The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-28
.LIBER T Y
TAXONLAND
IS UR GED
H. {. l.. Committee
Would Thus Raise
Funds to Push War


Real democracy cannot be- attain
ed. even In the United States unless
the land is released 10 The people hy
the imposition OF a liberty tax ou
land values that was the burden OF
the message conveyed 90 Detroiters
who attended the conference on the
high cost OF living held IN tho ne
troit Board of Commerce, Thursday
night. under the auspices OF the
American committee ON the high
cost Of living This idea was
strongly emphasized by the speakers
and made very clear IN a paper pre-
pared by Charles II lngersoll. Of
New York. chairman OF the commit
tee, which was read at the confer
ence.
Mr.. lngersoll in his paper, point
ed out that II IS UncconOmic 20 pay
$1,000 100000 interest for every bill
lion we borrow But that is what
We shall have 10 do. under the terms
OF the so-called Liberty loan, dur
ing the 80 years 10 maturity" he
added The paper continued
Democracy cannot be attained IN
these United States. however noble
our purpose in entering the war un-
less We break up monopoly AFFORD
the working people free access 10
the land and stop our sinful and un-
democratic practice - farming out
TIE workers. 60 land sp6CuiatOTs We
must have liberty taxa tax
which viii pry land speculators OF
the backs ~ the producers. release
the land 20 tho people, open Oppor-
tunity for all and leave every man
free Ia the possession Cf what he
NfF
the hherty tax-the tax on land val
ues. No government which fails 20
do this can secure the enduring re-
spect nor the fun affection u its
people with ONE stroke Russia cut
the bands of oupresRion by recover
ing the land ~ the people.
Calculating Tho net ground rent.
actual pr potential AT only five per
cent the owners ~ land in the Unit
ed States secure annually over and
above taxes on land values the enOr-
nous sum ~ 81 200 600 600 Nearly
all 81 this goes o. about hsiL as many
people as the number Of subscribers
20 the Liberty loan
tax ~ one per cent on the SELL
ing price ~ land will yield about
1850 .00o.Qo0 An additional tax OF
one per cent on The fuil value If AN
unimprovcd land viii yield $4,000.
600 more total ~ $500 100000
With sucn tax new York city
would pay about 100000. ~ which
the Aston family would pay nearly
$3.50 900 and the ~ families who
own one ninth ~ the value az land
IN Sew York city would pay about
The dozen biggest land monopoIies
IN Chicago would pay about 3 600
600 The small home owners in cit-
les. and the small farmer would pav
about 81 70 SIS. one-tenth % one
third or what be would have 20 nay
q raise an equal amount bv indlgect (
taxes upon consumption aud necessi- (
Carl D Thompson, secretary OF
the National Public Ownership /
League OF America. urged govern 4.
ment ownership and operation OF the /
railroads. coal mines. basic indus
tries and public utilities as the be
and most direct method OF reducing /.
excessive prices The government /.
he said. should take over these I
things AZ once n We are 90 |
win the war He showed that The
total profits. over and above an le-
climate operating cost of 90 of The
leading corporations 0f tho county,.
exclusive Of the railroads. for 1916
were 100000. 600 gain of $3.50.
100000 over the previous year The
net profits OF the railroads last yenr
were sl.o29.2fl sos And he add
ed the people must pay ,it all
BENJAMIN G. Marsh, executive sec-
rotary OF the committee. spoke OBJ
The conscription OF wealth" His
talk was along the same lines az ST.
IRgersolPs paper.
Speaking on The blockade
against business" Prof Louis Wal
lie, Of Chicago. advocated hepyy
federal tax on land as the strategic
thing 10 do 10 break the blockade.
Frederick G. Howe. immigration |
commissioner al tho port of New
York advocated puhlicly-owncd ter
minal warehouses. "a well-organizod |
system OF municipal markets ana
the elaboration oil he parcel pos |
into a great market agency as The |
only means OF protecting the farmer |
and the consumer against exploita
tion by pro6teers.
Mrs Joseph Fels, Of New York 4
made a plea for practical freedom I
The establishment ~ a new relation /
between man and land.
The conference adopted resolu i
lions fsvoring a tedral tax OF one /
per cent ON the assessed value OF an |
land. and a tax OF two per cont ON |
unimproyed land. the proceeds 10 I
he used for var in place OF further
taxes on industries and workers, and 1
advocating legislation empowering
the federal government to-take over
natural resources and operate plants /
IN connection herewith.
Copies Of The resolution VIII De-
sent 70 the president every member
OF congress. and the governor OF
every state.