The Washington times., 1910-12-01
Joseph Fels Says Unoccu-
pied Land In England Is
Loaned for Cultivation.
THIRD IS VACANT
IN WASHINGTON
Noted Soap Manufacturer and
PhilanthrOpiSt Blames Tariff
= for High Prices.

.
Joseph FeIs. millionaire manufactures
and philanthropist. Is in washington to-
= day in the interest of his campaign for
q single-tax system
20. Discussing the politics Of Great Brit
al nand the United States. MT. FeIs had
a few things 10 say
- ITS your tariff that causes high cost
Of living" he said. Look at this suit
or clothes have on. In England it
cost. tailor made S30. or 81 You
couldn't buy II here for less than S55-
The cost OF living in England is just
about % per cent Of what il is in this
country: that's conservative The ratio
will be maintained when you compare
I Great Britain and American prices on
meat. shoes, matches, neckties. and al
most any other article
England's Land Problem
Mr. Fels declares that New Britain 5
besettinS trouble is the land monopoly
and unequal taxation. He tells how he
thinks those who own land can help nd
any nation of poverty and its shifuess
classes.
"one-third Of the land in Washington
- unoccupied,- he said Why can't
you do here as We have in LondOn2 The
Vacant Land Cultivation Association Of
g benevolent Of the English land holders
They were asked TO lend the use Of their
lands, which we divided into small
tracts, an eighth acre or more
we offered TO lend the use of this
land TO any man who would cultivate 1t.
He could either be a dTUnkaUd or a
sober man We wanted him 10 be i
man of family, that's all There we're
fifteen applicants for every garden plot
We had TO lend Ninety per cent Of the
soIunteer workers made good If one
failed, there were fourteen others wait
ing 70 step into his place The vOlun-
ne TaiSe1- Many raised sufficient YeSe-
stables To SI.0Dly their families and had
a surplus TO- the market
Extent of the Work
: There are $50 Of these free garden
EEIOts in operation now London has suf-
> fcient vacant lands within its limits
and immediate enviTOus 10 supply $4,000
people We want the people who are
poor; who belong TO what IS known as
the doUn-and-out class
The plan viii work in Washington,
Philadelphia, Baltimore or any other
aameTiCan city where the land owners
might lend, without detriment to them
selves, acres and acres of vacant lands.
Our English association is backed by
such men as Prof Patrick Geddis, Sir
samuel Montague, Sir william Mat
thevs, the Earl IF Darlington, and 9TH
ers Of equal prominence. Miss Margaret
Mcmillan ard the Countess Of WarriCl1
also are on the committees OF the as
sOciatiOn.''
Mr.. Fels reached the United States Lest
Friday, and viii see a number Of this
cnuntrv-s business men in the interest
Of his single tax fight before returning
TO London H is one Of LondOn's s
wealthiest men He made his fortune
out Of soap, and owns factories in this
country and abroad
Address on Single Tax.
Mr.. FeIs delivered an interesting
lecture before the WOmen's Single
Tax League at the Y w @ a. Assem-
bly, Hall last evening, his subject be-
ing The Making Of the English Bud
get"
. In introducing the speaker, J. H
RaISton. a member Of the District bar
and z single taxer," paid Mr. Fels a
high tribzIte for the efficient work he
has performed in solving many Of the
= problems in the financial and indus
3 trial life in England He also told Of
; MI FeIs' recent sOjourn in England.
Mr. FeLs declared the solution Of the
: great poverty problem in England had
p been such taxation Of all farming
land There should be no absolute