Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-25

Rock Island. Oct 21-Editor The
Argus: 1t is gratifying to see that Mr..
Osborn has returned to the argument,
the single tax The gentleman re-
peats his request that set up a work
Ing model of the single tax if happen
to possess one But as working models
are not convenient to carry around in
ones vest pocket. do not happen to
have one. Without doubt Mr. Osborn
knows that the single tax has not been
put i'm operation anywhere in its en-
tirety, but p has in numerous places
been partially adopted. and | am g!aI
to be able to say that so far as 1t has
been adopted, it has proven its value.
Rut here are a few facts which speak
for, themselves: George Fowlds, mem
Der of the New Zealand parliament
from Auckland, in lengthy speech de-
liyered on June %, 1906, before the
Manhattan Single Tax club said
Wherever the land values tax has
been applied it has proved beneficial.
and none of the communities that have
lopted it have ever gone back to the
Old system. In the suburbs OF AuGk-
l1nd. where the land values tax has
zen in effect several years, the popu-
ton has Increased 125 per cent while
Joining towns where it has not been
s)plied. have increased only in proper
t. the normal growth of the whole
untry. Although the Cancellation
lurt had settled the wages of mechan-
les. yet when the land values tax was
adopted, it so stimulated building that
npIoyers began paying more in order
to get mechanics to do the work. We
have no unemployed" Speaking Of
tHe education of his people in econo-
J. les. Mr.. Fowlds continued: They still
have some of the absurdities of people
IL other countries, holding onto their
gh tariff, but generally they know
g cd things when they see them, and
[ = land values tax is one of them"
One of the last official acts of The
Il te Premier Seldom of New Zealand
as TO recommend an increase of the
|; nd values tax, and a reduction of the
stoms duties on flour for the purpose
c bringing the newly formed flour
t list to terms. Under the leadership
c Premier Seldom nearly sixty cities
New Zealand adopted the land val
tax, and this approach to the sin
: tax has proved itself so valuable
C. at no one would ever think of re-
2 rning to the old system. But then
c course New Zealand is new
hi 70.
rks in an "old couEtry." The Ge.-
II m single takers have succeeded il
tablishing the land values tax in $50
les of Germany. starting with or
per mile" tax This will be 4
eased as fast as possible until the
ne single taxi and meanwhile all
her taxes are being abolished as fast
a possible. Among the cities which
We adopted the land values tax are
F ankfort on Main Cologne, Essen,
I ,rtmund. Gelsenkirchen, Hanau. Maui
e and other cities. Berlin being about
r. ady to fall in line The people are
d lighted and several cities have aske,l
T. G imperial government for enact
ents which will later permit them II
fl lily adopt the single tax. Among
Il csc are Dusseldorf and Ulm alsl
V emma 1t is notable that the liberal
II .nistry in England some time ago
ked the government of New Zealand
fer a report on the land values tax
Tie New Zealand government prompt
ly replied. forwarding a detailed report
to the home government, recommend
ing the land values tax, saying that il
was a great success. The home gov
ernment at once submitted a land va,
uos tax bill. for Scotland to the parlia
ment, the house of commons passins
slme by an overwhelming majority
! owever when the bill was sent to tho
house of Qand) lords, it was speedily
murdered Meanwhile there are $500
n IN walking the streets of Londo
vho do not know where their mex
neal is coming from. Had the lane
values tax bill for Scotland passed,
similar one for England would hdv,
been drafted. The house of Gland
lords however, is not anxious to Civ
tle single tax a foothold. The lord
lings know what it will do to thei
money bags , Note the contrast: CIV
have no unemployed in New Zealand.