The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-24

ont the true principles OF q republic: One
law alike for all. and that law enforced
equally against all :"
These sentiments | can readily indorse
But In your article. hy implication. az
least, you state that 10 exempt personal
property from taxation would violate
these sentiments Of justice which you
have so ably set forth Upon this point
i disagree with you and / shall eRdeavor
70 sustain, upon the principles Of justice
pscsTalated BY you. the position that jus
tice can be done only by exenptlng from
taxation all PERSONAL property and i'm
proysmsnts In and upon land.
IL | understand your position correctly.
II Is this. that each individual deriving
3 benefit from the organized government
should De made TO contribute 10 It's sup
port In the same proportion that he is
benefited by It; or. in other words, he
must pay for what government does for
him. and get what he pays for and moth
ing more This being your contention.
II II can be shown conclusiyely that. IN
der our present government. one class of
property il enabled 20 ahsoro all benefits
TO De gained from the maintenance or
the government. the principles OF justice.
as formulated by yon. viii then demand
that the owners Of this particular class
OF property shall be made 10 bear the
entire expense OF maintaining the govern
tries large number of people who con-
tend that the owners of valuable land
are enabled by that ownership 10 absorb
all benefits arising from the maintenance
OF government. This can perhaps De
most conclusively shown by stating the
argument in the form Of a syllogisn. thus:
Anything which increases the desirabil-
ity OF location will increase the return
TO the owner Of the location in the ex-
act proportion that ii increases the de-
STABILITY.
Among the first things to increase the
desirability OF a locality Is that OF pop
ulation-for man Is a gregarious or social
animal, and he desires 70 be associated
with his fellowmen that he may be able
10 crafty his social inclinations-where
men join themselves In compacts, forma-
lating and enforcing rules and regulations
for the purpose OF protecting each IN MS
inalienable rights TO life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness. thereby guarantee
ing 10 each a security in the enjoyment
of those rights that would be Impossible
for him to secure by himself, the estab-
fishing and maintaining, at the public ex-
pense. such public utilities as schools. IL
braries. roads, streets, paved or other
wise. sewers and water systems. police
and fire patriotism fact, any and all
things which would add either 10 the Sc
curity or convenience OF the people. In
side of the circle of their influence.
Consequently. they would increase the
return TO the owner of the location, in
the same proportion that they Increased
the desira billy.
This argument in a brief manner. 1
think, sustaihs the position taken, that
the land owner-that IS, the owner or val
liable land-enjoys a position in our So
cial organization which enables him, with
out any special effort on his part, event
ually 10 absorb not only all dement's 10 be
derived from the useful institutions MAIN
tanned at the public expense, but also
gives him the power TO finally absorb the
fruits of individual rectitude, invention
and enterprise which tends 10 increase the
desira bility of his locality.
| repeat that l can heartily agree with
you. that when the citizen (the owner of
valuable land) refuses TO pay his just
share of the taxes. the institutions of this
country are threatened that
mot one man dandiord) should escape
his just share of the public burdens" In
brief, a tax on land values. unlike tax
upon labor's products-which tends TO re-
strict their production-has the opposite
effect of throwing more land open for the
use OF productive enterprises. f. I. n.