The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
PASTORS TALK
single TAX
Ralph Hoyt Raises Questions
at the Congregational
Monday Club.
Members Waive Discussion to
Probe Into the Sub
ject.
Interest in Single Tax Generally Bz-
pressed-Presbyterians Hold
a Quiz Day.

Ralph Hoyt State organizer of the sim
gle tax movement, made an address by
invitation yesterday before the Congrega-
tional Monday Club. His paper was lis
tened TO with great interest by the pastors.
Among other things the speaker said:
Itisa hopeful indication that at least few
clergymen among the 10000 more per-
sons in the United States whose vocation is
the preaching and teaching OF religious prin-
ciples, are DESTROYS of investigating economic
questions None among class of persons so
intelligent and Wei educated can be blind 10
the fact that there IS something radically,
wretchedly, cruelty wrong with our exlsung
social system, else how Is 1t that the rich III
our land are rapidly becoming richer, and the
poor are, with corresponding rapidlty, grow
ing relatively poorer?
Why are men ana women hercely contend
ing with each other for chance 10 earn an
honest pittance, while starving children are
CRYING for bTeadf
Surely 1t is not because OF any lack of nat
ural resources from which the means OF sub
sistence can be obtained by labor applied 10
such resources. The earth is natures great
Etorehouse, wherein are the raw materials Tor
the prod uction of uncounted thousands OF
good things for the satisfaction OF human de-
sires. With free access to this vast storehouse
none need starve, none need lack the tangible
things tina 60 TO make lie desirable. And IN
this connection let US listen to the words OF
that greatest OF modern philosophers and
philanthropists, Henry George, who says:
at is a we'll proviSioned ship, this on which
we sail through space. II the bread and beef
above decks seem to grow scarce, we but open
a hatch and there is new supply OF which
before we never dreamed. And very great
command over the services of others comes to
those who, as the matches are opened, are per-
mitted to say: This is mine!
But l must hasten to briefly outline the
theory OF the single tax-our moral reform
with fiscal name-a tax which is really not q
tax, except as to the method by which it must
be levied and collected.
ho fol- yiu0 dafinjtinp
Hon. James S. Reynolds of this Clty,who was a
member of the California convention in 1873
which framed the misft constitution now in
force but who has since repented, reformed,
and become an ardent sing ie- taxer. Mr.. Rey-
nolds says:
1.-The single tax is the taking of ground rent
alone for public use. This seems simple and
plain enough for even a child to understand
And it is. Children do understand IL when
told, and so do grown persons whose minds
nave not been filed with the prevalent super
stitions on which revenue laws are founded;
but superstitions blind the underS standing,
therefore it is necessary to extend the dehnl-
ZION.
The single tax means the abolition of all
taxes upon persons, on industry, on its prod
ucs, and the taking for public purposes by
the taxation OF land values irrespective OF i'm
provements, all that fund arising from the
increase of population and its moral and in
dustrlaI activities which constitute the nat
ural, just and sufficient source OF public
revenues"
Thousands of men and women in the United
States are trying 10 solve this riddle in the
only way by which its solution is possible. 1t
NAV be well to state in this connection that
the advocates OF this movement represent all
classes OF honest, respectable people. Among
its earnest supporters are numerous mer-
chants, manufacturers, farmers, wage
workers, clerks, lawyers, Judges, railroad
officials, bankers, college professors, phys-
clans, mechanics, journalists and last-though
not least in importance, but few IN mum ber-
ministers Scores OF newspapers-a dozen or
more in California-aTe printing single tax
Departments regularly, and few are so blind to
the demands of the public as to exclude we'll
written articles faYoring our movement when
ever such matter is offered them.
1t was quiz day at the Presbyterian
Ministerial Association. and missions as
well as other subjects of interest TO minis
tiers were discussed. Rev. DR.. Condit read
resolutions OF regret for the death of the
late Miss Culbertson, and on a motion
made by the Rev. DR.. Minton it was re-
solved to frame the resolutions and hang
them in the room at the mission, 800 Sac
ramento street, where the Presby terrain
ministers have held their meetings for
several years.
The Christian ministers held an infor-
NAL discussion yesterday on the subject
of house-to- house vista tons in order to
interest the general public in church
work. The following officers we're elect"
for the next six months: Rev. w. B.
Berry, president; Rev. II. V. Morgan,
vice president; Rev. F. s. Ford, secretary
Rev. DR.. Gardener treasurer.