The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

LII Inc Nv" ihS tNh hL
The Single Tax in German China.
TO the Editor The Post;
In the United States, In order to be
called a CRANK" by the great majority
CT unthlnking people, all that you have
to do Is to say that you are single
taxer. Even after person admits that
there is some justice in Henry Georges
theory of single tax he will wind up his
reply to your arguments with the state
ment at is no use for us to bother our
! heads about this thing, because 1t VIII
never be put into operation in our time,
nor even in the time OF our children
This settles the argument with that fell
| dow. He is only interested in things
that will benefit himself personally, or
his children, and you can not get him
to devote a moments time to anything
for the general good of the public.
For the benefit of many people In Hous-
ton who have answered my arguments
with the above statement, will show that
progress and enlightenment travels faster
than they ever dreamed Of
1t has remained for Germany to adopt
Henry Georges theory OF land tax in its
entirety in her new possessions in China,
nlown as the Territory OF Kiautchou,
and, my friends, there is no string tied
to this--it is fact When the German
government had this Chinese Territory
ceded to them the emperor at once is
sued proclamation prohibiting all land
trasfers for the time being. This was
displaced soon after by an agreement
with the present land owners by which
the latter bound themselves to sell to the
government whatever land 1t required, at
the value attached to 1t before the trans
fer by China to Germany. On the part
of the government a premium Is to be
paid to all land owners equal to two
years ground rent. The government lev
les a tax of six per cent per annum on
the capital value upon all land in its ter
riory, which value will be re-assessed
every three years. In addition, every
purchaser Is bound to inform the govern
ment of any intended sale. as well as
of the priceless the value of improv
ments-which he is about to accept. The
government has the pre- emptive right to
purchase at this price, but should 1t
fail to execute this right the govgn-
ment is entitled, in addition to a fee of
2 per cen for transfer. to 80 1S per celt
Of the additional price which the seller
receives over and above the price paid
to he government, or to previous pro-
prietor II one or more sales took place,
previously. Land which has not changed
lis proprietor pays 80 1-3 percent OF the
increased value at the end OF every TWEEN
ty-fve years No other taxes whatever
have been or will be imposed
From the above you will see that the
German government has not only adopted
Henry Georges theory of taxing land
at its full value. exemptng improvements
and personal property from taxation,
also adopting free trade--rhat Is levying
no tariff duties whatever upon anything
that scenes into this territory; but in
addition to the above, the government
takes for itself one-thrd of the increased
value Of the land al each time it is sold,
! but should ii remain in the hands of one
owner for twenty-five years, then 1t is
valued and the owner has to pay the gov
eminent one-third of the increased value:
the government claiming that this in
crease in value was not brought about by
| the owner Of the land, but by the increased
population and by the advantages given
by the government.
The minister of marine, in whose de-
partment Kiautchou is, makes the fol-
lowing statement:
No colony has ever enjoyed such alb
solute freedom of production and trade as
we have secured to Kautchou Not one
single duty or lax will be imposed ex-
cial consideration as much as considera-
TONS of a polite economical character
have dictated these measures The tax
Of SIX per cent per annum may appear
high, but it must be remembered that in
terest is much higher in the East. That
the measure is popular is proven by a pc
tltion presented to the British govern
| nent by the merchants, who are also the
rand owners, of Hong Kong. who. led
by Mr.. Mathieson, proposed the abolition
CT all taxes and the substitution for the
same OF taxes on land values"
referring to the above l would now
IKE to hear from the many people to
whom l have talked on the subject and
who advised me to "let well enough
alone" And, further than that, would
say Watch the German government in
lis colony of Kautchou, China. and see
If 1t does not develope faster than any
OF the other colonies owend either by
England, Germany, France or the United
states j. j. Pastoriza.