The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-06-11

JOHN J. MCANN.
form Of thousands of the people. When
it is remembered that the entire voting
population of Delaware scarcely reaches
1000 and that of these probably one
half are either active members of the
various single tax leagues of the state
or quiet sympathizers with and believers
in the principle, the full force Of the
progress there made can be fairly real
lied.
1t being known to the friends of the
cause that the constitution Of Delaware
permitted taxes to be levied on such
properties and in such proportion as the
legislature should from time to time de-
termine, the more active among them
proposed to make an open fight for the
adoption Of the new system in that
state. The idea was caught up by their
friends throughout the country and lib
eral contributions began to come in. At
that time the enterprise was looked ON
with contempt and derision. Today the
old parties are warily measuring it's
strength and recognize the fact that
farreaching principle is involved in the
contest.
And what is the real basis for all this
enthusiasm? What is the reason for the
new departure? Is it that its advocates
shall gain some special advantage over
their fellow citizens under the new or
der? Is it IA movement of bondholders or
importers, money owners, manufactur-
ers or traders in goods, for the purpose Of
shifting the burden off their own shoul-
ders on to the shoulders of others?
The very simplicity and naturalness
of the single tax doctrines in these days
of voluminous, perplexing and bewilder-
ing policies are the features which re-
deem it from all suspicion Of selfish
ness and enshrine it in the affections
Of so many of its advocates. 1t is more
than fiscal. 1t is moral reform with
fiscal name.
The single tax is so called because it
proposes to abolish all other forms Of
taxation and to raise all public revenues
by assessments upon one thing, and one
only, and that is the value Of land. 1t
is not tax upon land, for that would
be laid, according to area, equally upon
good and poor, but is a tax upon the
value of land without regard to the
area or to the Improvements upon it.
The value of land is created wholly and
absolutely by the community, and not
by the owner or by any other person.
Therefore, we say, LET the communi-
ty take what the community creates
and use it for the community and leave
to the individual what the individual
produces for his individual enjoyment.
Suppose two men land on an island
through which runs ravine. Suppose
that on one side of the ravine the land
will produce 200-not 200 bushels Of
wheat per acre or 200 head Of cattle or
5000, but 200 units Of value per year.
The land on the other side, equal in
area, will produce, with the same ap-
plication of labor only 100 per year.
The first place will have what single
tax men call an "unearned increment"
rental value" Of 100 per year, be-
cause there are two men on the island,
and both will want the same piece, fol
land never has any value until at least
two men want it. Which will get the
better piece? The stronger man. And 80
1T is that all land titles the world over
are based upon force, because every man
wants the best piece, and we have as
yet not had the wit TO devise and oper-
ate single tax" to remedy the evil.
These men go to work, and they agree
that they will pay every year 10 per
cent of their product into what they
call the public treasury to make roads,
bridges and other common improve
ments. AT the end Of the year the first
man pays into the treasury 30 and re-
tains $50, and the other man pays in 10
and retains 90, And so it is, year afte1
year, that the first man gets richer than
the other, although he works no harder
nor more intelligently--tha is, the
wealth Of the island is inadequately
distributed. If the poorer man objects,
the other replies: 81 pay more taxes
than you. What have you to complain
OF? You are disturber of the peace. {"
The poorer man sees that his richer
neighbor does apparently pay more
taxes, and 30 he submits patiently to an
injustice because he cannot fathom it.
But all the while the rich man is be-
coming richer and the other man rela-
lively poorer, and it is beyond the
power of either to correct the difficulty,
If hewould, so long as the fundamental
wrong exists.
But now suppose that these two men