The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-11
PREscoTT's NEW MOVE.

The believers in the theory of the sin
gle tax, as promulgated by Henry
George, and the advocates of the initia-
tive and referendum idea of govern
ment, are to be afforded an opportunity
of watching an experiment along those
lines. The city of Prescott, Ariz., has
adopted both
Prescott is city of about 1000 pop
ulation- 1t is Republican in politics, but
has a Populist mayor elected on a non
partisan ticket. His election appears to
have followed quite naturally the adop-
tion of these two new and untried sys-
TENS, since he had been an ardent sup
porter of both for some years.
The argument used by the Prescott
single takers was something like this:
Thirty years ago the land on which it
stands was bought from the govern
ment for 5000. Today it is worth a mil
lion. In no section of the world, per-
haps, have land values, represented by
city lots, increased so rapidly as they
have in the western states during the
last % years. Land bought at the gov
ernment valuation of $1.25 an acre, in
five. ten or Is years has increased in
many instances to millions. The cost
of municipal governments has increased
prOportionately. These enormous in
creaSes in values have been created
solely by the individuals composing the
community, yet the lot owners alone
have received the benefits. Under this
SyStem-by which a whole people create
enormous land values, merely to give
to a comparatively few lot Owners-a
premium is placed on land monopoly
and speculation working correspond
ing injustice to the landless and the
homeseeker.
Fifteen individuals and corporations
own more than One-third of the town.
Heretofore the proportion of taxation
borne by the land represented in town
lots was one in eight. That is, the land
paid one-eighth of the taxation, the re-
mainder being collected from taxes lev
led on improvements, furniture, stocks
of goods and tools, and from license
taxes levied on business and industries.
Under this system the business man
paid either as a direct tax or rent: 1,
A tax on his own lot; ?, a tax on his
building; 3, a tax on his stock of goods
or tools: 4, a. license tax.
In addition to this. if he lived in the
town. he paid: l. A tax on his resi-
dence lot; ,, a tax on his residence; 3,
a tax on his furniture.
About so per cent of all taxes raised
are expended in public improvements,
street grading, lighting and building
While the business man paid the taxes,
half of it went to improve the city and
add value to the real estate, which, un-
der normal conditions, never depre-
ciates in value. Contrary to this rule.
improvements, stocks of goods and tools
are constantly depreciating under the
most favorable conditions. So the chief
Den6nClarleS cOulu De only Tie ISdl c.
tate owners. But take the class that
paid seven -eighths of the taxes out of
the communicative business and in
dustrial classes-and the entire town
site would be worth no more in a few
years than the 5000 that the first set
tier paid for it.
With the initiative and referendum
in force, when citizen dislikes the act
ion of the council. as set forth in the
published proceedings, he may call for
an expression of the voters on the sub
ject. Also if the citizen gains the nee
essary numerical backing, he may com
pei the submission to a vote of any
ordinance deemed for the best inter-
ests of the municipality.
These important changes in the ad-
1ninistration of the affairs of Prescott
have only been in operation about two
months. The result will doubtless be
watched with q great deal of interest
by the remainder of the country.