Smyrna times., 1896-05-27
TAX DODGES.
The Abolition of Personal Taxes for
the Benefit of MiIliOnares.

It has been the backbone argument |
of the new taxation crusaders against |
taxing personal property that the per-
sonal property taxes are always
lodged. Congressman Mcguire uses
this argument as one of two of the chief
reasons why we should adopt Single
Tax. (See printed Speeches.) The
other reason he gives as a prevention
to land monopoly. Justice prints in
stances of the lodging of personal
taxes as if it found secret and malig-
nant satisfaction in it, and they all
cry in unison that land taxes can not
be lodged.
Let me ask them a few questions
their statements to the contrary not
withstanding. Is there any tax which
with the connivance of politicians and
the tax gathering officials that can not
be lodged? Is a single tax on land
any exception to this? Are there not
land holdings in every community
nOtoriously under valued for the pur-
poses of taxation? Are there not
tracts of land on which taxes have not
been paid in years? and have not some
tracts run on for years and then com
promised by the tax gatherers with the
owners at a smaller valuation? These
cases are found in every State and I
presume Delaware to be among the
number. Only last week Justice pub
lished list of 232 vacant lots in the
city of Wilmington that were taxed
only at 10 per cent. of their real valua-
ton and a list of more than so lots
containing buildings which were as
sessed at from 40 to 80 per cent. of
their value. In face of these facts why
do you tell us q land tax can not be
doged? I was glad to see them publish
this list because they can not dispute
it. Would the assessors books resem-
BILE the truth any more under Single
Tax, double tax or a complex tax any
more than they do now? Or are Single
Tax assessors all going to be angels?
Are there to be no favored rich III any
community then? My Single Tax
friends will stick a pin in this spot OF
they may forget the place.
Since all taxes are either Personal
or 'Iand' taxes and if the persona,
taxes are lodged to anything like the
extent the tax crusaders avow, ther
land values must be bearing the bull
of taxes now: May L ask if these times
are so close to ''millenium" times
what are we to expect when the Singl,
Tax millennium comes?
Who owns the most of the persona
property of the country, the railroads
telegraphs, steamships, shipping, steam
ferries, street cars, electric trust, suga
reineries, beef trust, grain elevators
Touring mills, gold, silver, money
banks, bonds, stocks, mortgages, etc.
tic? Do the agricultural and laborine
class of people own any of these things
If not, why should they desire to abol
ish taxes on them and put them al
upon land?
Let my Single tax friends. com
down from the clouds with their hig
flying oratory, down to earth wher
men live and take a case of genuin
land monopoly in Delaware, along th
banks of the historic Brandywint
One family has here succeeded in &C
ding. farm to farm and house to hous
until they now possess thousands {
acres, with valuable mills, factories
water sites and several villages. No
the value of their personal propert
outruns the value of their lands b
many thousands of dollars, making
saving to this family in taxes fe
thousands of dollars every year to /
made up presumably by the vacant |,
holders in Wilmington many of who
are working people and paying fc
I them in monthly installments. Shoul
Single Tax be once adopted, tn
family will become its most ardel
supporter in Delaware Delaware hs
very few rich families and such as 81
has she does not need to relieve of an
,. just share of taxation.
Whenever a Single Tax should l
adopted it will be done for the benei
of the money lender and stock gar
blers whose vacant land holdings Al
| nearly always small and at the expen
! of those who make the products tn
clothe and feed the world. The fe
millionares of large unoccupied lar
ye holdings will soon find way to dod,
their taxes. These gentlemen wi
white hands and deceitful hearts, W
either dodge as they do now or add
their land rents. My friends may
terpose that they will confscate rent
value Of land. In that case let the
he stop their noise about the taxation an
make the issue the "Confiscation
/, rent" so every one can understan
Jy and we will talk with them on til
issue.
he The new apologists for millio
oss on arism should not go beyond the co
fines Of common sense to form tn,
conclusions though enticed by Geor,
ma Henry or Henry George. Taxes the
retically raised from land values inev
no ably tend to put the most valuab
- sites under control of the rich.
helps land monopoly and does not hi
asr der it. Labor produces all veal
= and labor ultimately pays all taxes al
1 it is impossible for labor to tax its
4 rich while it is possible for it to thr
"a itself under the ~ : - = raisil
Il r,ill;onar;sp,, ,lnent of Georgia pei,
= III in two weeks.
for stand q '
- ---- -@ss- .-----
- always in season, Hopp
Nominy (Huied Corn). L. property
thelilk. Qt can l0c ATTY stated