on income.
The more property 4 man has, the
stronger is his interest in evading the
tax, and the easier it is for him to do it.
UNwIsE-Capital is wealth engaged
in trade and industry. To tax capital
is to put a burden on trade and to check
industry.
Remember also that a tax on capital
is one of those 'indirect' taxes which |
do not "stay put" but are usually
For instance, the tax on a re-
tail merchants stock of goods is passed
On by the merchant to the buyer and
consumer of the goods, in the shape of
prices. But a tax on land val
les stays where it is put.
UNEQUAL I'M UNJUsT.-The taxes
now levied on personal property reach
a mere wretched fag-end of the
.otal amount. Thus those who do pay
Ire taxed much more than their fair
share. Besides, it is difficult to appor-
ion such taxes equally even among
who pay. Hence the agitation in
Toronto for an amendment of the law
to stocks of goods. Hence
he movement in New York to abolish
taxes.
Why should the city take away from
a little of your capital every year,
when you are employing it to promote
,rade and industry, and when your SO
it helps to make other peo-
olc's land more valuable?
1t is on this principle that the cities
# Toronto and Hamilton have exempt
d machinery from taxation. Let
hem extend the principle.
ExPENsIvE.-In proportion to their
these taxes cost more to col
ect than any others. But their great
st cost is in the items of honor, hon.
sty and constructions which the
lation can ill spare.