New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-06-21
Clinging to Absurdity.

Why does this couutryaretain the
absurd, unjust,, impossible and thrice.
condemned tar Oh personal property?
asks the Duluth Herald.
1t doesn't pro duce revenue enough
to begin to pay for the hypocrisy and
injustice it inevitably entails. Any
state or city could drop 1t and never
miss it, 30 far ~ it, revenues are
concerned. There isn't . person that
knows anything about taxation VINO
wont admit that it 10 impossible to
create Just system oftsxing personal
property. It is either ineffective or
penalty on enterprise. 1t has made US
q nation of liars and tax.dodgers-
Yet we cling to it and are sgltating
our wits uselessly in the search for
methods to do the impossible oV
making it honest and just and Efficient
Albert Jay Mock who has been con-
tributing some Illuminating articles
to the American Magazine on this
subject, in the June number makes this
suggestion: "When our citizens are
asked to contribute under the general
property tax, often wonder that IL
does not occur to them to ask why
should I give part OF my earnings to
support government that has resour-
ses enough of It's own to take care OF
itself twice over?" Then he illustrates
what he means by a description of the
taxing and public land policies OF
Alberta, Canada, He says:
"Alberta says to her citizens: Here
is land with its potential wealth.
What gives it value is the number of
persons who want it. Help yourself.
All you make out of it is yours-no
tax on property, industry, production
on labor. Pay simply what the de-
mand the number OF people who want
it) determines the privilege is worth
If you can make ten million dollars
we won't begru dge you single dollar;
and il you want to put up house
built of silver and gold, We womb tax
you a cent. But whesther you choose
to work this privilege or leave it idle,
you will pay in either case just what
it is worth"
Different from ours? Rather. We
say 'Here is land. 1t was ours, but
We gave it away or let it be stolen,
and you must pay for 1t what its ow-
ners choose to ask. for it. When you
buy it we shall tax you according to
its value. If you use it, that makes
it more valuable and We shall tax you |
more. II you build on 1t, we shall tax
your building. II you put furniture or
machinery or tools or a stock OF mer.
chandise in that building, We shall !
tax them. II you borrow money for
these purposes, we shall tax that |
money In the bank and we shall tax
the evidence of your Indebtedness,
and the lender will make you pay that
too. We shall! pile tax upon tax, and
the more you do roir US the more We
shall tax you, /
fee capital Of A!bs."ta is Edmonton.
In the beginning the Hudson bay com
PAW held an enormous tract III the
heart Of the city, lying, says Mr.. Mock
slike an ounce of putty in a dyspetic
stomach" 1t was held unimproved
drawing increased value from the en-
terprise of others but paying no ade-
ouate return in taxes for this benefit
Edmonton simply taxed that land so
heavily that it didn't pay to hold it,
and it was put on the market and sold
topeople who would use it.
This country isn't even making q
start toward such enlightened methods
Its policy favors speculation and Pc
nslizes enterprise. 1t puts the burden
OF taxation on development, and puts
q primium on idleness.
Surely the example of Alberta and
Edmonton is worth the thought OF the
public spirited Of this state and
country.