Evening star., 1915-11-17
Members of Congress Threat
ened With Defeat if System
Is Opposed in District.
LETTER is RECEIVED
BY SENATOR SALISBURY
c. B. Hemingway Asserts National
Issue Has Been Henry George
i. Theory Here.

A threat to defeat for re-elec-
ton members of the Senate and
House who oppose the establish
nent of the single tax in the
District of Columbia is contained
in letter received today by Sen
ator Salisbury of Delaware from
c. B. Hemingway of oo2 18th
street northwest. Mr.. Heming-
way, asserting that he spoke for
single takers throughout the
country, declared that Single tax
for the District of Columbia had
been made their national issue,
and that, regardless OF party, they
intended to see to the defeat at
the polls of any members OF Con-
gress who opposed this propa-
sanda.
Senator Salisbury, who is a member
of the joint select committee of Con-
gress which has been investigating
the fiscal relations between the United
States and the District of Columbia for
the last three weeks, has replied to
Mr. Hemingway that he does not in
tend to be Influenced by threats of Mr..
Hemingway or any one else in this
matter
The letter addressed by Mr.. Heming-
way to Senator Salisbury on this sub
ject Is as follows:
Letter to Senator Salisbury.
Single takers throughout the coun-
for the District of Columbia their ma
tional issue. not to be subordinated by
any other national question.
They hold that to tax the whole peo-
pie to maintain any part of local gov
ernment Of the District, and thereby
exempt to that extent land values in
the District from taxation, whereby
land spectators reap huge profits in
great injury OF all others in the Dis
trfct. is robbery, and an injury to every
person in the United States; and they
find that the dissemination Of this idea
meets extensive acceptance.
They believe that as a balance of
power they have sufficient strength to
elect or defeat majority in each
house of Congress.
They will support for reelection
all those senators and representa-
or any other consideration. who next
winter support such a measure, and
viii oppose the reelection of those
who fail to do so.''
Mr.. Saulsbury's reply to this letter
was:
Senatos Saulsbury's Reply.
Il have been sitting in a joint select
committee of Congress daily for sew
eral weeks listening to arguments
made on behalf of those desiring to
present their views to this committee
concerning taxation in the District of
Columbia. Those hearings were closed
last night. and the committee is going
10 take up the consideration of the sub
ject-
Il have some constituents who are
single takers in the state of Delaware
and should be very glad to have their
support II l come before the peonle of
my state at any time as a candidate
but I am compelled to notice the last
paragraph of your letter. which / con-
''frue either as an effort to influence
my Judgment by promises of support
or as a threat in case l take a con-
frary view to your own or that of your
organization.
"in Not Be Influenced.
Il think il only proper for me to say
70 you that l shall not be Influenced in
the slightest degree by either promises
or threats in the performance of nv
duty as member of this special con-
sressional committee. and if i permit
ted myself to be Influenced by sucb
consioeration do not believe | would
be Mt to occupy any public position
oeneve those OF my constituents who
are single takers, and some of whom
are my personal friends, will take the
same view of your letter and will sun-
port me In this position. If they do not
do so. i cannot help 1t.
There viii be. in my opinion. many
otner questions coming before the ap-
preaching session of Congress which
VIII SO Tar surpass the question of
single tax in the District OF Colum lja
tnat any person who occupies the most
ton you indicate, which / believe must
be only your own and not that of vour
organization. in my opinion is not a
good American NV "
in view of your attemn. % T.,
huence me as member of the com
mfttee. / shall publish this letter in
the local Delaware papers, hoping m. n
no one else will be SO foolish as 10
write such letter to me as this one
OF yours To show you how foolish
" Is, l may say to you that those who
advocated the single tax in the Dis-
trict OF Columbia said frankly to the
committee In their addresses that they
had no idea that the committee wouId
AT this time report in favor OF Their
views. and I don't believe that Won
or any otner person who is a believer
In the single tax has a right to spea
as you do for single takers through.
out the country"