The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
S|NGLE-TAXERS'
NEW CAMP A|GN
They Are Preparing for
a Fight Before the
Legislature.
Several Supporters of Their
Iieas in the Senate and
Assembly.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
At Least the Product of Labor IN
California May Be Exempt
From Taxation.

The singIe-taxers are making prel1ml-
nary arrangements for campaign IN tne
next Legislature of this State. looking TO
at least an advancement OF their prlncl-
piles. They recognize even now that at
best only step forward can be made, but
that if mplished will be regarded as
concession in favor of single tax. Among
those who will make a fight in this direc-
tion are Congressman James q. Mcguire,
Joseph Leggett and ]. Reynolds. Chair
man Afford of the Democratic State Gen.
trail Comm ittee and Judge Dibble, Assem-
blyman-e.ect from the Forty-first District
in this City, are ardent single-taxers, and
their influence will be thrown into the
struggle.
Reynolds, who is at present engaged in
the Registrars Office at the City Hall,
stated that call the Democratic Senators
and Representatives elected from this
City stand pledge by resolution OF the
county convention to vote for submitting
the single-taxers' constitutional amend
ment, and some of them-four or five
have by letter declared themselves in
favor of 1T, some going so far as to demand
the single tax.
That leaves six Republicans besides
Judge Dtbble, and he says that they have
Mr.. Afford tells me that of the two elected
from Tulare. one is a single-taxer and he
thinks the other is not hard to get"
Joseph Leggett said that as soon as the
Legislature meets single-taxers will draft
a form OF constitutional amendment, ask
ing that the whole matter of taxation be
submitted to the Legislature.
THAT" he added, I'VE consider to be
the better form in which to start the move
ment for reform in taxation. II the power
to exempt any class of property from
taxation were in the Legislature, then any
particular interest would be able to go
before that body. Upon convincing the
Legislature that it would be for the best
| interests OF the State and the community,
the Legislature would then have power 10
exempt that property from taxation for
any length of time or for all time. All re-
naming to be done would be 10 enact. a
statute having that effect"
! Mr.. Leggett cited the endeavors of the
Merchants and Producers Association,
| which will seek to have an amendment
carried making it possible for the Legisla-
ture to enact law exempting from taxa
tion all products of labor in California.
'.If the State would exempt raw ma
terial, capital invested in buildings, ma
chinery, ETC., and also the products of Ia
Dor, California would be able to manufac-
| ture cheaper than the East
| Another interest that has been max
| ing good deal of a stir is shipping, taxa
ton on which is so heavy in this port
it is exceedingly difficult for shipowners
! to compete with those of foreign ports.
! To abolish their burden it is necessary to
get constitutional amendment. As we
cannot attain to this end at once, we are
in favor of getting there steadily, step by
step, and when we lind an association
like the Shipcwners' or the Merchants and
Producers we join with them.
The single-taXer's idea Is to strike off a
| tax whenever he can do it, unless on land
values. Every square inch of land must
| be compelled to pay the tax, but the
! product of human labor must be exempt.
''Some think it better to go for con-
| stitutional amendment exempting di-
rectly all personal property and improve
ments from taxation, aud providing that
all public revenues shall be raised by
single tax on land values. believe Mr..
Afford thinks this would be the better
plan, abut Judge Mcguire, Mr.. Reynolds
| and myself think the other method would
be more practical and more likely to Sc
| cure immediate results"
James II. Barry, the editor of the Star,
who IS a strong supporter os the single-tax
theory, stated that 4 vigorous fight would
be made at Sacramento by single-taxers
and their supporters during the next
session OF the Legislature.