The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

lions or more, being denied any nat
ural right on earth, are landless, and
depend upon landholders not only for
space III which to be born, to live and
to die, but also for any opportunity
to labor and earn wherewith to pay
rent and taxes and support life.
The number of these landless ones
in proportion to the whole people is
constantly increasing, not only by
reason Of increase of population, but
also because the land is gradually
passing into fewer and fewer hands.
The inevitable result is continued adj
dition TO the number OF persons COM
PEELED to sell their labor, with no in
crease in the number of those desir-
ing to purchase it.
So long as these unjust conditions
and ever-increasing hardships con-
tinue there can be no reasonable hope
Of permanent increase in the average
rate of wages, or of there being steady
for all.
Under the single tax, however, when
every person would be required 10 pay
each year into the public treasury for
the common benefit of all, the rental
value of whatever land he held or
claimed to own, TO man would long
continue to hold or claim land he did
not put to profitable use, for it would
not pay, and the vast area of land
having no value, together with much
valuable land now held out of use in
town and country would be abandoned
Ey its present claimants.
This abandoned land of which there
would be abundance in every state
would become the same as if no one
had ever claimed to own it, like free
homestead land The terms of it's oc-
as those enjoyed by all land holders
under the single tax, namely, payment
into the public treasury of the rental
value of the mere land regardless of
any improvements there might be in
and upon it. This payment would be
all any man would be required to con
tribute for public expenses, and if the
land he held was of the poorest or
least desirable in use it would have
no rental value as it now seems to
have, and he would have no rent or
tax to pay. Title to and continued,
permanent, exclusive possession of
land would continue then as now to
depend upon making the annual pay
ment required by government.
Then everywhere near at hand good
land could be had without purchase
price and occupied forever as ones
own upon payment Of ground rent in
lieu Of all taxes. Is it not reasonable
to believe that hundreds of thousands
would sooner or later avail themselves
Of such an opportunity to become their
eWn independent self-supporting en-
ployerS as we'll as employers of other
men? Would not the result be de-
crease in the number of those desir-
Der of those desiring to employ labor
end an advance in the rate of wages?
And, bearing in mind that the Least
desirable land then in use, now for
the most part held out of use, could
be had without rent, and the oppor-
tunity it would afford, for such as de-
sired, to go and live upon it without
rent or tax, is it reasonable to think
that any man then need 70 without
self-supporting employment, or that
any man would long accept less for
his labor than he could realize by
working for himself on no-rent land?
Would not such conditions insure
steady employment for all and pre-
vent wages from ever falling below
what labor was really worth?
1t should be remembered that what
has been here suggested applies not
only to agricultural lands, but also to
mineral lands and to city and town
lots, the increased use of all which
would increase demand for labor in
all departments of industry.
The single tax can be introduced by
gradually abolishing one tax after an
other, always substituting an increase
of the tax on land values, until all
taxes are done away with except the
latter, and every step in that direc
ton will tend to improve the condi-
ton of labor and of all mankind.
JOHN S1IERWIN CROSBY.
New York, N. Y.
GROUND RENT AGAIN.