Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-15
WORDS Of CHEER
T0S|NGLE-TAXERS
Speakers at Conference De-
clare the Movement
Is Growing.
TAXATION IN THE D. C..
TO BE ONE OF TOPICS
Fourth Annual Meeting of Joseph
Fels Fund Commission
at the Raleigh.

| conference of single tax advocate.
from all over the United States, In con-
nection with the fourth annual meeting
Of the Joseph Fels fund commission. was
begun this morning at the Raleigh Hotel.
with prominent men and women identi-
fled with the single tax movement in at
tendance. among them Mr.. FEELS, who
resides in England. and who Is one OF
the chief contributors to the finances Of
the liberal party Of that country
| The conference, which began at an
| afternoon session at 2 o'clock today with
| an address of welcome by Charles r.
Nesbit, District superintendent Of insur-
ance, representing Oliver P. Newman
president Of the board of Commissioners
Of the District OF Columbia, and a re-
Spouse by Representative Edward Keat-
| ing of Colorado, will continue in daily
| session morning, afternoon and night
| until Saturday, when 1t will conclude
with banquet
Sunday the Fels commission will hold
| an executive meeting at the hotel for the
purpose Of appropriating money to carry
on the single tax propaganda in America
the coming year. and the addresses and
discussions to be delivered and held be-
tween now and then will be for the pur-
pose of bringing out details OF where ef-
forts to gain the single tax can best be
made.
Established Fels Fund.
Several years ago Joseph Fels, a mill
lionaire soap manufacturer Of Philadel-
phia and London, established the FEELS
fund In America for the bringing about
of system of taxation on q single basis
in place of the various taxes that are
now paid.
He agreed to match, dollar for dol
lar, any fund raised by single tax adj
vocates. Duplicates Of the fund were
created in England, Australia, Den
mark and Canada In the United States,
1t was announced today, he has con-
tributed in the last four years is sum
of s131 900 toward the movement.
In addition to Mr.. Fels. there were
conference today Bolton Hall, who was a
colleague of Henry George during the
latter's life, and who is known AL over
the world as a single tax advocate and
author; Lincoln Steffens, the New York
sociologist and magazine writer: Freder-
lex C. Howe, the New York authority on
city planning; George ]. Knapp Of Pueblo.
Col, who recently won in that city one
Of the only two single tax victories in the
United States. and Daniel Kiefer, who
raised the dollar fund.- for William Jen-
nings Bryan In his 1896 campaign for the
presidency.
Achievements in United States.
Mr.. Kiefer made the keynote speech Of
today's session Of the conference. telling
what has been done by the single takers
in the United States and what it is pro-
posed to do. He said in part:
I'VE meet this year, for the first time
in the history Of the movement, with sin
gle tax legislation actually on the statute
books in two states OF the Union.
The work Of the past year has been
mainly one of preparation for the i'm
portant campaigns Of this year. When
the conference Of a year ago mdt in
Boston we had just passed through
Missouri. The city Of Seattle had re-
jected a single tax amendment, and
the city Of Everett, Wash, had voted
for one. A constitutional amendment
had been adopted in Colorado grant
ing home rule in taxation to commits
sion governed cities"
Reviewing the work of the past year.
| Mr.. kiefer said that in California a
progressive legislature has resubmitted
| the home rule In taxation amendment
y,
| and that this year campo. gners will be
sent into the remote districts to tell the
truth. A previous proposed amendment,
he said. was defeated by the Southern
Pacific railroad. In Oregon. he said,
popular dissatisfaction with the tax sys-
| tenn has compelled the submission Of an
amendment to the Constitution to the
people. The single takers will make a
| campaign there also.
In New Jersey" Mr.. Kiefer said, "a
was made. In the hope Of committing
the progressive party of the state Ed
mund V. Osborne entered the party pri-
mary for the guoernatorial nomination.
His platform was single tax and munich
pal ownership On this platform he made
a vigorous campaign. and, although he
| failed to secure the nomination, a large
, number of candidates for legislative po-
sitions in sympathy with him were nomi-
mated.
| the direct primary must meet in con-
vention and formulate the party plat
form. So in spite of Mr.. Osborne's de-
| feat the convention was favorable to sin
gle tax principle and a platform embody-
/ ing them was adopted with the hearty
| approval of the successful candidate for
the gubernatorial nomination. Everett J.
Colby. Mr.. Osborne Is with us here to.
day and we will hear from him later"
Campaign In New York.
| AS to New York. Mr. Keefer said: In the
campaign for cutting in half the tax rate
on buildings, as a means of relieving con.
gestion Of population. the Society for
Lower Rents, headed by Frederick c. Leu.
buscher. is aiming to secure from the leg.
islature permission to hold referendum
vote in New York city on a measure OF
this kind. Mayor Mitchell has promised
to sign such q measure should the legis
| lature pass 1t. "
| Mr.. Kiefer accused "monopolistic inter
ests in Missouri and plant legislature
Of putting through measure to prohibit
the use OF the initiative for single tax
or for other tax reforms. Poverty and
Distress, he said will certainly con-
tinue in Missouri, after adoption OF this
amendment, assuming that 1t will be
! adopted. as before"
| In Rhode Island. he reported. the Sin.
| gle Tax Reform League continues tc
work for the adoption Of local option
measure. In Everett, Washington. he
said, the validity Of the amendment
adopted has been a question. and 1t will
be necessary to contest the matter In the
courts.
Mr.. Kiefer told OF the Houston, Tex
plan of taxation, which Is assessing i'm
provements at rs per cent and personal
propartv Mt nothing He said. "Houstor