Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-03-20
MEASURE DESERVES DEFEAT
Correspondent Clearly Points Out
Injustice of Proposed Land
Tax Law.

BRIDGEPORT, Or, Mar. 14-(Tc
: the Editor AN amendment to the
le constitution of Oregon has been pro
posed, and is to be voted on at the June
election, that should receive the atten
: tion of the voters. The amendment
referred to is the one proposing tc
place all the expense Of state and
county government on land, and
exempt all other kinds of property
from taxation. Plausible argument
favoring it is being written and sent
out to voters, but the answer to it all
is simple.
There are at least one hundred cases
in court involving rights TO personal
property to every one where real estate
is involved. All Of the criminal cases
are either invasions of personal secur-
ity, or arise from injury to, or aspor-
tation Of, personal property. So that
almost all Of the expense Of maintain
ing our courts Is necessary on account
OF the litigation over questions where
the rights to personal property, in
some form, are involved yet it is pro-
posed to make the land alone pay the
expense.
1t is claimed by the advocates Of the
single tax that any other form Of tax
alton is tax on labor. Does not any
man know that, in its final analysis,
even land itself derives its commercial
value from laborl 70 the practical
man, purely academic discussions
have no more place in business affairs
than do the elaborate discussions OF
the theologians of the Sixteenth Cen
tury on the question Of how many
souls could balance on the point of
needle.
1t Is also claimed, land here is where
the single-tax theorist grows eloquent.)
that tax on land alone would be so
burdensome on the landholder that
he would be forced to sell his holdings.
l admit that the tax would be burden
some, but l deny that he would sell
lie might abandon, but he would not
for very simple reason. He {
would have no purchasers. Who |
would buy it II it was taxed so no one 7
'ould hold2 Mr.. Single Tax, you /
'rove too much.
Again, IL the argument that land
would become cheap be true, then the
ate OF taxation would be increased. y
nd that again would reduce the price, s
nus Increasing the rate until the L
value OF the land would 81
reduced to nothing. Then no one l.
ouid sell, for no one would buy u
llng worth nothing, and the holdings c'
ould remain where they are. Then, II
ith no cash value to the land, there D'
ould be no basis OF assessment. and re
lth the proposed amendment made a bi
irt OF our constitution, there would
no property to tax. How would the
'vernment be run thenP
III no one could hold land, because
xed out Of existence, how could the -
unity collect its taxes? The land dr
'her could refuse to pay. Then what a
'uld happen? The court would order io,
sale OF the land. Now Just imagine ,h'
0 condition: The Sheriff would .,C
vertise that he would sell at the Sh
urthouse. II he stated what would No.
en be common knowledge, he would mi
y: "Gentlemen, / now offer for sale IN,
'lece OF property that, il you should int
n It, Will be so burdened with taxes Iov
1t you cannot sell it, nor keen il AZ
Q commercial value of this land ia ont
ming. Now, how much am br,
ered?" No bidders. The county ~.
Ys 1t 10 and cancels the tax. a.,,
Tow, Mr.. Single Tax, what can. or co., m
!, the county do? The land is not nil
ney, and It will not sell for money. um
your amendment produces the A.,
ut you claim for it. Ifitwill not
rate to reduce the price of land TO --
hing, what will it do? The whole
Dry OF Henry George, the originator
he idea of land alone carrying the 4
den OF government, is predicated
N the assumption that the land. In
Ter would be forced to sell. Would .,
the purchaser, in turn, be forced w W
elIF SO ! repeat, who would buyP nj
ne OF the strong (O arguments OF 81
advocates of this amendment is
one block In Portland would be
'ssed as much as 6l,OOO acres of
ley land, and thus the farmers tax
Id be reduced. How do they know De
would be true. and 10 so, how --
Id that help the farmerP The land -.
zen county must pay the expenses !
ach county, and the state tax is
d on the ratio of county expense s+s
e expense OF the state. A high or
valuation OF Portland property az
''' y 'u' "'s'ssinehI MAR
ave stated but a few Of the objec.
10 the proposed amendment The
osition Is so ridiculous and unfair Fo
one could multiply objections by trees
hour All thinking men agree
many Inequalities exist under the
ut system Of taxation, bat that Is b
lult Of men. and not Of Tho 80 Rhot
In any event, Is il not better to
those Ills we have than dy 10
5 that we know not OFF"
nk for n r,ou,... Pu
ads s,oanhoa, H.. w 'aA on per h
9 institutions. packing houses. u ="
money, goods, notes, stock In
rations. stock on the range, fine A..
Ings, gold mines 10 fact every. - a.
exempt except landl Is IL pos- ~, 1l''U