Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-03-20


years it will certainly do away with
the political boss. and also the cor
porat!on ,obby.
1t was a great surprise that l read
the attitude of The Daily Capital
Journal, and also of Gov Chamber
lain on President Roosevelt's pro-
posal to withdraw from entry those
portions of the public lands contain
ing coal, oil, stone. or timber and
also certain areas adapted to graz
ing and irrigation With your per
mission, I would like to defend Pre-
sident Roosevelt's action in this re-
gard While I did not vote for
President Roosevelt his attitude
on many public questions seems
wholly antiquated and untenable,
this alton in Withholding the public
domain in that of a statesman. Per-
NIT me to call attention to several
ways in which the land question is
treated in different countries,
1. In Great Britain, land is taxed
according to the revenue derived
from 1t. 100000 acres in a deer
park may yield less revenue, and SO
be taxed less than 100 acres devoted
to market gardening Vast game
preserves which make no contribu-
tion to human we'll being. and
quarter OF million of homeless peo.
pie herded together like beasts In a
single square mile of London slums
form contrast that is fast becom-
ing the burning question of British
politics. taxation according to rev.
enue is far from being a satisfactory
solution of the land question.
2. The American in taxation ac-
cording to value. being accustomed
to this way, we are naturally in
clined to think IL the proper way,
but there are weighty objections to
be urged against IT, Ordinarily the
value OF n piece of land consists OF
two very distinct parts: First. the
location value. and second the i'm
provement value; the first a location
value is made by the community and
belongs to the community. ordinarily
lt bears a very close relation to the
number of people per square mile In
Is vicinity. Land I'm the valley OF the
\mazon Is worthless today, but when
hat fertile soil has 100 people to
he square mile the price OF an acre
yorklngman, In an Iowa farming
community with 40 to 100 people TO
he square mile. land Is worth $50
IN acre. In New York city with
100000 people to the square mile
and sells for S1O,O0O.O00 an acre.
rs their location value Is made
wholly by the community. and any
individual who wishes to control It's
use should pay n fair rate OF inter.
est, In an old community or per
cent. in new community. when in
terest In higher Il may be . or 6 |
per cent. The other portion OF its
price, the Improvement value, Is OF |
course the result OF individual effort |
and should be treated like all other |
personal property This distinction |
may be made plain by saying that
taxation makes land cheap. while n |
makes everything else dear. II cot
ton cloth Is taxed ! cent a yard. Il |
will be increased in price. pig iron |
is taxed s. a ton II will certainly add |
to the price OF steel rails; II the |
farmer Is taxed 10 cents for each |
bushel OF wheat the average price OF /
wheat will go up. but II land tina;
ls ,waSlh $50 an acre be taxed $40 |
Rn at present 1t will sell for
pr be sold for taxes. Taxa
w. Nes land cheap. but every
," dear, houses, barns, clear
'"s rs. all that We commonly |
-" WSements are the result OF
'aDV "a taxed will become some
80 and scarcer, like cloth |
|, ""U wheat are above. they /
> o. - property, are the pro-