The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-14
CHAPTER XII.
Mems Power and HENS viii TO Pro-
duce and Save.


duce and Save.
We have now briefly described Till, first
two sets Of conditions to wealth-produc-
tion-the absolute, nature and labor. and
the all but absolute-capitaI and social
organization. A third class of these con-
dltlens remains-the relative. whose for
mula is the more the better" The other
two classes Of conditions being given pro
ducton will ensue. but it will be more or
less abundant according to the degree in
winch those of this last class are present.
1t is not possible to specify in detail the
aids to production coming under this last
group. They are more than can be num-
bered. Whatever circumstance increases
the amount or the efficiency Of either la
Dor or capital belongs to this third class
OF conditions. Not only can we not touch
upon all these. but we can only partially
discuss the few which we name
1t obviously matters little to the wealth
of country how much it's inhabitants
produce IL they save nothing. All cir
cumstances which make it possible to lay
by part Of what is produced and those
which stimulate peoples disposition to do
this are, therefore, of the utmost conse-
Quence.
A strong and permanent government is
thus seen to be a potent factor in the
amassing of wealth. In Western CONT
mental Europe, from the thirteenth to the
seventeenth century, farmers could not
keep sheep on account of the unbridled
rapac1ty Of the noblemen and their retain
er5. Only in England was the kings peace
hrm enough for this. Hence England be-
came the great Wool-raising country. able
to collect from the continent an extensive
export duty. Laws should be clear. GER
tain and not changed save for good cause.
They should be just to all men and class
es-partial to none. Without good laws
there is no certainty that one can keen or
utilize what one might earn, and there
fore no 1nducement to be provident IN
der such circumstances the citizen tends
to live from hand to mouth, which course
always lessons the energy and skill ana
Weakens all his economic powers This
is the main reason why certain countries,
usually the richest on earth In natural
resources, are actually among the poor
est. When, on the other hand, citizens
are sure of protection in honest industry
and in the use and enjoyment of the
wealth they acquire lawless persons be-
ing under restraint, crimes promptly pun
ished, Htigatiownot too costly, the none
tary and banking system not a source OF
fraud, taxes reasonable in amount and
imposed fairly among the different social
classes, considerable wealth is certain to
be piled up, however poor the country
may naturally be. Judicious poor-laws
and laws on taxation are of especially vi
tai consequence. The world at this mo-
ment is probably suffering more from
bad taxation than from all other govern
mental ills put together. 1t should be
noticed that the lack Of q good law NAV
retard production quite as much as the
existence of a bad one The state of
affairs in every American or European
city permitting the increase which land
values take on by the growth Of the CITY
Inv 4T,0
they are earned by the joint toll Of the
whole community, can be cured only by
positive new legislation upon taxation
which Will certainly be forthcoming as
soon as the public really understands
the merits Of the question.
Government may intend to be fair and
honest, and yet may do us incalculable
mischief by we'll meant interference with
the natural operations Of business. Usury
legislation nearly always bears evil fruit
IN this way. People With capital to lend
not wishing to disObey the law, continue
to employ their own capital, when if loan
ed it might be administered by other par
ties much more profitably. On the other
hand, able and ambitious men, usual !
~ In control Of great enterprises, being
destitute Of capital and unable to borrow
at the legal rate, go on working for sal |
ares or wages, much to the repression of
the community's progress in wealth MAX
ing. A bad bankrupt law or the alb
Sence Of any bankrupt law discoura ges |
business talent from doing it's best. Able
men who have failed in business-many
Of them through no fault Of their own
do not try again; other2 with superb bus
mess powers, are hindered from great I'M !
dertakings for fear they may fail and be
held down for life. Good laws in these
and similar particulars are of utmost
industrial worth, as is also the prompt
and just application of all laws which re.
late to business. In spite Of what social |
lists and communists urge to the contrary,
the institution of private property at pres
ent PROBABLY conduces greatly to the orig
nation Of wealth through the spur 1t
brings to bear upon men to invest, toll
and save.
One of the best things a government
can do for the promotion Of its subjects
material welfare Is to make laws for the
easy transfer Of land titles and for the
easy and inexpensive proof Of those IT,
ties. Inattention to these matters is a
potent reason for the backwardness in
out nearly all Spanish-America and the
or Improve land when there is likelihood
that the title may be found Invalid or
danger that they will have to expend
large sums to prove It good. Ev, in
London formerly the purchaser of a land
site often paid as much for the proving
of his title as for the land. The process
was necessarily long. To be sure, at last
clear title to ones house lot was a
happy experience. The pious DR.. Watts
-----