The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-15
| Of his reception room a. our city
Hail."


he pointed out. have grown sincs 1879
quite ~ rapidly A. those on this aide
OF the Atlantic. Peasants fortunate
enough to own and snrewd enough to
hold on to property in the line Of
city 6rowth have frequently become
miilionaifes. The German tax on un-
earned Increment was designed to
make such increase in land value con-
tribute TO the public treasury. First
exper sm entsd with In the German
protectorate OF Kioo Chau in 1898, the
Idea Was taken UP by several OF the
larger German citieA m rapid success
sion. Finally in 1911, the Empire en-
tered the feld, and extended the new
form OF taxation over all the States an
very large profits ON real estate trans
actions over purchase price and value
of permanent improvements the UNI
earned increment tax may amount to
as much as 80 pr cent. of the net gain.
The revenue from this souce IL divided,
80 per cent. going to the Empire. 10
per cent. to the State government.
the property is located. Altogether.
the German unearned increment tax
law of lall, according to Professor
Brooks, Is one of the largest and
most significant applications that has
yet been made Of the ideas OF the
late Henry George OF single tax fame.
| Would Have Experts.
Discussing 'Antitoxin for Municipal
Waste and Corruption" Mr.. Richard
Henry Dana, of Cambridge, Mass,
chairman ofthe council OF TIL Nation
al Civil Service Reform League, said:
should like to po:nt out that there
10 clear distinction between the poll
Icy determining functions, which shall
call political andthoss OF detailed ex-
pert administration. This distinction
has been recognized both in theory
and In practice IN England. France,
and Germany, and there their muni-
lcipai governments are both efficient
ana honest. while in America the dis
tinction has not been observed. the
same person performing political and
expert duties, and have where poift-
zeal and expert functions ara mixed,
the municipal government is neither
emeient or honest. AZ a rule.
There are, / believe, many posi-
tons like that Of superintendent of
tsireetA Which It Ia belierd any one
can NIL Just a. well as an expert. I
believe also that 10 because We have
men without scientific training in such
positions. We almost never see, for
example. true macadam put down on
our streets.
Training Equipe.
why II 1t, one may ask, that we
think II safe to put the municinaI
riches In the hands Of experts? First,
the training OF EXPORTS tends to exact
,paintAking and clear thinking. and
such habits OF mind tend to honesty.
Second. II We give the experts sui
ncient power and a tenure for rood
behavior and efficiency, they would b
free then from the entanglements of
political intrigue.
In England and Europe the exper,
neaos IN 2 municipality form . board,
ana sometimes there IL a chief expert
ever the whole. and to this board car
oe Fefefrd many expert questions,
which 1t would be safer not to leave
TO an individual, as for example
whether open competition for public
work needs to be suspended In a par
,ttcular case.
| DOES Great work
On the whole. this board OF 81.
perts 10 like some great Imaginary
machine which cannot only build
sewers In the best and most economt-
cal manner. but keeps itself up to ii,
moaern improvements, aud can aus.
eest public policies. At the lever
newever. should stand the policy de.
80. 'n'ns representatives OF the pso-
In Englend, Germany, ana France
u seems incompreheusible that Ne
IN America /. should even atfemnt -
ket municipal government without ths
splendid expert boards they have. and
iar from interfering with wise no.
nucai policies. It has been found tia,
.me system II the greatest help to able
puonc executives. In practice, the
experts do not obstruct but rather
promote all such policies as are wise. =
Omcers Elected.
following Is the complete list O
omeeFs ana committees elected yes
terday:
President-William Dudley Foulke
Richmond. Ind
Victs- Presidents-Jane Addams
chicago tnew); Fl. D. w. English
HttsburE: William Kent, Kentneld
Cal. new: Camillus g. Kldder, New
Iork; A. Lawrence Lowell. Harvard
Iork; Charles Richardson. Phifadel
phia.
Treasurer--G>orse Burnham, Jr.,
Philadelphia.
Secretary-Clinton Rogers Wood
run. Philadelphia.
Executive Committse--AlbertB Bush
nell Hart. chairman. Cambridge: Rob
srt Treat Paine. Boston; Harve.
Stuart Chase, Boston; william q. Low
New York: Eugene n. Outerbridge
New York: Knowlton' Mixer. Buffalo
Charles w. Andrews, Syracuse: Rich
ard 8. Childs. New York; Arthur c
Ludinston. New York: william NJ
Chadhourna. Nav York new; Ray
fnond V. Insersoli Brooklyn; Dude,
Tfbbits Troy: Nerwin X. Hart
Utica. Clarence L. Harper, Phlidel,
phia: Thomas Raeburn white, Phil
adelphis: ]. Horace Mcfarland. HAr
risbur1; George W. Guthrie. Pitts
burg: Oliver McClintock. PittsburE
4. Leo Well. Pittsburs: Charles H
Ingersoll, South Orange. n. j.: II. n
Baker. Montclair. n. u: william r
Bancroft. Wilmington: Charles ]
BonapartA Baltimore: John atawar
Bryan. Richmond tnsw): Elliot
HUNT rsndlsteA. Cincinnati: Walte
L. Tisher. Chicago: Edward Il Burch,
ara. Chicago (new): Frederic Coo
7 AersAosss. Mitwaukss tnsW,. Joh
A. Butter, Milwaukee; n. r. Hewisy
Minneapolis tnswl: Dwight r. DsvfI
d. LeuIei Evasst g. Konts. Atlanta
ytenk J. 6ymmss, San Francisco
Rev. Charles n, LAthrop. San Fran
A.