The sun., 1913-11-30

lease or land at $I5 year. seven
years before the lease would have eX-
pired the Duke granted a renewal on
| condition that the tenant surrendered
the uneXpired part of the lease, paid
$3.50 year rent instead of S.5. spent
$4,000 in improving the building and
continued to pay all the taxes.
| A large part OF the ground upon
which London's buildings stand is
owned by certain rich peers. Land is
not sold by them. but leased or rented.
The renter erects at his own expense
such buildings as he needs and pays
all the taxes. When his lease expires
| he must pay the increased rent which
his own improvements make possible
to charge or else move. abandoning his
own building. Some recent sales show
| the almost fabulous price which the
absentee landowner receives when he
does sell London real estate in the more
favored sections.
The London County Council went 10
Parliament for power to purchase Al-
bert Square garden. Limehouse. to pre-
serve it for an open space or park for
| the poor. After arbitration the council
was compelled to pay to the "noble
lord" its owner. S50.O00 for the ground.
twO-thirds OF an acre. At the junction
Of Old Broad street where stands the
bank upon which many Americans who
visit London have letters OF credit some
offices were sold. the price for the free
hold being $1.050.O00. or nearly 1850 n
square foot, which is about $4,000. 900
an acre.
What is Great Britain to do about IT.?
Democracy which Ia or at least should
ba the policeman and the partner of in
dustry. Is already in the United King
dom during something and plans TO do
more. LET we'll enough alone no
longer satisfies much less "let bad
alone lest the change bring worse"
Three general plans Of land reform
have been seriously considered and
each to a degree has been adopted. The
three plans are naturalization OF the
land, the small holdings policy and taxa
| ton.
Twenty years ago the great Gladstone
| said: "lf the time comes when the
| British nation finds that the land should
! be nationalized and 1t is wise to do it
| they have a perfect right to do So"
Naturalization. which means the own
| ership by all the people OF all the land,
Ia openly talked. Indeed it is put into
practical effect TO a degree in Govern
ment purchase and ownership In the
land purchase acts.
That striking form of naturalization
known as the single tax. which "prides
itself on being effected without COM
pensation and by the confiscation by
the State Of economic rent" has many
strong advocates. Rent being value
created by the whole community. say
Tvs supporters. should belong to the
| whole community. All economic rent
the rent Of tho actual land apart from
tho improvements IL unearned in
crement. The single takers would
confiscate not the land to the State, but
the rent.
Another form Of land naturalization
10 considered. though not seriously
This involves the taking over of all
the land by the State. with cOmpensa-
tion to the landlord. Small holdings
by compulsory purchases and small
holdings by compulsory leasing are
other plans actually pursued. Under
these schemes the landlord Is com
pelIcd to sell or lease small acrcagcs
for actual farm use. Land hire by the
State and land purchase are involved
In this general scheme.
A more drastic measure has Just
sssa proposed by WIN Thorns In the