Milford chronicle., 1895-09-06

Mr.. LIvEsEY-Dear SIR The
Single Tax is a question of govern
mental reform. not of individual re-
form and if as you propose that Sin
gle Tax shysters and in fact all other
land owners, should voluntarily trans
fer their titles (Which, by the way, is
the shell of the business) to the gov
eminent. No permanent improve
ment would follow unless the Coy
ernment would forever after collect
the rental value of the land (this is
the kernel of the business from those
to whom it would transfer the &C.
cuPancy; and this could be done at
present without the foolish, ineitect-
ual and unnecessary REIMBURSEMENT
of land titles by Single Takers or
any one else that you propose.
If A and B possess the land and
@ is landless, it will make no differ
ence to the community that A should
voluntarily become landless in order
that G should take his place. Our
proposition is that the land belongs
equally to A, B and G, and if A and
B monopolize the occupancy they
should pay the equivalent to G who
is debarred from its use. G receives
his compensation in freedom from
taxation, while A and B pay in taxes
for the use Of that which equally be-
longs to all.
If l should give up what land |
now possess to the government, why |
bless your innocent soul, the gov
eminent would simply give it to
some political favorite, or offer it for
a general scramble as per Oklahama
strips, and the Single Tax would he
no nearer than at present. If you
mean that to be consistent we should
not appropriate to our own use the
rental value of land while contending
that it belongs rightfully to the com
l grant that you are cor
rect, but present conditions render
it difficult to be consistent, for to the
extent of this voluntary restitution
ihe governmental revenue would in
crease, thus reducing the ordinary
AK rate to those who would still
lold on to the rental value of land
inally resulting in the further enrich
nent Of idle land holders.
Then another thing must be taken
nto consideration, you are probably
ware that some Single Tax shysters
re also owners improvements and
'ersonal property the results of their
'wn individual energy, and that the
community under the present sys-
EN- of taxation appropriates por-
ion OF the said improvements and {
ersonal belongings to which it Is I
OF justly entitled; so you see the T
ne steal may compensate for the
Their and it would be hardly fair to
SIX us to surrender our swag to the d
overnment until the government is t
sady and willing to cease stealing f
nat which rightfully belongs to us.
o you see the governmental reform {
the initiatory one to secure, then
lie reform of the individual will fol.
Nv as matter of course.
1t seems to me, Mr.. Livesey, that
GU are following the advice the old
wyer gave to his young friend,
when you have no case don't fail to
srsonally abuse the counsel for the
oposition." You have no case, and A
1u know it. You cannot breathe E
e zephyr of an objection against
e cyclone of argument in favor of
e Single Tax. You have no logi- !
l teeth to attack the bones we Z
buck" you. and you bay at the Z
Don. You boast that you scatter (
retreat all Single Takers. Brave Y
en- who have breasted the fiery hail
shot and shell, have been known |
run from a fusilade of Chinese ~
nk-potss aud in like manner when IN
gnest, hir-minded men throw into W