The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-30
PAGE


economic devil who must be chained
while we enjoy the millennium. Until
some other system is devised for sup-
plying revenues for carrying on the
federal government, we need not make
comparisons between the republican
tweedledum and the democratic twee-
-dledee. Whether the producer of
wealth is robbed by one or the other
makes little difference to the victim.
That he is robbed and injured by
either is sufficient to justify his COM
plant. One may theorize as to which
ia the lesser evil-but either places an
undue burden upon the weak.
Take land values for public reve-
nues," says the single taxer; that
will stop the robbery. You populists
make great fuss over the money
question and the highway question;
but these amount to very little. No
doubt your argument is good as far
as 1t goes, but you don't get down
to bedrock. Land is the basis of all
wealth. AS population increases, land
values increase; the tendency is also
that values Of commodities decrease.
Therefore, take land values for public
revenues"
What the single taxer is trying to
show was once mice, fresh corpse"
but it has been wrapped up in SO much
mummery that it means nothing at all,
as stated. Pressure of population
causes an increased demand for desir-
able locations-an increase in the
struggle to secure possession of these
locations. The estimated quantity of
the force of demand for a given por-
tion of the earth's surplus at given
time, is the value of that portion.
Stated in terms of money it is its
price.
But how take land values for reve-
nues? ! Shall they be delivered to
the tax collector wrapped in tin foil?
Shall we use van to haul them to
the public treasury? Can they be sep
arated from the land with pick and
shovel, like coal?
Foolish questions" retorts the sin
gle taxer; that is merely an elliptical
statement. Good conversationalists
like good chess players never play the
game clear down to the checkmate or
draw. They leave something for in
ference. Why, these land values would
be delivered in money, Of course"
In money! Weren't, you dear sim
gle taxer, the man who said a moment
ago that we populists lay too much
stress upon the money question? Yet,
after all, you can't pay your single
tax without first securing that negligi-
BILE quantity-money!
Let us examine your philosophy in
the light Of present day facts. Land
may be subjected to variety Of uses
and its value will depend upon the
struggle to secure it's possession for
those uses. A is in possession of a
gold mine; B, farm; G, lot in Man
haitian, upon which stands a sky-scrap-
er; d, lot and building at Irvington,
whereat is produced popular ten-cent
q, lot and building at
Brockton, used in the production Of
shoes.
The United States revenues" in
the last analysis, do not consist Of
SO1u VI SllVoI ulShS SldLupSu Will GER
tain letters and figures; Or pieces of
silk-ribbed paper printed in certain de-
signs; but in the services of men and
women, and in commodities to be used
by these men and women in perform
ing their respective duties. The same
is true of the revenues" of smaller
taxing jurisdictions.
Except, perhaps, in some chemical
experiments, the United States has no
real need for AS product. 1t may need
oats or corn from B, to feed it's army
horses. C's Office building produces
no tangible thing which government
may use. 1t is not likely to need any
Of DIS publications. But E may supply
the army with shoes.
Let us now assume that the annual
rental value of each parcel of land is
10000. What happens? A alone can
have his product endowed with power
to pay the tax. He can deliver to
the United States mint approximately
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