Evening star., 1915-11-23
URGES STAX ONLAND
FOR DEFENSEPE
Representative Bailey Pro-
poses Direct Levy to Pay
for Preparedness.

Support the billion-dollar prepared
ness program by a direct tax on land
values is the idea advanced by Repre-
sentative Warren Worth Bailey Of
Pennsylvania today. Representative
Bailey is one of the strongest oppo-
nents of an increased army and navy,
and declares that if the country is
really to adopt the administration pro-
gram of preparedness he will urge that
the money for the increase be raised
by direct tax on land values.
Representative Bai1ey's statement on
the subject is as follows:
Under our present indirect methods"
knowing it. In proportion to his in
come, the hodcarrier pays ten thousand
times as much toward the support of
army and navy as Rockefeller or
Morgan. This isn't right. 1t is an out
rage against which for one protest.
Income Tax Inadequate.
~The income tax, as far as it goes.
Is meritorious in that it is direct and
cannot be shifted. But the income tax
Is largely a tax on conscience and 1t is
evaded by the tricky and dishonest
The proposed Inheritance tax is also
direct, but it doesn't reach to the tap
root Of the evil it is intended to check ::
In effect it says to man that he may
get rich in any way he can and no
questions asked, but when he quits this
little life it will be to leave his for
tune to be shared by the country in the
form of an inheritance tax. II this
isn't a denial of the right of property.
what would you call it?
Now. I expect to propose plan to
meet the exaggerated and staggering
burden of militarism which our jingo
friends insist that Congress shall I'M
pose upon the country that will not be
open to the objections which lie against
both the income tax and the inheritance
tax This plan somewhat resembles
England in the great budget which SO
outraged British landlordism. We have
had direct taxes in this country appor-
toned among the states on the basis OF
population, as the Constitution pro-
vides Well, have prepared bill
along the lines of previous enactments
providing for direct taxation. my pro-
posal differing from these only in the
particular that it's provisions VIII apply
to land values only, while former laws
imposed a direct tax on general prop
|erty values.
Cities Will Bear Burdens.
"At first blush critics will assail this
proposition on the ground that tax
on land values will fall chiefly on
farmers. but this is not so. A tax on
land values will fall chiefly on great
centers of population. for 1t is in the
cities that these values are found The
land values of New York, Chicago.
Philadelphia, ST. Louis, Baltimore, San
Francisco, Buffalo, Boston. New Or
leans, Denver, st. Paul, Detroit, Gal
clav nd
Kansas City and the other principal
cities of the country far exceed those
found outside their borders, SO that the
money for preparedness would come
from those who are most Vehemently
supporting the jngo program
Mr.. Bailey declared his belief in this
form of direct tax in strong terms:
Unlike our tariff and excise taxes"
he added, this tax on land values VIII
encourage industry, will tend to free
opportunities for labor and capitalt
will promote every manner of improve-'
ment. will stimulate invention. Will
destroy monopolistic control Of nat
ural resources. drive out the dog in the
manager and impart to civilization
quickening such as it has not had
since Columbus opened up a new
world And it would be a long step
toward universal peace, for it would
dampen the ardor of those patriots
for profit who fatten on war contracts
the money Tor "hlch no" comes ui-
known to them out of the hard earn
ings of the great body OF the American
people, who are unprivileged and who
do the fighting as well as the paying
when war comes.
The Pennsylvania said he believed
his bill would find organized support
throughout the country, and not lit
tie favor in Congress. A somewhat
similar proposition was supported by
over 25 per cent of the voters in Mis-
souri, when it came before them few
wears ago.