The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-09-24

The census shows that between what
the wageworker creates and what he
receives there is a difference of $3 n
day for the 800 working days of the
year. 1t is the chief concern of the
wageworker to find what becomes of
this S' day, and having found his
property, to recover it. Today | will
have time to account for and show how
to recover only half of the So; that due
the wageworker because he is land
lord.
| For every wageworker is a landlord.
That there may be no doubt concerning
this fundamental proposition let us de-
fine the term. What is the central idea
of being landlord? ? Is it not this: the
fixing and collection of rents? and of
determining the uses to which property
may be put?
| For instance, | own some land; am a
landlord. fix the amount of annual
rent which must be paid me before any
one can use my land; and | also de-
termine the uses to which the land may
be put.
Now the state-Of which wagework
ers are by far the largest factor-the
state is the supreme landlord; taxes are
rents. Those who call themselves land
lords are merely our tenants who are
subletting orr property. Let us fix this
clearly in our minds not as a theory;
not as something that ought to be, but
as the simple truth as to what is now
the actual fact. States, that is first of
all. the state constitution, then statu
tory law, then city charters and ordi-
nances and duly authorized city, county
and school district officials, fix the an
nual rent, which everyone must either
pay or get off the land" Then, too,
states-that is our duly authorized rep
resentatives-also determine the uses to
which certain portions of our common
inheritance may and may not be put;
as front on main streets; frame build
ings may not be erected on our lots in
central portions of cities; things that
by inconvenencing other tenants, might
depreciate our property, must be abated
nuisance.
States that is you and and our fel
lows have power to levy and collect
taxes-which are merely rents. Hence,
the state is the supreme landlord, while
those whom we commonly call landlords
are merely tenants, collecting such
rents as they may from their snbten-
ants
The assessor is merely our agent for
fixing rents; and the tax gatherer is
merely our rent collector.
Now remember that this is not a
theory; not proposed reform, but a
simple and accurate statement of the
actual law under which we are now
living. If the words seem at all strange,
it is merely because corporation law
yers have "fuddled" some peoples ideas
Wageworkers Are Shiftless Landlords.
wish to say right here that you
wageworkers are careless and shiftless
landlords. Apparently you care very
little for your wives and children, for
YOU fix very low rents. You have lit
tie regard for the development of your
4 xIfaln
with your tenants.
Suppose that one man We're landlord
of the whole of the State of Washing
ton. and suppose that he fixed his rents
every two years, giving no one lease
for a longer term. 1t would, of course,
be unwse as well as morally wrong for
him to raise the rents of farm merely
because the farmer had built a barn
or drained some land. Suppose that in
stead of all of MS being joint landlords.
YOU were sole landlord of this state.
Wishing to get your property developed.
wishing to secure settlers and capital,
You would doubtless notify people that
land could be secured on very advanta-
geous terms; and that those who i'm
proved their property would not have
their rents raised above the rents asked
for vacant lands of equal quality and
similarly situated. In other words,
wishing to secure immigrants and to
have your estate developed, you would
notify the world that farmer would
not have his rents raised simply be-
cause he cleared and improved his farm;
that merchant would have no extra
rent to pay If he erected fine brick
block: that mill man would have no
extra rent to pay simply because be
brought in machinery.
immigration Raises Ground Values.
Your reason for this course would not
be simply generous disposition as a
desire to have your property developed.
Last January had the pleasure of ad-
dressing the Tacoma Commercial club
on this subject, and one member asked
me whether favored taxing at the
| same rate vacant lot and an adioin-
ing lot having 100000 factory. !