The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-07

grea, corporations and hard blow TO the
individuals Of medium circumstances WnG
have invested snes- earnings IN land.
is Goldsmith. manager Of the grocery
Department o. Scss1 aFsacher Bros--t am
rrss II. favor OF the single tax. While
fasp negsf read il desaii the hterature %
this parre MAR bransa q economies. kno.
psafa resuir in no good 20 the business in
ssrests Of the city OF Seattle and the state
of Washington
J. NJ colm4a-I am strongly opposed to
the single TAX. IL would hurt the best
interests u TIE city and OF the state. Even
the submission Of the proposed amendment
would drive capital away from as and
reTel investors whose eyes are bow turned
this way. No grayeE commercial disaster
could befal our people just Row.
Joan +. Dore attorney-You can not
print in too large letters so far as my con-
s5etlons are concerned, the fact thai am
opposed 20 the single tax theory. i re-
gard II as one OF the most dangerous OF
the many economic heresies that have been
placed before the American people in re-
cefit Years. II adopted il would result in
nothing less than a revolution Of our pres
sent methods OF government and govern
mental economy The chief hardship
worked by IL woila De upon the small
landowner, who would certainly be called
upon 10 bear an undue proportion or the
burden OF taxation The logical outcome or
the system would be the state ownership
of land and this 1 do not think We are
willing TO adopt. At least |. for one, am
not.
a. n. Stewart-~f have failed so far to
hear any sensible arguments advanced by
the single takers or in fact any one. in
behalf Of the proposed amendment. II ii
means a step III the direction Of the single
lax, u IL pregnant with evil. III Il Is In
Enc with the amendments suggested by
ti1a Eiisnsburg platform. then it shows that
the single tax theorists are active and or
sanized and that while other people are
paying no attention 10 policies in the piir-
suit Of business. they are actively at work
preparing something new for the people TO
think about. | am not believer in the
single tax and therefore ] shall oppose
uie peuEng amendment.
r. - Ne,ifeidar-There Is no good rss soc
shy the state Of Washington should UNI
dertake. ar this time. 30 try any expert
ineits on the line Of the single tax. The
state Ia now facing a period Of great aetiv-
iis and development. Washington Is In
line for "A splendid growth and her people
should be- ready 10 take advantage OF the
opportunities that destiny has thrown 10
us. | cannot believe that any considerable
number of the sober-minded business men
farmers. laborefs and property owners can
be contemplating he substitution of the
Henry George tliaoFy az taxation for the
one Ne now have. l am opposed to the
amendment submitted By the last fegis-
lature and ] am confident that "a heavy
majority viii be cast against it at the
polls.
T. r. Taylor-I cannot see any good rea-
son why any one should agitste scheme
like that proposed by the single takers,
am not a single iaxer. / am opposed 10
the theory. The business men Of Seattle
I understand them, will not favor such
an amendment as that proposed. and
am confident that they will unite with the
realty owners in Seattle, and particularly
With the people who own their Own homes.
In voting against any proposition adyo-
signed stsarter for the theory they
advocate
j. +. Trowbridge, superintendent Of the
Pacific Coast Steamship company-Sing
tax Would work harm on the very people
who are trying to get il. They don't
know what they are getting into. The
average laboring man is working for
home, That Is his ambition. and get We
see them now wanting 10 saddle taxes on
those homes amounting TO many times
the ordinary taxation. II is funny thing
trat they let themselves be deluded by This
proposition. which would help nobody but
the rich man The man with lots OF per-
sonal property is the one 10 favor single
tax. IL IL the same as TIE Tree SILVER
movement, which would primarily help
the owners Of the silver mines. but which
many poor men are striving for in the vain
hope OF helping themselves.
A. l.. Hail % the Hardy-Hali Arms
Company-We went no single tax. I am
satisfied that il would be Of no benefit 10
the business interests OF the state.
Jacob Fnrth. president OF the Puget
Sound National bank. Peoples Savings
bank and Vulcan Iron Works. ana OPP
posed To the single tax. I believe that
taxation should be distributed equally on
tenn the burden would fan heavily upon
owners OF land. If We We're to have a re-
currence u the stringent times recently
passed through. where the products of land
barely paid living expenses 10 the pro-
Queer. II would he impossible for him 20
pay the tax. which has heretofore been
heavy, and under the proposed system
would De so great that il would mean
nothing else than ceniiscation of the prop
erty."
II. q johnson. of the Associated Press I
am opposed to tie pending amendment
for the reason that IL Is nndemocratic II
IL preliminary step TO The single tax
props ganda. which Is comm unsstic and
which. ii enforced, would stifis individual
development and destroy the home build
ing instinct by doing away with private
ainsadnl4nt Is. as IL is claimed by sonse
fot the purpose OF encouraging home
manufactures / am opposed TO IL for the
reason that II Is contrary to the Demo-
cratic dokrine: u01,al rights to All and
special privileges to none"
f. l. eRiaine-~I believe that the single
TAX Is snare ana "A delusion. lis adop-
ton and enforcement would result in the
contiscation or the great bulk of private
lands. Under the present system there
are snany lands which are not worth nay
ing taxes upon II there is a Ine of
den hsst nur
worth taxes ard lands that are. this lice
or denaTcation VII he RAISED higher under
a single tax. Al present ia King county
personal property bears one-ssSenth of the
erty exempted the additional burden Of
taxation thrown upon the holders IF land
would swamp them