The independent., 1903-10-15

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.
If there is no land there will be no
people!
The land is just as necessary to the
existence of the people as is the air,
and the light, and should be just as
free to all mankind, and is SO under
natural conditions. The principle of
simple justice which is contained in
this natural condition instituted by the
Almighty is incontrovertible and
should be carried into the artificial
conditions under which society exists
today.
The principle, that private rights
must not be interfered with any far
ther than is really necessary for the
greatest good to the greatest number,
IT, also incOntrOvertible.
Where are we to draw the line be-
tween the rights of the individual and
those of the community? Clearly the
rights of the community are para
mount the community, therefore, is
authorized, by the individual (for con-
venience) to administer individual af-
fairs collectively in SO far only as. the
community as such, is hindered or pro-
NOTED in It's welfare. The community
then is the guardian, not only of its
own rights. but. of the rights of the
individual also.
Now, what are the inherent and
God-given rights of every man? Moth
ing less than life and liberty, which
cannot be had without free access to
earth, air and light sufficient for his
every need, and as air and light are
movable, as it were, and can be free
ly used. anywhere and everywhere by
all without hindrance to any individ-
ual or community, no legislation or
human arrangements are necessary to
the fullest enjoyment and use of those
two elements, but with the earth it is
necessary for ths community to deal
wisely and justly, in order that there
may be no conflict of interests, and
that no one individual should encroach
upon the rights Ct another. The COM
mnnity then should allot to each appli-
cant sufficient area of land for his
needs, and which he must occupy and
use. or forfeit his claim thereto, and
for the privilege of occupying any par
ticular location to the exclusion of
other applicants, he should be assessed
a yearly rental which would be a GER
tain percentage on the actual selling
or rent value of the land according to
its location or it's quality, or for the
value of the timber or minerals which
Il contained, without regard to any
human improvements whatever, as the
improvements belong to the one who
mabes them.
This yearly rental could be arranged,
say, every five or ten years in the
same way as ordinary leases are now.
While the population was sparse the
rents would be low, and as the popula-
ton increased, the rents would in
crease as they d. now, for without an
increase OF population there would be
NO increase in the value of the land
or what it contained, excepting where
railway Or other road were built,
which would bring the land in ques-
tiOn more in touch with a populous
place; but there is nothing like peo-
pie for increasing the value of the
land for occupancy. AS the people
make the value, to them the value be-
longs. and should be used for their
benefit in supplying all the necessary
roads, sewers, water and light street
cars and even perhaps music halls,
library, etc. The less expensive the
management of the community, the
smaller the percentage of rent value
which would be levied upon each oc-
cupant.
Landed and other wealthy men de-
clare that such system would not
work, and single tax on land values
would be unjust to them. There can
be no injustice in Withholding or with
drawing privilege which is not paid
for according to it's value, and how
much easier it wOulG be to settle and
collect a tax or land, than upon the
many things which it is now levied
and which are so difficult to get at.
And why should man be taxed upon
bis industry and endeavor to beautify
the town, while the one who holds
the land without improvement is not
taxed? That is not common sense.
Single tax may not be cure-all for
Ills, but it would go far toward remov-
ing the discrepancy between the
wealth of the landlord and the poy-
nut, ~ Ah1 "a t.