Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-28
SINGLE TAX AID
GIVEN BY WILSON
Henry George Theory May Get
Trial in District of
Columbia.
MEN WHO FAVOR IDEA
ON SENATE COMMITTEE
Presidents Interest In the Sub
lect Made Apparent by
His Action.
Star Bureau.
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg
WAsHINGTON. June g


With the encouragement and as
sistance of President Wilson, Henry
Georges theories on the single tax
on land may be given their first
trial IN the District of Columbia.
The first step that viii be taken in
this experiment will probably be 10
ask Congress to authorize the ex-
enption Of buildings, personal prop
erty and improvements on land from
taxation in the city.
The Presidents interest in this sub
feet has been made apparent within
the last few weeks When the ways
and means committee was making
up the list of Democratic committee
assignments, the only committee con-
corning which the President ex-
pressed definite choice was the
committee on the District of Column
hia.
Henry George. Jr., Committee.
At Mr. Wilson'S request four rep
resentatives who are known as ar
dent advocates of the Henry George
idea were placed on this House COM
mittee. which has in charge legis-
lation affecting the District of Co
lumbia. These men are Henry
George, jr.. of New York, son of the
author of Progress and Poverty"
Bremner of New Jersey; LEngle,
of Florida, and Crosser, of Ohio.
The latter was for years one of the
prominent figures in the group which
surrounded the late Mayor Tom
Johnson, of Cleveland.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio, the only
avowed and militant single taxer in
the Senate, was also placed on the
Senate committee in charge Of Dis
trict of Columbia matters at the Pres
dents request.
Today Oliver P. Newman and Fred
erick L. siddons. who have just been
named by the President as commits
sdoners to govern the District of
Columbia, made it known to per-
sonaI friends that as soon as posi-
Bile they would urge upon Congress
the adoption of the Henry George
idea to the extent of abolishing taxes
on buildings and personal property.
They expect to have the support of
the President and the active assist
ance of the members of the House
and Senate committees of his selec-
ton in pushing such legislation.
1t is the Presidents hope to give
the District of Columbia not only
taxing system, but a general plan of
municipal government, which may
serve as a model for other cities of
rne country. The fact that the only
direct taxes raised here are for city
affairs, there being no county or
State government or taxes. makes
this an ideal community in which to
give the single tax idea its first prac-
teal demonstration in the United
States.
The exemption of buildings from
. taxation has been in vogue for several
,eyears in a number of Canadian
Kettles, with generally gratifying re-
JSults 1t is declared that some of the
Effects have been to encourage build
fnk, discourage speculation in unim-
prbved property and reduce rents and
nh taxes Of small home-owners.
Indig -"nt at President.
Hstrlct OF 9lufnD Ola POLITICIANS are
up IN arms over the manner in which
theiPresident has ignored their claims
to Recognition in the selection Of dis
trict commissioners. Newman is a
young newspaper writer, a native of
Iowa, who accompanied him on his
campaign travels last fall.
Newman is an advocate of the sin
gle tax. public ownership of railroads
and utilities and other radical re-
forms Several weeks ar the Presi-
dent sent for him, told him he had
decided to name him as one of the
commissioners, and asked him TO find
another man with whom he could
work in harmony. Newman picked
siddons, a lawyer, who Is an extreme
radical in his political views. Among
other of his accomplishments, Sid
dons helped to establish the model
single tax colony at Fairhope, Ala.
After deciding on the appointments
of Siddons and Newman, the Presi-
dent listened to the claims of the local
politicians, but finally told them he
did not think they had given him any
reason for changing his program.
4 1T is expected that the agitation for
d single tax in Congress will give
u npetus to the movement in the diff
Weren't States