The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-15
OPPRESSION BY LANDLORDS
RUINS SMALL INDUSTRIES

Editor Adtertiser:-The cupidity Of
some Of our narrow-minded landlords,
is one OF the main causes which pre-
vent the development Of the resources
of the country and has been in other
lands the source OF the agitation, by
the followers of Henry George and
other writers on the movement for q
redistribution Of the lands. Landlords.
who by inheritance or other accidents
have become the holders Of legal titles
to vast areas of Gods footstcoI, and
who hold on 10 those lands TO the exclu-
the marks shot at and whom it is the
endeavor Of popular governments by
taxation and other means 10 force into
subdividing and giving up their lands
a narrow policy, followed so much in
many parts Of our domain. OF taxing
improved lands al high valuations and
OF taxing equally good lands. though
uniuproved, in the same neigh oorhood
al low valuations, has been the subject
OF much adverse criticism which is
gradually bringing about a change il
this respect Men who insist on hold
ing these great areas in an lncuIti-
waited and unimproved condition find
that they are being taxed out o. ex-
isJence and are proceeding 10 place
their lands on the market. thus giving
those ca pabla and desirous Of owning
or leasing homesIeads an opportunity
20 make the soil produce. Witness
what is going on in New Zealand.
The available government lands Of
the United States. and which by the
broad policy Of our government from
its incipiency has been granted 10
citizens IN lots OF Is0 acres. have been
largely taken up and those now desir-
ing lands are being compelled 10 ac-
oepl what has hitherto been considered
vaiueless for agricultural purposes Il
their extremity they unite their capital
and energy in conserving the storm
waters and by irrigation compel the
soil 70 yield up its riches.
The complaints Of those DESTROYS Q!
obtaining agricultural lands and The
friction between landlords and tenants
Is as old as the hills" From late dis
eovsries. unearthed by ernissaries OF
chronological societies Of America. Eng
land. France and Germany in Baby
lonia. which Is considered the cradle OF
the human race, il Is found that 400
years before Christ men had bean
struggling with each other for thou
sands Of years for the possession Of
the soil Osrientalists. through persis-
tent study. are sna bIed 70 read the
peculiar writings Of that time and
from steles and bricks have translated
the just laws Of khamnurabi- As the
whole plain between the Tigris and
Euphrates and in that region was
suitable for agriculture the people were
naturally al agricultural community
From the great and continuous st-ug-
gle between landlords and tenants laws
were crystallized defining the proper
ton Of the crop landlords could collect
for the use Of their lands, as We have
laws restraining usurious money lend
ers- II was never more than 1-3 and
lass than IA. except when by act o
God bad seasons OF disasters were sUs-
tanned. in which event no rents could
be collected or charged up. As this Is
the crystaIlized wisdom q ages il
should be some guide 70 our landlord.
as 10 what they should charge for the
Use Of their lands. Some will say tha'
!. { uaudIin sertinentality and what
g tenant IS willing 20 pay IS what
should tx the prize ard that land l.