The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-19
REV. PERCY GRANT 4 GEORGE MAN,
hut In This Election 10 FOR Low NJ q Moro
Practical Municipal Socialist.

Practical Municipal Socialist.
The Rev. Percy Grant, pastor Of the Pro.
testant Episcopal Church of the Ascension,
in Fifth avenue tonce the Rov. DIR. John
Cotton Smiths church), has come before
the public during tho campaign as an ac-
tive supporter OF Low, but acknowledges
that he is n single taxer, as tho followers of
Henry George are called. In some matters Mr..
Grant prefers Mr.. Lows socialism to Mr..
Georges. George. Mr.. Grant says. has no sys.
tenn of municipal government, has promulgated
none. and advocated none-so far, at least, as he.
Mr.. Grant, has Mr.. Low stands for
a system that will inure to the advantage OF the
community by securing for the city the benefits
Of franchises which now tho corporations enjoy
to the detrimcnt of the city's best interest.
Comptroller Fitch told me" Mr.. Grant said
yesterday. that the Sinking Fund brings in
1000 900 a year. so that in twelve years that
alone would pay off our whole municipal debt.
just think of It! ! doubt If very many OF the
people know much about the Sinking Fund.
And yet that receives the revenue from only a
few Of tho possible s~ourccs-from the ferries.
&c. Think what 1t would be IL the city had
acquired the ownership of all the railway fran
chiscs. &c, on n basis Of the value Of, say. ten
years ago. / don't want to try TO give exact
figures. for | might have them wrong. but 1
suppose that not less than $500. 600. 900 n year
might be coming into the fund.
Now. Mr.. Low Is familiar with the methods
OF government in cities all over the world. and
l believe he would be n good administrator OF
tho city's affairs. Mr.. George. j believe, is an
cate Of q system which he thinks would work
to redress what the many who follow him call
lions that make The people feel thcmssiv Son op.
pressed by corporate interests in municipal af-
fairs ana ne victims Of the same interests tam
But do not think Mr.. George would make d
good head Of city affairs; He is reported to have
tise his single tax system. I should not be
surprised 70 see in another generation hat. all
cOrporatcd the single tax idea as an element in
bringing about the relief from burdens which is
everywhere sought. but l do not see that Mr..
George has announced any theory OF city gov.
eminent which, would make him a successful
Mayor of New York. Mr.. Low has a fuller con.
ccption OF the elements OF economic progress,
and represents an effort 10 secure for the com.
nunity some OF tho benefits which living to.
makes possible. Every one can see some Of the
benefits Of living in such great cities. 1t
the back woods with the next ncighbor
a half mile away. Blu, We haven't begun 10 APP.
sible by reason OF such great numbers OF people
living, and working together. How foolish in us
next to our house a great tall building that in.
t%erfcrcs, with the light and sanitation OF our own
and makes i no longer comfortable, or to con:
atruct such buildings as to make the sky line OF
New York an abomination. A community has
q right to govern itself so as TO enable each in
dividuRl to enjoy all the advantages possible by
reason OF that community. to enjoy all that he
can consistently in his relation to tho larger
unit. the community.
1T seems To mo as though the corporations, as
i think MIR. Fairchild put it the other night. had
come to believe that they could not trust the
people, that they must buy them of or buy their
representatives because they fear the resent
mcnt which the people feel al the corrupt meth.
DDS by which their local government is inter
fcrcd with, or by which they arc prevented from
enjoying all tho advantages which the great r.
sources OF the municipality should make posi-
bic. Tome this seems IA most serious feature, the
distrust OF popular Institutions. The people feel
themselves, aggricvcd partly. because they do
not have all TO which they believe they are en-
titled. In the effort % secure to the city the en-
jOyment of the franchises and IL greater degree
OF freedom from corporate interference /, seems
to me Mr.. Low stands distinctly for the City's
interest. therein differing from Mr.. George. who
wants to be Mayor not. primarily, on the city's
account, but In order to extend his single tax
system. While ! am not avcrso to being called
a single taxer. in this the city comes first. and |
want to see first a man working solely for the
city"