The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-04
THEORIES.
Plans of Henry George Adopted in
Arizona.

Prescott Special in st. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat.
The initiative and referendum, single tax
and female suffrage would seem to be a
curious combination to be adopted by a
municipality in Arizona, but all three have
been accepted by Prescott, and all the pre-
liminaries necessary to carrying into OPP
Grafton the three plans for political adj
vancement have been arranged. In the
single-tax idea it is believed that Prescott
is the first town in the United States to
adopt the plans of Henry George,
All this has been commenced IN a spirit
of -good-natured political experimentation
upon the part of the citizens OF Prescott,
they having assured themselves that
through the experiment no loss can result
to the municipality. More than to any
other cause the experiment is due to the
persuasive powers of the mayor, Buckley"
O'Neill, otherwise William Q. ONeill, the
perpetual candidate of the Populist party
in Arizona for the office of delegate to Con-
greSs, and an enthusiastic believer In the
inclination and ability of the people to rid
themselves of existing political evils. But
O'Neill is the only POpuliSt concerned IN
the change. The town is strongly Repub-
lican in politics, and the complexion of the
City Council is the same, though mayor
and Council were elected on q nonparttsan
basis. With the sanction of the City Coun-
Gil, one of O'NeilpS first acts on assuming
magisterial robes was to appear before the
Territorial Legislature with the dratt Oh a
bill applying to cities of 1900 to 1900 lnhaD+
itants, and permitting the adoption OF the
three Populistic ideas noted. The bill as
it involved only Prescott, went through the
Legislature quietly, and 1t Is doubtful
whether a majority of the members knew
what they were voting on.
Monday, following the suggestions con-
tanned in a message from the mayor, the
Prescott City Council began the single tax
movement by imposing a tax of 81 on every
lot in the city, whether improved or unim-
proved, the idea being to abolish licenses,
with one exception, and to gradually in
crease the tax on lots until all improve
ments and personal property are exempt
from municipal taxation. The single excep-
ton on licenses is TO be the saloons, which
licenses, it is proposed, shall be raised to
something like 81, 900 per AMMAN.
The mayors message, which also recon-
mcnded a street tax on ali male citizens of
81 per annum, said, in relation to the single
tax recommendation, that the present
method of taxation involved on the part If
some residents paymen of taxes on tour
different bases, namely: A tax on his lot;
a tax on his building; a tax on his stock of
tools; a license tax.
Through this system" the message con-
tinues. lin addition to the risks of loss
through failure or misfortune in business,
the industry and energy of this class Of
men, who by building up a business or in
dustry add to the prosperity or wealth Of
real-estate spectators once, although il is
the work of the commercial and indsutrial
classes that alone gives value to any lot in
Prescott. Take from Prescott its CONNER
cial and industrial interests, and every lot
within its limits would be valueless. 1t is,
therefore,, but right that these interests and
the men engaged in them should be as
fairly treated as is possible in the way of
equitable taxation"