The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-11-05

most important functions OF govern
ment is to protect the individuals be-
longings not alone from the elements,
but chiefly from the predatory portion
of society, therefore the larger the in
diyidual's holdings are which the gov
eminent must protect, the higher
ought to be his tax That this tax
should not exceed governmental ex-
penditure economically administered
goes without saying. Measured by this
standard, how does the single tax
compare? Truth to tell, 1t ignores 1T
in toto. Not alone does 1t not limit
that tax to governmental needs, but
1t proposes to levy that tax on the in
diyidual's need of the land, to say
that it is based on land values Is
mere subterfuge, since the user of that
land must pay it under any circum-
stances. Hence, this tax would fall ir-
resistibly, chiefly directly or Indirect
ly, on the producer, for he must use
the most land.
Take, for instance, the bondholder
who never from his cradle to the grave
need do one tap of useful work, but
exists as a parasite on his fellow man,
yet the cream of everything falls to
his share, while the real useful citi-
zen, on whose labor he exists, can OBJ
tain only the skim-milk and very Of
ten scant measure of that. How could
he be made to pay his just share OF
taxes, since all that could be collected
from him would be only on that small
patch of land on which his dwelling
CT nd nd foN- dor Lori 10
verbal sin of that class, we may be
sure that that would be in some subnr-
ban retreat, where bare land can only
be assessed on the acre plan. Yet this
class derives by far the largest benefit
from organized society. AS there are
some forty odd billions of dollars
| worth, national and municipal, or
| those bonds extant in the civilized
world, here is an army who could
virtually escape taxation altogether.
But, say single takers, whenever
you attempt to tax that class, on its
personal property, 1t is sure to hide
large portion thereof, and will per-
| jure itself as lief as not in order to
escape it. Therefore, why not permit
that class to enjoy in quiet the SER
vices society renders it, unvexed by
taxation, as long as you can obtain all
and more than is needed by taxing
the land from which the masses must
| dr lw their subsistence by their labor?
They cannot hide that. This Is rich!
Rt cause this wealthy class is such an
Unconscious tax dodger, therefore we
must virtually exempt it legally. Queer
notion of justice, that!
/ One word more in regard to the
J community creating the land values.
1t is true, If there were no people there
could be no land value, incidentally
nothing else of value either. Chicago
for instance, instead of being the large
go-ahead city it is, would still be a
dismal swamp. Why don't single tax
ers claim everything in sight? Why
content themselves with the land val
ues? The one Is just as much and as
little communal product as the
other. A. DODGE.
Chicago, Ill.
MR.. WAKEFIELD'S REBUTTER.
1t is my understanding that this
"rebutter" closes our discussion,
this being the limit set by the editor
OF The Independent in his announce
ment of 1t. 1t is, perhaps. as we'll to
stop now, for certainly the discussion
so far has not been of the highest in
terest nor travelled fast toward any
logical conclusion. Mr. Dodge's meth
ocs of discussion have been so unusual
and peculiar as to confine rs to mar
row range and slow progress.
Mr.. D. complains that do not treat
some of his statements seriously but
this has been true-if at all-only
when they did not admit of serious
consideration. such as comparing q
hlghwayman's booty to rent. lots new.
er to be used. or Chicago's population
entirely replaced by an equal number
OF thieves. vagabonds and paupers
How can any one talk seriously oI
sueh Insane vagarsas-0s things thai
rover did nor can happen?
Mr.. ID. has confined his argument Il
one or two objections many times re-
peated. and have found difficulty II
comprehendlng his exact position ol
meaning. but have tried 10 be m cour,
tcous and fair rs his vaguenesa al