The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-11-02

| single taxers do not contend, now
ever that priyate ownership in i'"'
should be destroyed. IheF "'N a
inc that a man should own in aos'-
\ lute title as much land as lie ".' -,
choose TO acquire They believe Wv Wv.
development of the individual Fequ'sS
that he should have a piece VI ~
he can call his own. All -,
comes from the land, and II w
source of wealth is taxed the pu' ~ : :
is borne equally. They oppose 4 90
on anything that results from ii'N
labor and industry, such as pe''n
property or Improvements -.
| propose the single tax as Tue
source of revenue and as an elie'''
means of destroying monopoly IAes
affirm that the great t.usts co"iu
not exist without the privilege -
monopolizing and holding from use
countless acres of valuable land anu
that the single tax would co'i'pe.
them to either use such lands, OF Se''
to others, or suffer the loss OF 'ne
profits of monopoly.
Such is the position OF the Slhsie
takers. 1t is to be noted that ne
single tax has not made progress III
the United States as in Canada, 'tieat
Britain. Australia and New Aaalaha'
but the time has come when the sih-
gle tax philosophy challenges the ser
ious attention of the thinking men
of this country.
The strongest opposition TO the
single tax in America will not come
from the cities. If the laboring man
in the city owns his own home, the
tax on his lot will not exceed the
combined tax now paid on his .ot,
buildings and personal property, but
the speculator owning a vacant lo'
will find his tax materially increas'
ed. He will be compelled either /.
improve his real estate or sell it {
someone who will improve it. The
result will be more homes for th'
ordinary men of the city.
Inasmuch, however, as many cite
are not given a free hand in dealing
with the problem of taxation bu
are linked with forming cOmmunitie
where different views may prevail
it is hardly probable that the prin
ciple of the single tax, not now gen
orally understood, will be enacted
into law in the near future, and il
will be necessary for the time beins
to look elsewhere for a substitute fol
the personal property tax which has
broken down.
4. The state of Wisconsin has rec
ognized the principle that men Should
serve the state in the degree ~
which they have the ability to servf
and recently enacted
law providing for graduated stat)
income tax. BY the terms of thlI
law, ten per cent of the revenuI
raised from the tax on incomes god
to the state, twenty per cent u
the county, and seventy per cent
the township, city or village in while
it is collected. The entire eXpen
of assessment and collection Is Dor
by the state.
The governor of Wisconsin says:
Hand in hand with this chan
will go the abolition of personal pre-
erty taxation and a reduction In
tax upon real estate. Large fortu
invested in credits and securit
which for years have escaped
alton will now be required ;or
first time to bear their fair share
the expense of the government W
protects them and their owners.
The governor of Wisconsin fur
says:
Great care has been exercise
devising adequate administrative
chinery for the collection of the
here proposed. Local adm
ration is the cause of the failu
many state income tax law.
tax will be assessed not by
officers but by centralized
ganization, acting under the dir
of the state tax commission
will keep secret under strict PEI
all confidential information"
Liberal exemptions are allow
the Wisconsin law. To an indi
income up to and including
hundred dollars is exempt. TC,
band and wife, twelve hundr'
lars. To each child under the
eighteen years, two hundred
additional. For each individu'
son dependent upon the taXpa.
hundred dollars more. 1t will
seen that not penny need
any man for the purchase
necessaries of life will be
From, tho viou nnint of tho y