The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
SINGLE TAX.
Interesting Address by Governor GauIn on
The Mistakes Of Civilization"

THE Mistakes of Modern Civilization"
was the subject OF a lecture delivered last
evening before the Mems Club Of the
Church OF the Mediator by Gov. Garvin,
and this lecture followed business meet
ing Of the club. Gov Garvin spoke on the
single tax question. holding that the
greatest mistake OF civilization was the
robbing of the people In the form of taxes
on personal property and improvements
when they had a great natural endow-
ment which was in itself sufficient to
produce all income necessary to maintain
civil and municipal government.
Gov. Garvin was presented by the pres
ident OF the club, Frank F.. Lakey, and
he spoke for half hour. then answering
questions for considerably more than
that length OF time. The line OF argu-
ment was that IL the land was designed
for the people and owned by the people
II was designed for all. 1t was possible
for one man, under the present system.
TO own all OF the land OF the earth and
to compel all of the people to pay him
tribute In the form OF rents. On the other
hand IL the land was taxed at its value
to the community and the buildings and
personal property not taxed, then the
land would be of no practical value to the
owner. other than the use he would have.
Property could be inherited and handed
down from one to the other OF a family,
but the value for selling would be COM
paratively small. This would do away
with speculation in land
The speaker maintained that the result
would be to lesson the burden on the peo-
pie in the form OF taxes, the purchasing
power OF ones earnings would be the
same as now. and In addition there would
be a disposition on the part of the people
who held unproductlve or unimproved
In. "a
have opportunity to own his own home.
He stated that some OF the principles had
been applied In New Zealand and In Man
itoba with excellent results. and when IL
came to the matter OF wealth he doubted
that man would ever be able to earn
more than a million dollars.
Because of this fact he stated that the
great part of accumulated wealth came
from monopolies. He instanced that cleo
trio railway corporations, lighting and
heating and telephone and telegraph,
would eventually be owned by the people
should single tax become the vogue, for
the municipalities and state governments
would be able 10 furnish these privileges
free in return for the increased value OF
property more or less remote from the
centers Of population, and such increased
values would bring Increased returns in
the form OF taxation.
lie instanced that old buildings on val
liable land would give way 20 the best of
improvements because the owners could
not afford to let the old buildings remain.
while the rents OF adjacent improved
property would be lessened because OF the
lessening OF the rates OF taxation. And
the competition between the owners of
the property az regards rents would not
Increase. but would decrease, the rental
At the same time the rate OF income,
measured by Its purchasing power. would
not be decreased.
At the conclusion OF tho lecture the gov
ernor met and talked with a considerable
number OF those present. At the business
meeting OF the club two members were
elected. The next lecture will be held on
March and will be by Rev. Austen T.
Kempton. NJ. A. OF Fitchburg. who will
tell the STORY OF Evangeline," which will
be illustrated.