The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14
Constitution to Be Amended to
Grant Local Option in
Taxation.
REFoRMERs ALREADY ACTIVE
The Proposed Amendment to Be Advo
Gated in the Democratic
Platform.

Local single-tax advocates are working
for convention of representative single
takers from all over the State. to be held
in this City. The large number of those
who believe in this reform, as evidenced
by the thousands of signatures to the
s1ngle-tax petition which has been circu-
lated throughout the State, make 1t adj
yantageous to the reformers to have some
sort of meeting and reunion, from which
they may derive mutual encouragement
and devise means of best prosecuting the
campaign for the adoption of the constitu-
tional amendment for local option in mat
tiers of taxation.
Definite plans for the convention have
not as vet been made. Soon after the re-
turn to this City of Congressman Mcguire
and DR.. Law, prominent and wealthy
single-taxer, who has been actively en-
gagged in the Delaware campaign, call
will in all probability be issued for the
convention.
The gathering is sure to be of com
posite character, as the single tax in
Guides workers of all classes, IN all parts OF
the State. This City and Oakland will,
of course, be well represented. Los An
geles has great many single-ta1ers and
should be well represented. The Jealous
work Of prominent workers in the cause in
various parts of the State-James E. Mills
in Plumas and other mining counties, AL
fred Cridge in the San Joaquin Valley and
a host of others scattered all over the
State-should result in strong representa-
ton from these localities.
The constitutional amendment, to effect
# iof II bar ho
object of the convention, will undoubtedly
be advocated in plank of the Democratic
platform, to be adopted next week.
In spite of the general disagreement
between the two warning factions of the
local Democracy, the prevailing sentiment
in each seems to favor the insertion in the
State platform of the plank that is being
urged by the single-tax advocates. Repre-
sentatives of both the Junta and Buckley
branches of the party will work for the
adoption of the same plank, so that which
ever delegation is seated the result in re-
gard to the "single-tax plank" will be the
same. And if both delegations should be
seated and the members of both factions
be allowed half vote each, 1t is under
stood that in this matter they will stand
together and vote as a unit.
The plank, which has been formulated
mainly by James S. Reynolds, prominent
single-tax advocate, and ex-president OF
the Single-tax Society of this City, pro-
vides for local option in taxation. Single.
tax advocates regard it as practically q
single tax-plank.
There are various localities at present
where a majority of the voters would be
81 criIr q
trial, but the present constitutional pro
vision precludes such course. Given
the single tax in operation in one commu
nifty, say the advocates of the reform, and
the prosperity and business activity neces
sarily consequent would compel neigh
boring communities to likewise adopt the
system IN order to maintain themselves
in the competition of industry.
Single-taxers therefore take an unusua
interest in this measure, which they be
lieve must and will be the opening wedge
in the reform. The plank, or, rather, tn,
planks, which will in all probability be in
corporated IN the platform are as follows
In accordance with the teachings of on
democratic fathers, that power should be re
served to and distributed among the people
we favor the amendment OF our State con
stitution on revenue and taxation in sucl
manner that the Legislature shall have powe
to determine how public revenues shall b
raised, and may authorize the political sub
divisions of the State to determine by vote @
their electors how revenues for the support o
their local government shall be raised.
Our candidates for the State Legislature ar
pledged to advocate such amendment.
A polltax is an illogical and undemocrati
tax. 1t falls chiefly on wage-earners, out c
whose wages it is withheld, while othe
evade it.
Therefore we demand that section IL of tn
article on revenue and taxation in our Stat
constitution be repealed.
Our candidates for the State Legislature ar
pledged to advocate such amendment.
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