Evening star., 1914-02-21
SinqIe-Tax Dr.. JekyII Would
Reduce Present Tax-Bur-
den by Fairer Distribution.
COMFISCATI0N OF
LAND VALUES
Single Tax Mr.. Hyde Would Double
Present Tax-Burden, and Destroy
Half-and-Half Law.
No. x.
BY THEODORE w. MOVES.

SinSle-tax presents itself TO
Washington in two contradictory
aspects First, as the bcnetlcen,
DR. lekyll, who would case the
local tax-burden, by distributing
II more equitably. removing or rc-
ducing the tax on enterprise and
public spirit i'll the levy on realty
Improvements. eliminating or de-
creasing the tax ON honesty anil
Conscientious Veracltv i'll the levy
ON personalty.and largely inoreas-
ing or substituting Tor all other
taxes the just and uniform levy on
land values with their unearncd
increment Second. as the de-
slructive Mr.. HYDE, who would
more than double the Washingto-
mans present heavy tax-burden,
who would repel national par
ticipation i'll capital-upbuilding
and DESTROY the half-and-half law,
and who would by excessive tax
alton confisCate to the state with
out compensation all land values
in the District.
The one would promote. the
other would destroy, Washing
tons welfare, the prosperity OF
the capital
There is no necessary connec-
ton between single-tax for Wash
ington in these contradictory as
poets. To- enjoy the benefits be-
slowed by DR.. Jekyll it is MT
necessary to endure the injuries
inflicted by Mr.. Hyde Whole
some tax reforms including more
uniform, more frequent, more
scientific and more accurate as
sessments and a more equitable
apportionment of the tax-burden
in accordance with the spirit OF
the single-tax doctrine can and
ought to be accomplished without
wantonly assailing the half-and-
half law and without threatening,
as an act OF virtue, to deprive
10000 Washingtonians OF their
land BY coniiscatory assessment
and taxation.
Let the truth be recognized by
everybody, single-taxers included,
that our present per capita tax
burden is heavier than in the vast
majority OF American cities and
fully as heavy as we should rea-
sonably be required to bear; that
national participation III capital
upbuilding is as essential now as
in 1900 and In 1873; and that the
doubling OF a tax-burden already
TOO heavy for the strength OF the
bearer will inevitably result in a
breakdown and disaster, i'll which
all Washingtonians, whether poor
or well-to-do. whatever their occu-
patton or section OF residence, and
whatever their theories OF taxa
ton, will inevitably suffer.
IN recent editorial correspondence
urged that single takers should not wish.
but should vigorously oppose. the re-
peal of the half-and-haif law; and point
ed out that they can work their tax re-
form more readily when the local taxpay-
ers pay one-half the needed revenues than
when the whole of this unbearable burden
is thrown upon them ! asserted that in
Washington the single tax principle in its
ftnZ Tf,4ff 4YNr,'fR cd tAN- r. CO
made to mean not one tax only ano
that on naked land. but multiple and in
creased taxes. I pointed out that single
tax agitation had been effective to swell
the land assessment. bat had not beer
effective to reduce or eliminate the per
sonalty and improvements assessments
that on the contrary a competitive boost
ing of assessments had been started Whicf
resulted III excessive tax valuations of al
kinds of property. And ] said: The re-
suit of assessing realty on the single tar
basis. and then, instead of cutting out al
other taxes. Of charging them also il
proportioI. is 10 give the Brobdingna giar
figures OF District property valuation viii
which Representative Crisp. quoting from
the CieorSe single-tax report, has startled
This community and Congress.
In a recent issue of The Star the sin
Sle-tax theory was restated by Herbert
Browne. who is not only journals,
and word maker about taxation in the
abstract but is the practical progenitol
of the George report and the Crisp bill
and is thus the fruitful source of Wash
ilSton's financial woes. In discussing tn,
single-taN comments of this editorial cor
respondence Mr.. Browne disclosed hi.
continued belief 0irst asserted in 1912
that Washington could be assessed ant
taxed more than twice the amount tina
il now pays without being unethicall,
taxed. and that therefore national con
tribution toward the maintenance ant
Upbuilding of the capital is unnecessary
and should be entirely withdrawn. II,
urged further that the half-and- half Law
has been not merely unnecessary but in
furious: and he accentuated the single
tax hostility to private ownership of lane
as crime against the public. TO be RENE
died as quickly as possible by confisca
tory single tax
Land Robbery as Virtue.
Single takers hold that there ought moi
/" be and ethicaily is not any such thing
as private property In land: that owner