The Portland daily press., 1901-01-17

Especially does air. Georgs need TO ba
understood in his treatInent Of rent anu
this law Of rent lie says, "Rent ~ that
part OF the produce which aocrues to the
owners Of hand or other natural napabili-
ties By virtue OF their ownership" In
common speech ne sleak ri rent enly
when tas 6Fn5t AMI tae ussr ara differ
emit persons But In the economic sense
there Is also rent WHEN owner and user
are the same person. Rent is also ex-
pressed by selling price--payment for
land Is simply capitalized rent. Kent,
In snort, Is the share In the wealth pro-
duced (which The sxcluEiye right 70
natural capabilities gives 10 the owner"
There Is always rent where there IL an
exchange value, Until the exchange
values are urcreated OF unearned values.
They are determined by location and
| population. The law OF rent rs am
nonnced by Ricardo and accepted by John
Stuart Mil aud ell subsequent authori-
ties, MIR. George adopts. IL 10:
The rent OF land Is determined BY the
excess OF its produce over that which the
| same application can secure from the
least productive land In use
This law, of course, applies TO all nat
urai opportunities, mines, railroad iran
chises, fisheries, etc. Now wnae Mr.
George proposes IL TO take this unearnsd
value--rent-of land and apply IL to tine
| support OF government, aboiisning al
other taxes, thereby securing 70 every IN
dividual now upon this earth and TO tnoss
who shall hereafter make their advent an
absolutely fair and equal chance In the
race OF life. But there are those who say
that MIR. George was a dontrinaire ana
that the adoption of his theories would
lead to carnival Of spoiiation." In
reply permit mir. GEORGE to speak;
"Whsn 1t Is propossd to aDolish private
property In land, the first question that
will arise IL that of Justice. ths
| sentiment of justice is fundamental 10
the human mind, and whatever dispupe
rouses the passions of men the colitlics Is
sure to rage, not so much as to the ques-
tion, SIS ID wiser as to the question Is II
rightY' This tendency of'pnpular discus
sion to take an ethical form has cause
|. IL rests upon a vague and IN
stinctive recognition OF the deepest truth
we can grasp. That alone Is wise which
is Just; that alone Is enduring which Is
right / bow &C this arbitrament
and Hccept this test" Progress and Pow
erty, Book Z, oh. l. Does this sound Ike
the teachings OF a mere theoristI
4 What constitutes the rightful basis OF
is mine'P Whence the sentiment that
acknowledges my right against all the
world? Is 1t not the right OF man TO
himself to the use OF his powers and TO
the enjoyment of the fruits OF his tollF
Each man is a definite, coherent, indie
1
Quota or his labor belong to him. For
this reason that which make 10 mine
against all the world i may justly use
it, exchange it, or give 1t away. Ihls
Is always consistent with 1usties, Ana
there can be no riRhtful title that Is
not derived from the title of tbs producer.
l"Nature acknowledges no ownership or
control in any man save rs the result OF
exertion. In no other way can her treas
ures be drawn forth, her powers directed,
or her forces utilized or controlled. She
makes no Determinations among men,
buk is to all absolutely impartial. She
knows no distinction between master and
slsve, king and subject, saint and sinner.
All men to her stand upon an equal toot'
ing and have equal rights. She recognizes
no claim but that OF labor, and recognizes
that without respect to the claimant.
Progress and Poverty. Book z, oh, !.
The rights OF property are held so
sacred by MIR. George that not even he
government has right to. take 1t from
it's owner except In cases OF extreme
necessity. What he proposes is to put an
end to the carnival OF spoliation that has
been going on for centuries, whereby
millions OF people are daily robbed OF
their natural, God-given heriuage-ths
equal right to live ON the earth. IL would
also put an end to the spoliation of the
produce OF labor and capital by govern
ment for detraying necessary expenses,
and that, too, when there Is fund sutfi-
ciant for all suoh expenses continually
being producsd By the community in the
form OF economic rent-a fund that in
Justice belongs to the community. Truly
our present system OF taxation Is
"hodge-podga."
My dear sir, permit me to remind you
that the assumption that some men have
a better natural right to existence than
others is the only justification OF private
property in land An assumption which
4 all hnu afaft
his doctrines have clearly percsived.
Single takers believe that we are all here
by the equal permi ssion OF the Creator,
and that we all are here with an equal
title to the enjoyment OF his BOUNTY.
This right is natural and inalienahle,
and rests in every human being as he en-
tiers the world,
But they tell us that Mr.. Georgs pro-
poses division OF property by conftsoation.
Let Mr.. George speak In reply for HIM
self:
~ do not propose either to purchase or
contiiscsts private property in land. The
first would be unjust, the second needless.
Let the individuals who now hold 1t Sill
retain, II they want TO, pos OF
what thay are pleased to call their lanu.
Lst them continue TO call IL their land
Let them buy and sell and bsqusath and
divide It. 1t Is not necessary to
coniiscate land; 1t is only necessary to
confiscate rent What l therefore,
propose, as the simpler yet sovereign
remedy, which will raise wages, increase
the earnings OF capital. exterpate pauper'
lam, abolish poverty, give remunerative
employment TO whoever wishes it, AFFORD
free scope to human powers, Lessen
crime, elevate morals and taste and In
telligence, purify government and carry
civilization to yet nobler heights, is-to
appropriate rent by taxation No
owner need be displaced, and no restric.
ton need be placed upon the amount OF
land anyone could hold" Progress and
Poverty. Book g. oh. 2.
The proposition then Is to abolish all
taxes save that upon land values, and this
is only taking for the public good that
which the public creates. But again we
. are told that the amount so collected
, would be SO great as to corrupt the body
! politic. 1 answer no. The growth of
economic rent only keeps pace with the
growth of the community. and the de-
ma nd for public utilities. Some, ranog-
nizing the injustice Of present methods OF