Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1900-01-03
SINGLE TAX.
The Question is Further Dis
cussed By Wells Drury

cress its population, as discussed in the
Nevada Magazine, by Wells Drury, is
already being taken up by tho papers
of Nevada. It 10 certainly one of the
most vital questions that has been
brought before tho people of Nevada
for years. The APPEAL of Sunday
published bis opening arguments and
the following are given in addition.
He continues:
There are difficulties in the way OF
the Single Tax plan through
out the State, and therefore it is we'll
to suggest tho amend ment Of tho Con-
stitutition so that the local option idea
might be applied Ivy the different coun
ties for collecting taxes for county pur-
poses. No reasonable person ought to
object to that. If Douglas ~, for
instance, should decide to raise its
local funds by the Single Tax. neither
Ormsby nor Washee would have .
right TO find fault, and if Douglas
should take that step, it is a sure thing
that Genoa would outstrip Carson and
Reno in population, wealth and bust
ness activity in less than three years,
unless BY that time Ormsby and
Washoe should follow Douglas county's
example.
Suppose Nevada should levy all the
taxes on land values exclusively, leav-
ing everything tEat is created by hu
man labor absolutely free from taxa
zion, what would be tho result: By
way Of illustration, it may DO shown
what has come to other communities ia
which the taxation OF land values has
been put in operation even to limited
extent. From this experience one may
be justified in making deductions as to
what would GENE about if tho bencf
icsnt system were adopted in its SYM
meterical entirety.
In his recent book entitled "Ths
True Basis Of Economics - DR.. J. H.
Stallard gives some Information con-
forest Nevadans. DR.. Stallard' S work,
the cost of publishing which was SUBJ
scribed by Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, is
devoted to proving that the taxing Of
land values is the only scientific meth
cd Of raising revenue for governmental
purposes, and that while all other
schemes Cypress the, people, leading to
restrictions and intolerable burdens
which cad in disaster and hard times,
the laying of all taxes on land values
brings contentment, prosperity, free
dom and increased population. After
showing the enormous wrong that i.
wrought on the people Of California for
the benefit of few who hold land out
of use, Dr. Stallard says:
Now turn to cases where the tax on land
values has been recently imposed. ~
New Zealand the Legislature of 1891 i'm
posed graduated land tax on land val
ues, the lowest being .O4 per cent. Fol
} twenty years previously the country haG
} passed through period of fearful com
mercral depression. 1t was cverwhslm
ingly in debt, and the population was de
creasing at the rate of 1900 year. Aftel
the adoption OF this form Of taxation
prosperity Immediately returned, popu
lation began to increase, and the annua
increase is now greater than the annua
decrease was before the passage Of tn
. act. United States Consul Connolly say
Of New Zealand that it is now the mos
progressive country on earth. That tn
private wealth Of the people has increased
over 40 per cent, which is double the in
crease Of population.
After five years. experience the New
Zealand government extended the moth
Cd Of taxation to those municipalitiel
which should choose it in preference t
the older plan. Twenty municipalltie
have voted in its favor, and it is remark
able that the reform has been carried b.
: the votes Of property owners and not b.
f equal suffrage. In 1895 the Legislature c
o New South Wales, having been thorough
ly convinced Of the cause of the success
full reforms in New Zealand. passed
law abolishing all taxation ON persona
property and improvements. and lsvyin
a 1ouT IHllIoS Oh unS OOllAI OH lduu value
: instead. Prior to the passage of this Ia,
2 the financial condition Of the countr
verged on bankruptcy, and the peopl
suffered great privalion. One-hali Of tn
: land was owned by less than 900 peopl,
100000 souls, men, women and childre
had not land enough in which to dig thei
graves. Immediately the large Ian
spectators became alarmed. An Englis
syndicate, which had acquired man
thousand acres, put Thorn on the narke
Many large satates of 100000 acres eac
were readily disposed of in small lot
and in 1897 the increased area Of Ian
under cultivation was already 315O(
J acres.
! The marvellous and beneficent rssu
here recorded grew out of very limits
application Of the single tax philosoph,
This philosophy, if carried to its logic,
conclusion, would prove q still create
\ blessing to the country in which it