The independent., 1903-05-14

laHG anu cdpltdi arc tuC phoR1isy -
private individuals freely struggling
for increase of wealthy leads newt
ably to social and economic anarchy
to the degradation of the workingman
and his family, to the growth OF vice
ard idleness among the wealthy
classes and their dependents, to bad
and unartistic workmanship, and TO
adulteration in all its forms; and that
it is tending more and more to separ-
ate society into two classes, the mil
lionaires confronted with an enorm-
Gus mass of proletarians, the issue
cut of which must be either socialism
or social ruin" To avoid all these
evils, and to secure more equitable
distribution of the means and appli-
ances of happiness, the socialists pro-
pose that land and capital, which are
the reanisites of labor. the sources OF
all wealth and culture, should become
the property of society and be man
aged by it for the general good.
WHAT is SINGLE TAXw
Briefly stated. the single tax con-
templates the abolition of all tax up
ON the product Of labor, and the sub
stitution OF one tax upon "the value
Of land!" The state should appro-
pirate the total rent Of all land. thus
relieving improvements. The under
lying principle upon which this action
is based is Land is the gift OF God
to man. not to the few, but to all"
No man made the land, therefore no
| man can rightly own 1t to the exclu-
sion Of others.
| Here we differ from the socialist who
| proposes that "land and capital, which
| are the requisites Of labor, shall be-
come the property Of society" Thus
the claim of the single taxer is in
cluded in the demand of the socialist;
yet our difference is radical. and not
reconcilable. For a cardinal principle
OF the single taxer is this: Every
man is entitled to possess the fruit of
his own labor"
| The advocate of the single tax asks
for the earth only; the socialist de-
mands much more. Clearly both must
wait. Meanwhile it is well to inquire
into the merits of the lesser demand.
/ Authorities agree that present sys-
tenn of taxation is inadequate. There
must be change. The effort of the
state to uncover hidden wealth has
failed, and must continue to fail; but
a tax upon land value would be cas-
lily collected, would be just, and would
stimulate improvements by relieving
them from taxation.
In New Zealand a beginning has
been made, and much of the burden OF
taxation has been lifted from the peo-
, pie and placed upon the land by re.
. lieyfng personal property. The ex-
, pertinent, SO far, has been successful
and the worlds best thinkers watch
with interest the outcome.
1t is not proposed by conservative
| single takers that any violent revolu-
: ton should be inaugurated, but rather
a gradual movement to relieve the
/ | products of labor from taxation.
Il At present we endeavor vainly te
tax men upon what they possess; the
improved system would require mer
to pay for what they use-that Ii
, land.
| Nearly every great fortune that has
been acquired by individuals is due
to the increased value of land, the re.
, suit of labor by the community; tn!
| community should share in the ben
, eft.
A flow of oil, a discovery of coal, OF
/ other valuable products. should ben
eft The public instead Of the individ.
, yal or the corporation.
All of this indicates some of the
|. advantages which would come to The
public if we recognize and put in prac,
tice the great truth, 'The land be
longs to the people,"
The recent increase of the standins
army of the United States Is intendet
not only to carry out the policy O
the administration abroad, but to en-
. able the authorities to hold In checl
the spirit of discomfort among th,
dwcllers in our large cities where th'
aggregation of wealth is the greatest
II we were called upon to point OIL
the place where men are deprived O
the comforts Of life in the greatest de
gree, we would not select the wilder
; ness, but in the heart of the grea
| cities may be found the greatest suf
fcring. the most hopeless and abjec
poverty. Nowhere is the call for re
form more clearly heard than in on
centers of population. The DANCE