The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-16
The Single Tax Idea
And It's Sponsor.

who wants to know what the single
tax is, or rather what are the salient
features of 1t.
The single tax principle was enun-
ctated and made prominent by Henry
George, Sr., the political economist,
who was also the author Of several
political works dealing with economic
questions.
In his single tax propaganda Mr..
George asserted as our Fundamental,
principle the self evident truth enun-
ciated in the Declaration Of American
independence, that all men are created
equal and endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights. There
fore no>one should be permitted 20
hold natural opportunity without a
fair return to all for any special privi-
lege thus accorded to him, and that
that value which the growth and i'm
provement Of the community attaches
to land should be taken for the use
OF the community; that each is en-
titled to al that his labor produces;
therefore, no tax should be levied on
the products of labor.
To carry out these principles the
raising Of all public revenues for ma
tional, state, county and municipal
purposes by single tax upon land
values, irrespective of improvements,
and the elimination of all forms of
direct and indirect taxation was strong
ly urged.
Since all the states ,evy some tax
on the value Of land, the single tax
can be instituted by the simple and
easy way Of abolishing, one after an
other, all other taxes now levied and
commensurately increasing the tax on
land values until We draw upon that
one source for all expenses Of govern
ment, the revenues being divided be-
tween local, state and general govern
ment as the revenue from direct tax
alton is now divided between the local
and state governments, or by a direct
>~A7~SSh'AAAOAAS DS4A& AAAoAC NY Tic SCASI oil
government upon the states and paid
by them from revenues collected in
this manner. The single tax as pro-
posed is not a tax on land, and there
fore would not fall on the use of land
and become a tax on labor.
It Is q tax not on land, but on the
| value Of land. 1t would thus be tax
not on the use and Improvement OF
land, but on the ownership of land
taking what would otherwise go to the
owner. and not the user.
In assessments under the single taz
all values created by individual use oil
Improvement would be excluded, and
| the only value taken into considera-
! ton would be the value attaching tt
the bare land by reason Of neighbor.
hood, ETC.. to be determined by i'm.
partial periodical assessments.
Thus the farmer would have NJ
more taxes to pay than the speculatoi
who held a similar piece Of land idle
1t would compel the latter to pay jus
as much for holding land idle as 70
/ putting 1t to its fullest use. Thus thu
single tax would take the weight o
taxation off the agricultural district
and place 1t on towns and cities, wher
bare land sometimes rises to q valu
of many millions Of dollars per acre.
The single tax theory would dis
pense with a multiplicity Of taxes an
horde of tax-gatherers, and do ava,
with the fraud and gross inequalit,
inseperable from the present method
Of taxation, which allow the rich t
escape while they grind the poor. Lam
cannot be carried off or hidden, an
its value can be ascertained with grea
ease and certainty.
It contemplates an equality to Civ
to all the world as perfect freedom o
trade as now exists between the state
Of the Union, thus enabling the PEG
pie to share through free exchange
all the advantages which nature ha
given to other countries.
It would on the other hand, by TAX
ing for public use that value whic
attaches to land by reason of tn
growth and improvement Of the com
munity, make the holding Of land I'm
profitable to the mere owner and profit
able only to the user. 1t would thu
make it impossible for spectators t
hold natural opportunities unused Q
only half used. and would throw ope
to labor the illimitable field Of employ
ment which the earth offers to man.
Henry George, ST., the author Of tn
single tax idea, was for many years
prominent figure on both the America
and European continents. His PROG
ress and Poverty" perhaps gained fo
him more notoriety than any other {
> his productions. In 1897 he was nom
mated for mayor of New York by th
populists, and accepted the nomination
but the stress of the campaign was to
great for his physical endurance an