The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-11-05
MONEY AND TAXES
"DiscipIs of Henry George" Takes The In
dependent to Task-But Fails to
Answer Its Questions

Editor Independent: note your
objection of October 20 to the single
tax. Through unfortunate wording
think you have unintentionally con-
yeyed two misconceptions: first, that
taxes are payable in gold; second, that
holder of gold has power to exact
what he will from all who would use
money. Neither of these conditions
exist. Taxes may be paid in silver or
paper, or copper, and, in fact, are in
large part paid in mere bank credit
sort of imaginary money. Moreover
the exchange value of gold does not
depend on amount of gold in circula-
ton, but upon amount Of media OF
exchange, of all kinds, in use-gold,
paper, bank credit, personal checks,
negotiable notes and due bills, credit
checks, certain forms of warrants, etc.
So it is not true that, before paying
taxes, a man must first make terms
with gold-owner, or that the gold
owner can fix the exchange value OF
money, or even. of his own gold coin.
This being the case, think 1t an
sWers the question as stated.
At the same time, while ! do not
believe your objection Is valid, you
have touched subject which has
probably occurred to most of your
readers, viz the relative importance
of the single tax, and the money ques-
ton. Our money system Is execrable
and will probably soon be made worse.
Now, it may be asked, is 1t not more
important to correct that than to set
tie the land question? This is a per-
fectly legitimate question and demands
candid answer. In my judgment,
no. Reduced to its simplest form the
question becomes: Is not money OF
more Importance to man than land?
In this form it almost answers itself.
Imagine Robinson Crusoe first cast
adrift with bag of coin, and later,
thrown by the waves onto his island,
and the relative Importance Of money
and land is clearly seen.
The single tax is not simply another
scheme for levying taxes, a new fiscal
arrangement or revenue law. 1t Is
more than a mere substitute for tar
ifs, Or for 1.-The present chaotic sys-
tenn" 1t is a reformatory measure
with incidental revenue features.
While the tax it proposes is, | believe,
the most just ever devised, it's first
concern is to secure to all men access
to land Therein lies it's Importance
over monetary reforms. railroad leg
islation, excise laws, sanitary meas
ures, or any other minor question call
ing for solution.
Comparing the land and money
questions, this is to be remembered
land is primary factor in all produce
ton. No wealth can be produced with
out it. Money while important, is at
most merely secondary factor in ,ex-
change 1t is important as a standard
of value and convenient as counter or
medium of exchange. But it plays no
part in production and is not abso-
lutely necessary, even in exchange, as
all country storekeepers have OBJ
served. Now since the possession of
wealth is of prime necessity to man,
it follows that production is of first
Importance Land, being necessary
factor of production, while money is
not, we can see that access to land is
of greater Importance TO producers
than possession of mCney.
To Illustrate: take two extreme
cases. Senator Vest once said that
whole sections of his state had been
without money for long time. Yet |
these people, having land, were able
to live. They raised crops and stock,
built houses, and even exchanged |
products-wood for clothing, grain
for furniture. Though handicapped by
lack of money. all they produced was
their own. and, where free from debt,
they remained Independent and ac-
cumulated wealth. They had land. On |
the other hand are the Pennsylvania
denied all access to land ex-
cept through permission of others.
They are absolutely helpless. Though
producing wealth to value of millions.
they have to give oil but bare living |
tor access 20 the land where they pro-
duce II. The workmen In most OF our
big factories. and tenant farmers un-
Ter same competition for iand are
equally dependent
Between these two extremes may be
found all shades OF dependence. vary
ING with the intensity of the struggle
FOR land This exempiiiies great
'ruta, to-wlt IN proportion a produr-
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