The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-03-10
TAX SYSTEM
IS UNJUST
Taxes Should Be Raised
From Natural Resources
and Franchises, All I'M
provements Exempted.
(By w. II. Kaufman)

Taxes are high and ever growing high
er If we add old age pensions and
pensions to widows and orphans-we
must get more money.
If we add industrial training includ-
ing domestic science, manual training
and agriculture-we will need more
money.
If we are to build macadam roads
we will need more money.
We tax reformers are the only people
who understand the situation. We pro-
pose to exempt homes, farm improve
ments, mills and factories from all taxa
tion, while at the same time putting
into the treasury three times as much
as our present taxes yield; thus leav-
ing a snug sum to be paid to each citi-
zen on the first day of each new year.
We propose to do this, while at the
same time we encourage development
and tighten the burdens on all forms of
industry. We propose to abolish all
taxes that rest on labor; maintain the
government and still have a surplus to
be divided on a per capita basis.
Taxes That Do Good
We are so used to taxes that are
burdensome that it is hard to think of
taxes that are in themselves a blessing
to community. Yet there are such
taxes. For instance, a tax on wild land
will hasten its development; create a de-
mand for labor and be in every way a
blessing to the community, even if the
money brought in by the tax were to
be thrown away. We should, therefore,
tax wild land much higher, acre for
acre, than we do improved land.
Taxes That Are Just.
Ordinary taxes are merely fines on
industry and frugality. We fine man
for clearing his land, for building a
house, even for painting his house. We
fine him for buying a piano, for plant
ing flowers, for grooming his horse.
These taxes are SO unjust that men feel
justified in lying to the assessor. But
taxes on unearned values are recognized
as just Before me is a bulletin issued
by the department of commerce and la
Dor, Washington, D. c., which states
that the Southern Pacific railroad, the
Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. and the
Northern Pacific Railroad Co. have to-
gether 237 100000 feet of standing tim
Der worth $6O0,OOO,OOO and for which
those companies paid vastly less than
it is now worth. The bulletin says they
have not created this timber and have
done very little to enhance its value
This $600,OOO,0O0 has nearly all been
created by somebody in the past twenty
years. or at the rate of nearly $780,,
100000 year This is only one tenth
of the privately-owned timber of the
United States. This annual unearned
increase could all be taken without in
iuring anyone in the least.
Farmers and WagewOrkers Agre.
The Washington State Grange and
the Washington State Federation of La
Dor each unanimously endorsed a resolu-
tionI presented to collect a five per
cent annual rent from all future in
creases of the franchise values of natu-
raj resources.
Timber and Fish Belong to the Whole
State.
Farmers and wageworkers on the east
side should remember that timber and
fish are resources of the entire state.
These two items with the franchise val
ues of business blocks in the large cit
les should pay all taxes, both state and
local and still leave a large surplus. l
viii be very glad to hear from all who
wish to be rid of taxes that are unjust
and that hinder development; and who
wish to adopt a tax system that win be
just and that viii encourage develop
ment. In another article I will tell why
merchants, manufactures and millmen
agree with farmers and wageworkers.