The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1902-11-15
The Single Tax.

and Answers will please inform a
waiting world what is Henry
Georges theory of single tax.
This is the official statement of
the single tax principle replies the
Times Democrat We assert as
our fundamental principle the self
evident truth enunciated in the
Declaration of American lndepen-
dence, that all men are created
equal and are endowed by the
Creator with certain inalienable
rights.
We hold that all men are equal
" entitled to the use and enjoy
ment OF what God has created and
of what is gained by the general
growth and Improvement of the
community of which they are a
part. Therefore, no one should
be permitted to hold natural OPP
portunlties without a fair return
to all for any special privilege
thus accorded to him, and that
that value which the growth and
improvement of the community
attaches to land should BE- taken
| for the use of the community;
that each is entitled to all that
his labor produces; therefore, no
tax should be levied on the pro
duets of labor
To carry out these principles,
we are in favor of raising all pub
lie revenues for national, State,
county, and municipal purposes
by a single tax upon land values,
irrespective of improvements. and
all the obligations of all forms of
direct and indirect taxation.
Since in all our States we now
levy some tax on the value of land,
the single tax can he instituted by
the simple and easy way of abol-
fishing, one after another, all
other taxes now levied and CON
mensurately increasing the tax on
land values until we draw upon
| that one source for all expenses
of government. tue revenue be
| ing divided between local govern
ments, State government, and the
general government, as The reve
nue. from direct tax is now dlvid
ed between the local and State
governments, or by a direct as
sessment being made by the gen
eral government upon the States
and paid by them from revenues
collected in this manner,
The single tax would:
II. Take the weight of taxation
off the agricultural districts wher'
land has little or no value irres
pecrve Of improvements and pu
it on towns and cities where bare
land rises to value of millions 0
dollars per acre.
5 2. Dispense with a multIplici.,
3 of taxes and a horde of tax-gatl
erers, simplify government ant
greatly reduce its cost.
! 80. Do away with the fraud
corruption, and gross inequalit,
r inseparable from our presen
+ methods of taxation, which alloy
the rich to escape while they grin
\ the poor.
J "a. Give us with all the WOrl
as perfect freedom of trade as no,
e exists between the States of GU
9 Union, thus enabling our people t
/ share through free exchanges /
9 all the advantages which natur
g has given to other countries, c
/ which the peculiar skill of othe
/ peoples has enabled them to attain
! 1t would destroy the trusts, none
: poles, and corruptions, which az
g the outgrowth of the tariff.
IS. 1t would, on the other han6
by taking for public use the valu
: which attaches to land by reaso
: of growth and Improvement of til
community, make the holding {
: land Improbable to the mere owl
: er and profitable only to the use
: 1t would thus make 1T impossibl
= for spectators and monopolists
hold natural opportunities unuse
or only half used, and would thro
: open to labor the illimitable fel
: of employment which the cart
: | offers fO man IF mcuI1 fhr