The San Francisco call., 1896-05-07
Demand Free Pilotage for Ships
Entering and Leaving
the Harbor.
WARM PRAISE FOR "THE CALL
Attorney Leggett Heartily Commends
its Stand on the Woman Suf.
frage Question.


all along the line. There have been meet
ings of boards, committees and other busi-
ness bodies, and much work, important
as regards the propagation OF the doctrine,
has been carried out.
Besides there has been renewed activity
in the circulation of the petition sent out
by the National Single-Tax committee,
and the leaders of the movement in Cal
ifornia have most favorable reports to
make.
At the last meeting of the executive
ommittee of the San Francisco Single.
Tax Society the pledge for voters to sign
was slightly modified.
'sSingle-taxers were well enough salts
fed with the pledge as it read" said At
torney Joseph Leggett, National Com
mitteeman from California, "as they ex-
actly understand the meaning of the
phrase, which will open the way 10 single
tax legislation
"But its meaning is not SO clear to many
others who are as much in favor of amend
ing article XIII as the single-taxers
themselves. The obstacle in the way of
securing such exemptions as are desired
by the Manufacturers and Producers As
sociation is precisely the same as that
which hinders the singletaxers.
The modified pledge reads as follows.
az hereby promise that / will vote only
for such candidates for the Senate and AS
sembly as are pledged i'll writing to SUBJ
NIT constitutional amendment giving to
the Legislature full power over the subject
of taxation"
Mr.. Leggett then spoke as follows in ex-
Il nd al 0f he
"If full power over the subject of taxa
ton is given TO the Legislature the manu-
facturers and ship-owners can by the
passage of an act of the Legislature secure
at once such exemptions as they desire
without waiting two years for an oppor-
tunity to submit the proposition to q vote
of the people.
"In all their efforts to secure such ex-
emptions they can confidently rely upon
the aid of the single-taxers. The modified
form of the pledge is equally satisfactory
to the single-taxers, because it will open
the way for such advanced legislation as
they may be able to induce the Legisla-
ture to enact.
'The single-taxer's method is to lop off
tax on industry or fine on enterprise
and thrift wherever he has a chance, and
he is ever ready to cooperate heartily
with any one who is willing to take step
however short-in that direction.
"The pledge was modified with view
to secure the cooperation and assistance
of the manufacturers and ship-owners in
circulating it and in getting it signed. If
the pledge is properly handled in this
City, there will not be a single member of
ifc da1a0afinr in tho IL
will dare to vote against the proposed
amendment to article XIII.
"The singIe-taxers may be relied on to
do their share of this work, and it is to be
hoped that the manufacturers and ship
owners will not fail to do theirs The
patent absurdity of seeking to protect
manufactures and commerce by Federal
legislation, and at the same time doing
our best to cripple and destroy them by
State taxation, ought not to be longer per-
mtted.,
"The first thing to be done to secure a
just and rational system of taxation is to
give jurisdiction of the subject to the
Legislature. With that point attained,
the battle will be more than half won.
'To accomplish that there ought to be
an effort on the part of all who are seek
ing to build up the State and its enter.
prises."
Attorney James L. Reynolds spoke in
the same strain. When asked what the
single-taxers would strive for to benefit
San Francisco in case article XIII should
be amended, he answered:
"What would we strive for? Whv. for
the abolition Of all taxes on personal prop
erty, of course. That is, primarily. But
there are many special things in the exist
ing state of affairs that tend to hold San
Francisco behind in the race for pros
perity, and we would attack these first.
"For instance, ships are obliged to take
q pilot on board and pay high price for
his services when they enter this port
whether they wish to or not. Thew have
to do the same thing on leaving. Then
there is wharfage to pay and a host of
other things that tend to discourage COM
merce.
"Do you know 1t is my firm belief that
if the tax were taken off mems business
the condition of affairs would soon be so
prosperous that the revenue arising from
the enhanced value of ground property
would not only suffice for the expenses of
running the municipality, but would give
large enough surplus to pay for pilots to
conduct ships in and out of the harbor.
All other expenses would be done away
with as well.
'Then ships laden with the spices of the
Orient, craft filled with the products of the
tropics, and, in fact. vessels bearin the
products peculiar to all countries, would
flock here as they never did before. 1t
wonld mean revival of commerce, a rush
in business, and steady, enduring pros
perity. This is the object single-taxers
have in view in their struggle for the
amendment to article KILL
What Is the attitude of single-taxers
in regard to the acknowledgements of
women? Does it vary with the man. or
are single-taxers unit on the question ?~
"As to that said Attorney Leggett
with broad smile, 81 think | can answer
for all of us. Now" waxing earnest