New-York tribune., 1911-11-25
LAND AND BUILDING TAXATION
Sweet Reasonableness in Reply TO Pro-
fessor Clark, of Columbia.
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.

~ tii' i<bitot VI ii' lAibhh's
Sir: A letter from your correspondent.
Professor John Bates Clark, of Columbia.
in your issue of to-day is regarded as
worthy Of a rejolrder by the executive
committee of the Tenants Union.
Professor Clark opposes tho bills that
have for their object the gradual reduc-
ton OF the taxes that retard the construc-
ton Of buildings because the consequent
increase in the taxes Of land would con-
hscate the values Of land in part. The
awful congestion OF population in our city.
that murders thousands Of our innocent
noiehbors annually, is caused by the great
army OF fo~estallcrs that was attracted to
the advertised best bets of New York City
lots that created the unparalleled land
boom OF the years 1905 1905 and 1907 These
bettors or investors. with the encourage
ment Of the influences that lured them 10
the speculation. or attracted their capital
as Professor Clark words il, are holding
on with a persistence unexampled in any
other gambling venture on record The
most malevolcnt OF the land forestallers
have become so rich growing by this
method Of absorption from mlllonaires 10
multimilliCnaires. that they can. in the alb
I
myriads Of would-be home owners to save
enough 90 pay their take It or leave It
prices.
The relief OF congestion in this henehcent,
natural way, that We are glad to see the
professor approves. Is cffectualy checked
by the prohibitiye prices. From the lovely
apex OF Columbia Professor Clark can see.
if ne viii only look. lots of lovely lures
and turing lovely convenient lots that are
not even numbered by taxpayers, iievices
that enable the investors To keep a longer
and a stronger hold. on the corner near
est the home of the writer are five vacant
lots that allured the investment Of capital
10 the amount of so on the part OF an
old lady who IS holding out for half MILL
ION dollars increment during the quickly
passing years This old woman would
want to prosecute Tor Islander any one
VINO might charge her with being one Of
the causes Of ntolerabl. congestion and
one OF the reasons for poorer neighbors
10 move forty miles further away than
would he necessary II there were no such
capitalists as she
Professor Clark's fears and solicitude
for home seekers in the suburbs might be
from Vancouver. where the plan he so
earnestly opposes was put in effect fifteen
years ago. His gloomy views OF what
would follow the passage of the tax reduc-
tion on houses bills would he changed 10
Illuminating sunshine il no would only IN
form himself of the magical effects Of the
same plan as carried ont In British Colum-
ba. Great buildings and palatial homes
appeared with miraculous rapdity So
beneficial was this experiment there (onIv
an innovation here that in 1906 en- addi-
tional decrease or p per cent was made
in the tax on houses. Immediately, as II
waiting for the drop OF the tax, building
activities showed another wondrous in
crease never known before in any other
place in the whole world.
II Is up to Professor Clark and the in
veetors for whom he speaks TO part with
some Of their holdings Of vacant land and
their hopes OF winning and thereby allow
the natural exodus to the suburbs 10 pro-
ceed as usual There is nothing In the
path OF progress to the country but the
speculators Nothing will clear the way
10 homes. sunshine and happiness but
ample taxation on tho forestallers Of the
opportunities To life. There are many
kinds of workmen. such as longshoremen.
whom the city needs and VINO cannot live
In the suburbs There II no good reason
why these most important workers for
the city's welfare, wealth and power should
be the mosi numerously sentenced to death
by preyentable Diseases. The millions that
the Mayor proposes for a courthouse to
cnthrone our judicial kings would rescue
the valuable workers from the plague
spots In which they are so swiftly dying
and give Them beautiful sanitary homes
over the piers on which they work.
II the learned professor must have some
other remedy than wc propose, VIII he