Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-03
Organizations for the
Distribution Of
NJ oney to
Aid the
Poor
Written For The Atlanta Georgian
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Copyright, 1912 by Anne rican- Journal Examiner.

and in favor of the poll tax. After
two years careful investigation the
commission reported unanimously
in favor of the above changes,
which, when made, will place all
British Columbia on what The
Portland Oregonia, is pleased to
call single tax basis.
Now comes The Colonist of Vic
toria, one of the dailies of the state,
and says. under date of April 8:
Although the next session of the
British Columbia Legislature is as
yet nine months in the future, pre-
liminary preparation of legislation
to be presented to the house upon
its assembling on January 16 is al
ready commanding attention. 1t is
expected one of the first govern
ment measures of the new session
will be that effecting reductions in
taxation and arrangements in the
assessment system, based wholly or
in large measure upon the recon-
mendations contained in the ex-
haustive report of the Royal Com
mission on Taxation, which went
into these matters last year.
In reply to an inquiry. Hon.
Charles H. Lugrin says:
Il may say that the Royal Tax
Commission of British Columbia, Of
which l was a member, went to
work with open minds and without
preconceived ideas as to what they
were going to do. The conclusions
we reached %were forced upon us
by our knowledge of the conditions
of the country and of the evils of
some of the taxes now levied. l
confess that at the outset l was
even in favor of the poll tax, against
which our commission is now unan-
imous.
"The same thing applies to the
tax on improvements and personal
property We felt from our investi-
cation of the province that they
were unjust; that they could not be
fairly levied, and that it was only
right that they should be abolished,
and we believe that this will be
done by the Legislature.
"The city of Victoria, after care
fully observing the results in Van
couver. has now also abolished the
tax on improvements, and l am sat
isfied that within two years neither
personal property nor improve
&c hn
where in British Columbia. That
this will encourage enterprise and
investment in the province goes
without saying.
''In the communities that have
adopted this system of single tax
there is no influence that can be
brought to bear that could lead
them to depart from it,"
Meanwhile, until the people (who
are the power in every land) awake
and understand and use concerted
methods to bring the single tax
into use in America, universally, in
stead of in few localities, we
must have charitable organizations.
And having them. let us find out
the truth about their methods be-
fore we accuse them of one or all
the vices which the unreasoning and
uninstructed ones lay at their door.
Much intimate knowledge of the
organized charities has made me
regard them with respect and graft
tude, while it has made me more
and more deplore the CONDITION
which necessitates their existence.
But neither the founders, organ
izers or officers of these societies
are in fault for these conditions.
The fault lies wholly and entirely
with the submissive and indolent
people, who will not awaken and
unite and demand a trial of the
principle of single tax in every
state in America