Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-04-01

crease in purchasing power Prices at
once began to fall. 1t was soon found
out that money would purchase nearly
twice as much product as before. For
instance. wheat fell from 80 cents a
bushel to 40 cents. To the owners OF
money this meant prosperity, to the
owners of products and all those who
have something TO sell, including their
labor, 1t simply meant ruin.
There were, or there are. some rich
men. strong enough and patriotic
enough. 10 resist this form of infamy,
even at the cost OF their own fortunes.
| Chief among these is the subject of
this address. Mayor Pingree is a
wealthy manufacturer as well as mayor
Of Detroit. On expressing his opinion,
he Immediately became the object of
ridicule at the hands of large por-
tion OF the prominent newspapers of the
country. But ridicule is not argument,
facts can never be answered by abuse;
in this day the people seek the truth,
not abuse. They behold in such men
as Mayor Pingree, a possible savior for
the cause OF humanity, and of the re-
public.
Now let us look at Mayor Pingree's
views on trasportatlon monopolies He
believes in government, state and mu-
nlcipal ownership, in all quasi public
mCnopol,es. For instance. IL the gov
erument runs the postoftice department
successfully, why should 1t not run
the entire railroad system or telegraph
system? II municipalities run the
water system successfully, why not ex-
tend our ownership to gas or street
railways? Such condition Of affairs
would have two good results. the aboii~
tion OF vast private fortunes and in a
more equitable distribution of wealth.
Eor instance, instead of paying ex-
orbitant rates TO private persons or
corporations. the people would be prac-
ticaljy paying their own money into
their own pockets. as it were. 1t is
plain that government and municipal
ownership Of public mOnopolies would
be a benefit to mankind The subject
admits OF very little. If any. adverse
argument.
Now let us look at Mr. Pingree's
views of land mcnopolies. First, we
must find oct what land monopoly is.
| will give a simple illustration: On
the corner OF Garfield ani Michigan
boulevards there is a vacant lot valued
at twenty thousand dollars; its owner
holds it at that price. What gives the
property that value? improvements?
No; it stands to-day in the same con
dltion as in the infancy of Chicago,
q xnrhn he In Al.
OF Illinois. 1t is plain that the improve
ments made around it, such as the two
bcuievards. built at public expense,
and houses adjoining, give it its value,
and this value will continue TO increase
indefinitely as result of improvements
made around It, but not upon it. The
owner is what might be called a dead
head in commercial life. that Is he takes
advantage OF natural conditions and
the industry OF his neighbors. Such
man is an enemy to society, for with
out producing anything useful. he
grows wealthy out of the industry of
others. Wealth thus accumulated may
lie called legitimate by some, but never
theless. 1t is not. God gave the land
10 the people TO improve and 10 beau
tify. and not 10 hold in idleness.
To abolish land monopoly it would
cnly be necessary TO pass a law increas-
Ing the taxes on vacant or idle prop
eFty taking II entirely of improved
property that is reversing the condi- |
tons under which We now live. By an |
error which we Inherit from monarchia, |
England. We tax people for improving |
their property. instead of taxing them |
for mol doing so. For instance, have
a lot worth five hundred dollars and my /
tax is two dollars year | put UP a |
house for eight Thousand dollars, the |
tax gatherer immediately assesses me |
for my enterprise. The next year in |
stead of paying two dollars taxes, | pay
flom tiity to seventy dollars: that is
what get for making improvements.
Put ali the tax on the vacant prop
erty and very soon you will see no
more vacant expanses of prairie in
the center OF Chicago. or held for llle-
gitimate speculative purposes. Owners
OF such property would De anxious To
sell so as to get rid OF the taxes. and |
the property woulG he so cheap as TO be
within The reach OF sli the people. All
OF MS could then have homes.
in Detroit Mayor Pingree. as tha
chief executive of the city took oc-
casion TO advocate tax reform in this
liI ection. aud to accomplish his purpose
be has fourd that II will lie necessary
10 change the constitution of the state
,f Michigali. and il is not improbable
.Aai \ legislature favorable 10 his views
viii be elected in November next.
In the meantime. all the vacant
property OF Detroit Is being made use
If by the poor for the purpose OF rails
ng vegetables. hence we have the