The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-24
A Single Tax Problem Worked Out.

A Single Tax Problem Worked Out.
To the Editor Of The Journa:.
The communication Of John J. Janney.
published March ., appears to show tina.
he fails to understand the single tax in
several particulars. The limit of taxation
on an improved farm would not be, as he
seems to think, the rental value of the
farm, but the rental value of the bare land,
assessed as wild land. We have reason to
believe that the great majority Of owners
OF improved farms in Minnesota would
pay lower tax upon them than they dc
now and probably none would pay more.
But speculation In unimproved land would
become less profitable, and if the tax
reached the rental value of such land,
would of course, cease altogether.
Whether the people of the state would
care to push the tax to this limit would be
a matter for time to determine, but am
inclined to think that, having seen the
rid Of speculation in land, they would go
on and make a clean job of it.
Now, as to Mr.. Janney's imaginary farm
in Ohio. He has spent forty years in i'm
proving and working upon it, but has put
up no buildings and now wants to rent
it and live off the income from it. AS I
understand it, he does not intend to leave
any stock, machinery or other capital for
the use Of the tenant. He objects to my
Characterization of the transaction as a
proposal to live off the labor Of another
man, and says that it would be living off
the profits Of his own labor. The other
man might hold different opinion.
With the single tax in force, and specu-
lation in land thus rendered Improbable,
it would be possible for all who desired to
do farming to obtain land of their own;
consequently Mr.. Janney would find no
body who would be willing to take his
farm on the terms he proposes. There
~ -
in Ohio, suitable for farming purposes,
| which would have no rental value what
ever, and to which title could be obtained
for q merely nominal sum. On this land
the proposed tenant could keep the entire
product, free from both rent and tax. I'm
der such conditions Mr.. Janneys tenant
would be willing to pay him only such
! sum as would measure the difference be-
tween what he could make on Mr.. Jan
| ney's farm and what he could produce
from a farm which, he might thus easily
| obtain.
In order to live entirely without labor
| 1t would be necessary for Mr.. Janney tt
make better showing of accumulation
of the products of former labor than he
| has done in this imaginary case.
| In regard to Mr.. Janney's fear that by
the introduction Of the single tax hi:
farm would be taken from him withou
compensation, it should be stated that the
places where the single tax has made thu
greatest progress are certain farming
| communities in New Zealand. These hard
headed New Zealand farmers appear tt
have seen nothing Of the bugbear which
has frightened Mr.. Janney. On the con
trary, they have gone as far toward thu
realization Of Henry Georges ideal as the
| laws of their country will, UP to the pres
emit time, permit. So far as am Informed
none ofithese communities have shown the
| slightest disposition to go back Ito the
| plan with which we are so familiar-tha'
Of filming men for making Improvement:
on the one hand, and on the other con
ferring unmerited rewards upon dogs-in
he-manger, who hold their land idle yea,
after year until the industry and thrift o
their neighbors enable them to sell out a
a profit "A. M. Goodrich.
Minneapolis, March Is. =,