The sun., 1919-06-24
By HON. WILLIAM BRUCE ELL
SON,
Written Specially for tho OdndGtan
Section Of THE SUN.
Third Article.

Section Of THE SUN.
Third Article.
I'm form Il Is q strike. In intent
II ID q revo}ution."
Thus has the Canadian labor situation
been aptly characterized: and 1t further
.ppears that under the laws Govern
ments are not empowered to act unless
here Is violence. Without violence or
disorder beyond such harmless things as
Kissing and booing, or tear ng an en-
oiem Off somebody's lapel. the so-called
strikers. directed by the Bolshevist or
[. w. w. element. have paralyzed large
'art Of the west. and their assumption
II the powers OF government Is spread
ing daily.
There are no riots worthy OF the
name; the strikers simply assume the
government OF a town, the police and
hremen Join them, and there Is no Overt
act of which to take cognizance.
Yet nothing is done in any OF these
cities except by permission of the local
strike committee. In Winnipeg the milk
and bread wagons run by such a per-
NIT. The post office employees join the
strikers in one city after another. and
the mails are delivered only as tn,
strike committee perm Is.
Returned to Protect Strikers.
The police OF Winnipeg Joined the
strikers at first, but when the Winnipeg
authorities proposed to raise new
police force the regular one returned to
work. This sounds encouraging until
you hear the reason. They returned TO
work so that there should be nobody to
interfere with the strikers, who as yet
had committed no overt acts OF sorder.
In Calgary the mails are being dis
tributed by volunteers. the regular
postal force having quit. Volunteer fire
departments are springing up through
the west to take the places OF the strik-
ing hremen. And all these strikes, even
those OF the Government employees. are
sympathetic strikes
The banks OF Winnipeg have closed
their doors becau use they cannot do bust
ness with the mail and telegraph SER
vices disrupted. AT the Fort Garry
Hotel" says correspondent. 'meals
are served only to women and children"
perhaps by gracious permission OF the
strike committee. In consequence OF
the desire OF some strikers to get some
thing to eat the strike committee granted
a permit to several restaurants In Winni-
peg to keep open. II also permitted
some bakeries TO reopen on condition
that they place themselves under its
jurisdiction.
Our own laws may be different from
those of Canada. Certainly the sanctity
OF the malls would not be interfared
Hith without civil war But as things
stand the Dominion is faced with a
problem which its laws seem powerless
to avert. Surely some way must be
found by which a menaced Government
may find weapon with which to strike
back and save itself.
Taxation.
The question of sources of revenue by
taxation Is interesting both the United
States and Canada most profoundly
and necessarily so because OF the more
or less recent demand for Increased
governmental functions looking toward
the betterment of the conditions OF the
people generally. which naturally has
led TO vastly increased governmental
expenses and the necessity for further
taxation.
In both countries much has been said
regarding what may be called the "un-
earned value" OF real estate. and taxa
ton thereof is keenly urged on both sides
OF the line.
The Royal Commission on Industrial
Relations In Canada has taken much
evidence on this very important ques-
ton. and the consensus seems 10 be that
the assertion that there is such socially
created value. is not TO be seriously
disputed, either by economists or by the
general public who have given attention
to such matters. Why, then, has no
such value been appropriated to the pub
Tic benefit, and the burden OF taxation In
other forms been thereby relieved?
Probably the main reason has been
the difficulty OF defining exactly what Is
meant by such terms as community
value" Social value" "unearned incre-
ment," which are commonly applied to
this form OF wealth, The instance most
frequently cited Is In the case OF land
where II Is applied to that proportion
OF value remaining after allowance is
made for all improvements.
In the case OF Canadian farms the
proportion OF value represented by i'm
provements is substantial. particularly
in those sections which had 10 be cleared.
The more site values which In large
cities have attained TO phenomenal fig-
ures are conspicuous examples OF COM
munity value. Rnt undoubtedly there
are values created by societies other
than In the case OF land. The value OF
railway, or OF a public utility fran
chise, or OF an industry possessing a
virtual monopoly In community. Is In