The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-05-05
Educate taxpayers to facts"

~Nu\oAS IoAPoS CHS ~ ldClS.
This is the aim of the Duluth
branch of the Single Tax league as
outlined by speakers at the meeting
and dinner of the league Monday
night at the st. Louis hotel. Thirty
five members attended.
William Busselman. president of
the league, acted as toastmast el:
Speakers were: Prof. William Noyes,
Judge Bert Fesler. Mayor C. r. Mag
ney. Postmaster w. f. McEwen. ".
IL. Pryor and Fred Ward, ,superin-
tendent Of the county work farm.
Those who gave talks argued from
various angles the injustice of the
present method of land taxation and
the equity of the single tax
The Single Tax league is endeav-
oring to educate taxpayers to facts"
said President Busselman. AT A.
many human beings go to the scrap
heap. We have been patient too
long; and the land Spectator has us
where, he wants us"
Salaried Man Suffers.l
Prof. Noyes spoke along economic
lines. He pointed out that people in
salaried positions do not receive tenn
porary increases to meet the high
cost of living, particularly if they are
not organized. The laboring man,
he said, receives in some measure, an
the increased living costs, but this is
not true with the salaried man. He
also declared that opportunities for
the salaried man to get into new
lines of business were limited owing
to the present methods of taxation
which created land monopoly.
LAND" he. said, lis the final
source of revenue, and must be con-
trolled either by taxation or by the
administration for the community at
large"
Judge Fesler spoke briefly on the
history of the single tax fovement in
the Minnesota legislature. He de-
clared that while the 4single tax bills
did not pass the 1917 LEGISLATURE.
considerable progress had been
made.
Postmaster McEwen told Of the
growth of the national organization
of single takers. and explained the
method of selecting a national COM
mitteeman in the national organiza-
ton from this state. A vote was
taken on the three Minnesota candi-
ao:es. G. J. Buell. of st. Paul was
favored.
M"Scr Magney directed attention
t" :ho fnct that plated land just out
side the city limits is assessed at 40
"tr cent of it's true value, while I'M
plated land in the heart of the city
is taxed at 80 1-3 per cent. This
condition, he said, should be ad-
justed -. LEGISLATION.
Food Speculation Unjust.
I'VE regard food speculation as
unjust" he said, but what about the
,'>t''r on land? 1t is all wrong
either way, but We stand for sys-
- -'''' ion that upholds mon-
opoly on the one thing that the peo-
eed more and more. That is the
soil.".
The mayor cited taxation laws pro-
v;ding for the different classes of
land assessments to prove his state
ments.
Supt. Fred Ward OF the work farm
spoke of vacant property which had
received the benefit of increased
valuation by vi''tue, Of improvements
having been made near by. He
pointed out that the owners who had
made the mprovements were. taxed
for it, while the owner of the vacant
land got the benefit.
W. H. Pryor pointed out several
irst' of how this works out. He
cited the values of unimproved real
estate adjoining improved property
and showed the relative taxes paid.
Activities of League.
Postmaster. McEWen read letter