The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-03-01
Carson Letter.

EDITOR COURIER: The newspapers
of Nevada are very much to blame for
.'freak' legislation in Nevada. The
real demands and requirements of the
State that are felt, by the people, and
ever pressing and attempting to as
sert itself, are not discussed by the
press of the State--until the Legisla-
ture meets, The press claims to be an
educator, as well as a dissemination of
news. Why does it not educate? Every
issue of newspaper should contain
lesson for the people. The opinions of
she subscribers should be given free
and widespread publicity, on every
question aprertaining to the require
ments O, their localities, and of the
State, and no measure should be
passed by the Legislature, q demand
for which has not been felt by the
people. We need take no medicine
for ills that we do not feel, or do not
aff1ict MS, and it is the same with legis-
lation. 1t is needless to specify. the
several measures which have been in
troduced, and some passed; during this
session of the legislature, but there
ara many. a demand for which has
never been made, and which has never
been discussed by the people or the.
press-pure explosions of disordered
mental organization. The people, in
turn, should perform their duty Can
didates for the Legislature should
stump their counties, or they should at
least place themselves on record as to
their position on the several demands
OF the people, and the people should
vote for candidate who does not
understand the demands of the Sec
tions he aspires to represent. To il
lustrate: The California Legislature
has appointed number of tourist
committees to go to different sections
Of the State to study, and to ascertain
what the people need. One of these
committees is to study what ought
to be done to protect and foster the
abalone and squid industry, down in
Santa Barbara. Why didn't Santa
Barbara send a representative who
understood the needs and require
naents of his county, and who knew all
about abalones and squids, If that is
the principal industry of his county?
tt ought not to be difficult to find
man who fairly understands all the re-
quirenents and demands of the people
Of Santa Barbara. For the foregoing
reasons, principally, believe we ought
to have the initiative and the refsren-
dunn. If the people, and the press,
will not thoroughly discuss and argue
the several demands of the country be-
fore election, they would certainly do
so after the several measures have
been initiated in the Legislature, and
before the people finally voted to
adopt or reject them. What would be-
come of'five-sixths of the laws that are
now passed like an eel going through
q dead OK in Brazilian pool, with the
initiative and the referendum?
have read with interest the letters
of Wells Drury, published in the Car
son appeal, advocating Henry
Georges single tax theory, |. g., tax
land values only. became a convert
to Henry Georges "heresy," as the
tax-gatherers call it, when l read his
work, Progress and Poverty" about
90 years ago. But believed then and
now believe that the single tax should
be reached by-steps, and not by plung-
ing. 1t would be nearly impossible to
ssplunge'' into it in Nevada. The land
and everything upon the land is now
taxed in Nevada, and it is taxed as
high as the traffic will bear. tits claimed
that sheep, and cattle are not taxed
high enough. Sheep are taxed at $3.50
DER head, and the rate is over So. The
rate ought not to be over $3.50 on the
hundred, and that is all the tax any
man can afford to pay on sheep, to en-
able him to compete with his neighbor
in Utah. 1t is the same with cattle,
and everything else. Nevada, unfor-
tunately, occupies the same position
that any business man occupies when
he has not sufficient means to carry on
his business--with u little more capital
he could take advantage of trade, but
his limited means keep him just so,
and he can just make living and no
more: However, believe the simpli-
fication of taxation should be inaugur-
ated, and go steadily on, until we
reach a~tax upon land values only.
Everythingis the product of the land,
and the same can be taxed there
cheaper, and better, and at less cost,
and more equitably, than anywhere
else. Atleats one-fourth of the tax is
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