The age-herald., 1901-08-28

Under this heading, which has been so generously donated by The Record-Her- aid for the expression of thought, many taking the position of the landlord, at- tempt to point out what they think is an argument against single tax also ask ing many questions.
 It must be understood when two men undertake to discuss a problem in poli- tical economy that of neither one does not know the truth their discussion can be neither instructive nor logical. If they both know the truth then there is no discussion, for truth is void of err TOT" and all truth must harmonize But if one of these men knows the truth, then it is the duty of the other to listen and be instructed.
 Explains Single Tax.
 I shall undertake not only to explain !. "the single tax" Idea, but answer all questions. To begin, first:
 Question. What Is the single tax? Answer. That nothing should be taxed except the value of the naked ground irrespective of Improvements on it or in it.
 Q. How large would this tax be? A. Equal to the rental value of the land.
 Q. What are the principles on which single tax is based? A. First, the abso- lute right of each man to himself and to the free use of his faculties. Second, the equal right of all to life, and, since and as the earth is the free gift of nature to the whole race, the equal right to the use of the earth.
 O. Has every man then a right to do as he pleases7 A. The law of equal free dom Is that every man has right to do as he will so long as he does not inter fere with another's freedom.
 Q. To carry out these principles could not the earth be divided and everyone given a place? A. Nol This would vio- late these principles and not carry them out, since both land values and popu- lation are constantly changing o. The single tax then is not fiscal reform only? A. Nol It Is 'the moral reform with a fiscal name" When we tax houses. crops, money, furniture, cap ital or wealth in any of it's forms we
  longs to them. We violate the right to property, and fin the name of the state commit robbery.
 Method of Operation. o. How would the single tax be put in operation? A. By abolishing all other on land values.
 o. How would this system compare with our present system of taxation A. It would dispense with horde of tax gatherers. simplify government and greatly reduce its cost. It would relieve all workers and capitalists of those taxes by which they are now unjustly burden ed. and would take for public uses that value which justly belongs to the pub- lie. It would make 1t impossible for spectators to hold land idle and would thus open unlimited opportunities for the employment of labor and capital. o. Was not the single tax theory in- vented by Henry George? A. The single tax theory was not invented; 1t was dis covered. It is not a mere theory or in- genious scheme of taxation like the tar
 
 of others; nor like an income tax, which attempts the impossible feat of compell- ing men to pay taxes according to their ability, and which, at best bears un- equally.
 c. Would 1t not be unjust to raise pub lie revenues by taxing land owners only A. The use of the land belongs to ali its value Is created by population and therefore belongs to all. o. But should not the people be taxed in proportion to what they own? A. No They should be taxed in proportion tc the benefits received.
 0. Why not tax people according to their ability to pay? A For the same reason that hotels, steajtre tickets, groc- cries, etc., are not charged on the basis of their ability to pay. o. Does 1t not seem that 1t would be gross discrimination in favor of the rich to let stocks and bonds escape taxa tion?
 Would Not Escape. A. It Is a mistake to suppose that all stocks and bonds would escape taxation under the single tax. Most stocks and bonds represent land values as we'll as improvements. The land values repre- sented by them would be taxed. o. But does not government protect life and property as well as the posses sion of land, and should it not be paid for that service also? A. Yes; and ii would be paid in the value of land; pro- tection of life, wherever it is enjoyed in creases the value of land. Q. Should not men owning no land pay the government for protecting their lives and property? A. They cannot escape such payment, since all men must use land whether they own it or not. In the rent they pay Is included their just share of the cost of government protection. Q. Would the single tax yield sufficient revenue for all government-local, state and national? A. Yes. The private pos- session of land would be impossible with out government. Therefore its value can never be less than the necessary cost of government.
 c. Under the single tax will city land or agricultural land yield the most reven- ue?
 A. Tn the majority of states. city and town lots will yield the most, because city land is extraordinarily valuable, one small lot being worth more than whole co,,ntv of fa rms