The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-28
pll,es, pay tax to :fne town and nut
Tssaend Into the pocket Of the organisa-

pri.ss. pay tax to :fne town and nut
Is.aeno into the pocket Of the organisa-
me people pay both tax and dividend to-
,ne.e organisations and then so and pay
.a own individual tax. The orRanixA-
v1is utpsnds on use people to pay both tax
ana dividend. This is good thing-for the
organization 49,
The same is true OF rents. The one
VINO rents pays sufficient money to thu
owner OF the rented property for him TO ray
ance
j Our indirect taxes therefore are greater
uisan we know and are paid on everything
we use from styeet-car ticket to a United
states bond. Therefore. why not use the
ihuirect taxes for use town itself and by
consolidation lower or price or tax? This
seems 10 bs rea enable plan and where
y mas been tried has proved successful and
mas decreased taxation.
No criticism against 1t has been raised.
except In Swo instancss--by politicians, who
deIire gain for themselves. and by the un-
thinking rich man The principle is this:
mat municipal franchises are retained by
the municipality.
That is, Vet the city. county or State make
all uoe gas. electric lights and power II
needs. Let them develop the water power.
the canals. the railroads, the banks for
themselves. For anything that il the prob
erty OF the community should be developed
by the community for It's benefit.
few instances Of uae practice OF this
policy are seen in South Cardinals taking
charge of the liquor sold in II. Its phos-
pcate mines bring in an annual rental,
which rental Is used to guarantee some OF
the debt OF the State.
In many States the penitentiary is n
s.f Ia.
ture the gas used by the town ANA all
inhabitants derive the benefit Of this reve-
nue. AT placey the wstsr power has been
developed and a revenue obtained.
With these as facts that please the citi-
Zens of those fortunate places. an eXten-
Sion of the system is wantei.
Why not extend It Everywhere and have
the land and its contents National prop
erty? One objection 10 the plan is thai the
dishonesty of man makes 1t futile.
This does not hold Our postal depart
naent, cur navy, our police system, our fire
departments. are thus managed and well
managed This answers the dishonesty plea
There Is occasional dishonesty We know,
but it is usually remedied.
II the rlea We're true. recourse could be
had to bonded officers who would have a
security association backing them. Thus
any possible money loss would be made
good to the government.
Again, the various positions OF trust
would be held in such high esteem that the
people would allow only the noblest to hold
office.
OBJECTION is made rsat we would hurt
Cur present business enterprises and bring
TO poverty those who now manage these
enterprises successfully This is not so, for
the community must have It's beat indivii-
uals marage the a1airs Of The community.
The successful man wo,rd be selected at
his own price 10 manage parts OF the COM
munity property. There are many paris
n9any must be employed.
Ordinary business would be transacted
as now and the best would succeed
1t is believed that the one who is sue
cessful in a dishonest way would suifer and
''usury" would be eliminated. This is a
good, however.
Certainty Of work. with sureness OF pay,
follows This relieves want ana makes all
happier. Perfect the scheme and no drones
coui exist! If certain active operations
have already received permission from the
community to run Their operations Tor @
term on years the community, necessarily,
would hold to Its promises and no franchise
could he hurt. No franchise would be re
granted-so the rich man woulf not be
hurt
Too little thought is given by all OF US to
the fact that the community already gives
it's permission to any person or number OF
persons before thst person CT persons can
do business In the community
The merchant must pay license 10 tne
city for the privilege Of running ousi.
ness The baker, the banker, the butcher
and candlestick maker tAo the same. me
pcddler does the same. The bootblack 100
pays for tho privilege of being allowed 70
do business.
So the principle OF privilege" Is acted
on everywhere, anil custom has made US
t:link 1t right. Change tNis privilege ana
make 1t what 1t is, a right Let the Ma
tIen. State, or city own all and run al.
i, et the taxes be just, based only on the
value given to the land by the agsregstins
OF men. and leave the Improvement anu
Identification Of property tree OF TAX, nity,
state. National ownership of its franchises
follows. " w.