The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
Their Progress Since His Death De-
scribed by His Son.
THE SINGLE TAX DOCTRINE
What II Is Based on and Why IL Has
Spread-i'irst Introduced by tho
Elder George About Twen-
~ Years Ago.

| eht time. 10 reporter or this newspa-
1 per, who recently visited him, he sad:
THE Single-Tax doctrine is based pr.
mariiy on the land; that 10 make land
private property is to deprive some men
of their equal right to lie; that to re-
store equal rights to land. actual pos
session need not be disturbed; that all
would get justice il the holders OF land
/ paid its annual value into the public
| treasury; that the simplest and cheapest
! method OF doing this would be through
the existing machinery Of taxation; that
as the revenue from land would be more
! than ample 10 meet the present needs, all
| present taxes should be abolished. save
that falling upon the value OF land and
| that this single tax should be increased
| until it should absorb the wnole OF tne
| value Of ,land. exclusive OF Improve
ments; that this would return 10 the
whole community; that 1t would cheaper
| land. because it would destroy specuia-
| ton: that It would cheaper production.
because il would relieve it OF the pres
| ent heavy burden Of taxation; that IL
would increase wages. because II would
throw land open TO all the great primary
occupations: that. IN short, it would do
| equal and exact justice by giving to Ia.
|
industry. while It gave TO the community
as a whole what belongs 10 70.
WHEN FIRST KNOWN.
This doctrine was brought forward by
my father twenty years ago, and in the
short time that has elapsed IL has spread
over all the world.
why has It spread? Principally be-
cause no matter where they are or what
language they speak. the burning Ques-
ton with the masses OF the people is
how to get their bread and butter. ana
the great reason why the sing e-taX doc
trine IS TO be found spreading Ike con
tagion among the great lab0rlng classes
everywhere is TIA, IL addresses Itself
simply and directly 10 tbs bread-and-
butter questlon-teaches, IN terms that %
ploughmau can understand, how civilized
men should get living And an era OF
marVelOusiy cheap printing and instan-
taneous communication facilitates the
advance o. ideas along the w,ole line
OF battle
Another reason for the spread OF the
doctrine is that IL appeals 10 the indvid-
uai: II brings him a stimulus and hope
such as Christianity brought TO the Ro-
man slave. II fills him with belief
that he sees the everlasting truth, and
That civilization does not necesstate
the principle Of equal r.ghta applied
trampling on the many, but that with
civilization would really li't the whole
social mass from the bottom
1t imbues him with supreme coni-
dence. impels him with unlbaUng tenac-
lty, and drives him with a burning zeal 70
convert all about him. From the froz7n
zone Of the Klondike 10 the torrid heat
OF the Fiji Islands. from Mauritus in The
indian Ocean 10 the legislative cham
Der at Lansing. Michigan, from
American knights Of Labor 10
Berlin University students. from
London to the Ant podes. from
Natal, Mexico. Paraguay, Toxic and p
kin come the general report-progress %
the slngle-taX idea!
CHAMBERLAIN'S OPINION.
when asked on a recent visit 10 this
country what public question he thought
was gathering most strength in the
United States, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
IS reported to have answered: The single
tax. because it is rapidly gaining recruits
ana never loses any. AND tins might %.
truly said OF any and all countries.
The last place in the world FOR tn,
single tax 70 show advancement Is d.
Great Britain: yet here It shows the
most. In 1891 New Zealand imposed a
graduated tax on land values for colonial
purposes Of a penny in the pound. or. say
81 In the thousand rs minimum; and al
the same time abolished the colonial
taxes on personal property and improve
ments. For years preceding this the
country had been most unprosperous am
was losing popu alton But as a conse-
auence OF imposing this tax upon iand
values-small though IL was-New Iea-
land avoided the industrial depression
that soon overspread the rest OF the
world. and its population increased ana
IS steadily increasing. United States CON
sui Connolly has recently reported 10 the
state Department az Washington than
New Zealand is the most prosperous
community on earth.
"Has the single tax passed Pafiia-
ment? No. il has not. but the principle
has entered politics and is OF all domestic
questions the first and foremost to-day
II comes up as an imp rial ron-as
means to raise imperial revenue-and as
a local question--how TO raise the muhic-
pal revenue.
yes. the mother country is terribly az
'tated. and what adds 20 the agitation
the sing'e-tax question IN great Britain
is that the municipalities are press-ne
Parliament 20 grant them home RUE ~
taxation Local-goverr nent powers nave
been conferred within the past few years
but taxation privileges have been re-
str'cted. More than two hundred and FOR
" local governing bod IS headed 6Y tn'
London County Council and the GLASGOW
Council. have held conference ard haV
petitioned Parliament for the r'eht OF ]"
Al oriion ~ municiral taxation. :
mat the question IS pressing upon ina
great legislative body. Par'iam m. both
as a national and as a municipal matter.
HOME-RULE IDEA.
"Of course when such a momentous
cnange shall occur In ENGLAND as the IN
PRODUCTION II any appreciate measure ~
the single tax IN the imperial budget OF
n any other way-even though the
amount be small-the consequences are
bound TO be felt not merely IN the Brit
ish Islands. but In this country Discus
son is rife here ami the idea Of home
rule IN taxation is strong IN many States.
such a measure having dctuaiy passed
IN the Michigan Senate. ana was beaten
,p the House bv tn reversing or single
vote Governor Pineree he'd openly
promised TO sign the bin II II passed.
Similarly, in one form or another.
some degree Of the principle he's b"en up
before the legislatures OF California
colorado. New York. ohio Washington
Minnesota. Illinois. MASSACHUSETTS,. New
Mexico and Rhode Island. II goes for
notn,ng that such measures have been
de~eated New principles must az nrs'
80, ,,ith many defeats. Th- important