The Philosophy of Freedom
An Open Forum for Single favors
j constant iy incfiMng a'lut"
; civilization, bow the masses of the
people who own no land can ever
; hope to share in'these advantages un-
til land values are made public proper-v?
E. B. SWINNEY.
Brooklyn. N Y.
a c , i-d last w"-K in
dcni v (;.-..! j. K hti..n. Th.- I ndc;- :t
l,Tt 'will h-r. al'- f .i'-voti- pa-" ' '
the mi, tic ta do. t riii". At th- pre
en: tun. w.- have on hand p)-"ty -well
writt-'ti am, ies M last s. v ra
,;. ii,s N.-t. M-t of tW- b in
an e-lti-aiional nat'i.". i'ti.l i iut p"i
ishabic 111.-' a in ws item. will m-t los
th-ir flavor In 1" LI o' i-
(. .Inn- 11 Th- In ! "'-h H
Ci e pari of it- : p.l' " " w
rni. i.-ins -it i h- .-ii.-'1,
v.-1 l-il in the II' uiv 'a
Am,!. f,.fi 'h- .!!(! al .civ Ml. a? ion r
a tax 1 vy - v. hi. !i is d-d.at:i!.i' groun ;
Th' Ind-'p lid" nt ii !. - out thi
HupuMioli: Substantially all our
taxes, exc-putm a few in th- tanil
schedule, arc ad wil-.r-in, or a.-. -
iip-m the ba-is of the value,
nil- ncit In r 'and nor --onim-are
taxed iii-l their values art
i.m-,1-,1 Ii.i'.v-m i- falls mam man t
JiHV t'-' taxes levied upon 111
-ii.r i amount t : - a t in- n ar
.. ' !'.,r the ci blsive Kl
a-inn.-. U" a
; a i :i
II unit- :
tax as pr--
lege H-l.tOtl.
willing to pay
-ssion of cer
have an equal
V pu'-lioll of the
;n.t:-ri.'!'-h a1-' cv
Upy I he sain'- lo-
lln.i'. justi.e -le-whu
a. quires pos
ii ail tii- of hen;
e., the commun
e of the privilege.
uaran il posses-
coiitinued to pay
As v
diti '
: Th-
value
-it his lands or commodities- and in
pay In one particular thing: coined
rn-'n-v. The -piestion arises, Does in
equitable taxation arise s- much -
cause th- tax is computed upon tl.e
natural rigfit to at
earth's Mirinc. but
eryiind) (annul o, .
, .it :.m at t sa m-ii.an.-
that th- on-.--;.
h.n shai! pay
Who:!! tl- cXdud'
i'v, thi- annua! val.s
and li- would be g
sion mi long a.- lie
th- tax.
Th- single tax is not a fad. It is
jur-ady in for.' . Ini with a multipli- -it
v of nt!-,. -r taxes. A small portion of
it' is paid to th" sta'e, but the great
bull; of it pi.es to land owner.-, neces
sitating th- taxation of labor prod
ucts to make up tii- amount ri" -s-sarv
for pulili- expenses
' I'nder the single tax the entire
1 ground rent or such portion of it s
. is needed, would be appropriated bv
: government, and all other taxes aboi
I ish-.l. 'I'his would result in the d--)
struct inn of land monopoly, for no
; one could afford to hold valuable land
idle and pay its rental value to the
I
vol..,. ... -to ihincr or that, as it does 1 -(immunity; consequently, millions of
because the taxpayer is compelled t , acres of all kinds of valuable land
first procure a particular tiling which , would be thrown open to development,
ha exilu.-ive power to cat. -el the tax ! and capital and labor would find un
levy? There is room for argtum nt ; limited opportunities for highly re
here. De France. i munerative employ m-nt ; wages would
- ! rise, involuntary poverty, and th-'
. ce, crime ami misery tnat spring
from them would disappear and an
Seme Objections Answered
n ,,t th common objections 1 era of prosperity would begin such
againM the single tax is, thai the land- Mie world has never yet witnessed,
lord would shift it to the tenant who. : The wealth that rn-n might aeoumu
in the end, would be worse off than late by honest effort would be limited
he was before to the extent of the ; nly by their ability to produce, and
increased tax. I'robably the most , me oiny p-isons no wu.nu uu. pi.-m
convincing answer to this objection
is, that if sych be the fad. why
should landlords oppose it as they
lo? They wouldn't lose anythine, so
what difference would it make to
them?
Hut the truth of the matter is just
the reverse. The tax on ground rem
are those who live on otner peoples
labor, f'harity would be unnecessary,
for with the knowledge that there was
work for ail. no one would recognize
its necessity.
While the single tax is coming as
surely as the spring follows the win
ter, it is not coming with a rush.
cannot be shitted. All political econ- 1 here win he ample time to aujust
omists of any standing acknowledge ' ourselves to the welcome, change. Per
sonally, i ueneve it wni come as nar.
that fact. To say that the tax can
he shifted, is to admit that tenant i
can pay more rent than they are now
paying. If they were now in a posi
tion to nav more rent, you may rest
urally and easily as a duck takes to
water, and 1 am stronply inclined to
the belief that it will be introduced
through lo al option in taxation.
assured that landlords would havj ! -any states are now actively agitat-
foiind it out long ago and raised their ! ing for this measure, which allows
rent without waiting for an inc ease j each county in a state to raise its lo
in taxes. (a' revenue in any way it chooses,
Anolher common objection is that either by taxing improvements, per
the single tax would be insufficient j nal property, or land values. The
to defray all government expenses. In j single tax will be adopted first by one
his work on .Natural taxation coumy ami us neiieuis win ue so ap-
Thomas G. Shearman has conclusive
ly demonstrated that more than
enough revenue can be raised under
the single tax to pay all expenses of
government. As an example, recent
statistics show that tie ground rents
parent that other counties will be
obliged to adopt it in self-defense;
and Bt, in that way it will extend from
state to state, until it becomes reversal.
The single tax will accomplish in a
of Boston are $i2.0X'.H, while the , natural, orderly and eminently prac-
total revenue collected is about ticable manner all that is desired by
OoOX'W. Of this amount landlord socialists. It wiil establish Indus
now pay about H.WjJKh") on their land ; trial freedom, abolish involuntary
and about $3.4fc6.iW more are collected i poverty, and secure to all unlimited
on improvements and personal prop- ! opportunities for employment,
erty. Based on the statistics of Ib&iJ j When we say that every man will
Mr. Shearman proved that all ex- j secure the full product of his labor,
penses of government federal, state we mean that he will get all that his
and local would not exceed 44! per services are worth in the open mar
cent of the land values or ground ket, under free competition a condi
renvs of the United States. i tion which has not existed for years.
Because farmers occupy more lan 1 if it can be said ever to have existed
than the Inhabitants of cities, they at all. The competition that social--rror:ously
s'ijpo ihy will have to ists want to abolish is not com pet i-
psy niftier taxes, and are, therefore, tion at all. It is spurious and one-
fC p"sed to the Mng 'ax. I.et the
farn er figure out how nrn h his farm
would be worn af'.-r he had deducted
'he vaiue of ail his buildine. fenc-s.
s? k. n;a bin-Tv. . rops drains, per
sonal property and all o' her improve.
rni:'s. in s-fn.it after everything -x-
pt . land had be. n . 'itnpie'eiy l-.
va-tated by Pre or . . !-.n. would h
..!' t.ttvir..- tae on th alue
sided, with "11 the advantage on the
si-i- of -he employers or labor.
Socialists wo'ii.) abolish rent! They
might as we;; try to allish th? moon",
for e. onomi- r-nt will persist so loiip
as two rn-n want to use the same
pice of land it the same time.
believe t),e
'-: in 'he
w a
. 1
ft
'r ail
'ti
ff
Th
01 h r
I' utliv
W.
first
pro).'
a:
I
s t.- .1 .
.li:'. i.t f-.r l-'Mti;-w
inu. h '!'.. y a-.
tax" they pay ..f
1. s
V
f ir t hi ir ten.
. er
r b.
a: i' at.-', 'h- t."X'.- -n ''la' w..n:
ry !:"! ;-r:d ; n ma
in.' ; 1' vi'i,,k
er-- to r-aii?- of I
br:t',-- To 1 e, Ul t!
R:t ' iU'l- it: ilKilt-U t.il iff
p r . tit 'a ir-
p. r . . Ill !, l.-rs.. , c j,
- etll 1 I, -A ;!;,!,,", 1 r lb'
aid l iiit' ,.-!- im.,' j r . 1 t
i kim ' .'" -r - - ii' .' m i,
-r . -nt 1.1 1'"' per ti' 'ind
a'- f ir t1..- lin-v
r 'h- "uie ;i ,,.
t'ubl h- nt.. .).!. ,! lii, in )itn
retu,e t(X1 ib-tl-e !'I-K,
(Hxe,! -t.
We w.itit t! . h i,,:, 1 t x lea
il.inl. t' i th - tv,.,st ; ,.t ,u-l cjiiit ii,;
that .tin be V,',. -,,(,, !(
l'( illM' r held tt.it I in i !:!. .1 r
i I'ill, prup. in It r- pi -. ti'
1:1-.
at. 1
pr.,1,:
:win ! .
'.!'!: th
.Mcid
but
1,1 I,.,
lit'!
el I 'e
,f ti
t tr
t l- -p' ;. u
I- i' "
w rv i':;;..,.
n-ri'bw -
i-.iii ..f -,v.
n -!e tax is the
du'ion of Social
:t -traih'. lis out
whi.-h Is. ami of
i'.e j..,,M Impof-
ut.i'y. Tin-re
M f...
my jui'-'it II....J
in ?!!p'iri.-..ts
' '. Many -,f i,c,
:v. an, t(,.
ii-,
h.'
n - 1
i 1
1 ti.
-ii a 1
-1- ' ,t
int. 1 11a!
i u
,lt;
11
tax.
v. rv
'I tli'l'
'IVi c 1, ,I(
'. ' 11,111. ',1
- Plo i'i
W,
' n I- ',
ir.i
How the Farmer Would Fare
no;e from the columns of The
I uhlic and my attention has iunner
been called by W. H. Roebuck, sec-i-tarv
of th? Toronto Single Tax as
sociation, to the fact that your issue
of May 14 is to be entirely a single
tax issue.
In this connection I beg leave to
ask 'he privilege of laying before the
rural readers parti, u'rirly of your
journal a f-w facts in connection with
"the effeits that might he anticipated
were th- single tax adopted in coun
try -iis'rii ts.
At first sight a farmer will invari
ably - (include that the agitator for
th-" Mingle tax is trying to work off
o.me new kind of a swindle, and in
-.rd'-r to pro.e lo his mind clearly
and convincingly that he is now be
ing systeniat p any svvin-ueu. e u
bitt to cmphasie the fact that the
tax bears only on land values.
In Canada the major portion of the
land values ar owned by loan corio
rations and land companies, the farm
ers being mortgaged in many cases
for as high ai Ta per cent of the value
of their property. Briefly put, a tax
on land value would mean that If a
farmer occupied a piece of land
worth, say $i."". with a mortgage
upon it for $3.'nnt, the loan company
or holder of the mortgage would be
called upon to pay taxes on the $3,
imiii; the farmer paying only on the
value of the land to which he can
claim title. This is manifestly fair
to both parties, as the holder of the
mortgage is the possessor of natural
opportunity to the extent of the land
values represented by his mortgage
and should be taxed on such natural
opportunity.
The shifting, or rather replacing of
taxation on land values only, in the
country districts where it rightfully
belongs would have effects more far
reaching than the most ardent ado--ate
of this reform is competent to set
forth either from the public platform
or through the press, great as the
power for influencing the pub'i- mind
through both these mediums is recog
nized to be.
The first and greatest boon to the
wealth producer would be the panic
which would take place in real es
tate circles, as such a tax would
touch them where they are tender,
viz: in the pocket, and it would no
more be a profitable Investment to
buy vacant or wild land in the hope
of farming the farmer. Land, when
the taxation has been placed upon the
real owners, and not the mortgage
ridden farmers, would immediately
drop in price. And at the same time
that the land dropped in price, it is
well to call attention to the fact that
it would remain as productive as be
fore, producing as many bushels of
grain to the acre. Also, there would
be the same number of mechanics and
artisans of all classes to be supplied
with food-stuffs keeping the market
for farm products high. It must sure
ly appear clear to anyone who will
look at it for a moment that if land
becomes cheap and easy of access
while the products thereof remain
even at current rates, or go higher,
which there is reason to believe they
will, the condition of life in the coun
try must become ideal.
I'nder existing conditions, the more
sggresMve and thrifty the citizens of
any district are the higher go the
prices of unused land In the neiult
horhood, while the workers pay tax
ation on their land values, the land
values of the mortgage corporations
and every improvement they make.
"f course, as time goes on. th- va
cant lands continue to Increase in
wilnc, requiring th- sons of each su---e-ilinvt
cell- ration to assuin- a great
er obligation for the use of the same
ana of land, and the t-nd- iicy of
Mi.ir-c is to 11, -ivc along the lines of
b ii t ! slMati. e. so that those of th-'
ri-ji,--' general ions uith any ambition
leave hi. mi' lather than go Into n
Leper hiM-ry lhau that under which
thev have Seen th-lr Illothcr lllld
f.i'her toil an li-coiu- watnb r-rs. s-ll
it, . !'. ir l.i'.oi- in , on, petition with 1 he
-',c:i; -' 11,,-t ,,111 lie !tllpiilei froiM
hit. ! ' f ! I. 1 1 II M.uht !! of the . oil
for the cost price s'ripp.-
lative values. The m; :uj
would place millions ot
farm products in a pos.,
and eat of the best; v,;.
row live at as low a s'ai.
possible in order to k p !;.
ditlon to continue their -at
ers. Land being -heap j-.
try, many who now crowd
would remain --onten'. ,1 y
old homestead, and the ,
manufacturer of furniture i
etc.. being relieved of th
w -mid receive still high- r
be in a position to pay ,
prices for produce.
The world is not too p.
du-tive to support all ti,..'
it. and never will be; I
wanted is freedom to ann:
to the natural re-oiir-.-by
private monopoly of l-i
millennium will noi l.e far
ture.
In conclusion, permit n:
young man or woman who
the battles of lile shu-;
themselves ed'i-a'.'d v.ui:
thoroughly read Henry (',-,
work, "I'rogrcKS and lVy.
GEO. CARTli'.
271 I.isgar St., Toronto,
.Vi;
OWNERSHIP AND VALUE
1 1,
ii lieu.
' !-.'-',.- ,,- l.-.:n,..s 1 '.
" '" ' iU-'...-ie. !,!
;"' h h- :l, !' . I--.. I. jt not l-l s,,.,.
1;H' -Hi-! r ii-it I-, m v ,,f i.ltl j
.-tl ,! '.- ..'. ail "-'s I,,, r, u , ,..
-Me I I v th. -up. r .1 -u i
t'.ill ':' h" -! . a .,, r, f,,r. i, ,. ,
. nt; b- 'h- -1 . . .,., , . ..
f. !,, ;,. , ...
' ! .'..
-I'i- :,r .'
pph '11", the principle of the -ungle
" i in I o . - to t!e (i.iiuirv mid
1 ' hi- . iiy lil make the word
' r, ' :m i(!,(,!, t,. 1, rni a-i It
" ' ''V"'- '"" '''' n said "V
' ' I I U of tin tl.t.re lis- to s,. .'f V
in 1 b. ib-u " 0. ,1 bo-mline hi-ie "
w prtle i.'e .ipplir.l both In
' -'id 10 ii,'! y. f. iJ-i lii th.. , t v
' " 'In " ! 'VI p(.,M,blc 1141
"a t', 'lit,.' t n.iiiN t.i puv hli-h
' If -. ,n !,. ..in f pro. ur- I
Mr. Itinn Elnrl,1ml a I'.ont Ii
Ground Kent
Editor Independent: I find
lowing editorial paragraph ,n
sue 01 May 7:
"Ground rent is a value 1
by the community, -o 1- ;.
ue of everything else. v.
the 'community' or pi -p.
there would be no values.
community has th- right t
common property of gro,;:. ;
why not of every other va, .
the community creates?"
This question is fair an!
mental. Hut I beg to s
single taxers will differ in '.
swers, because some sin-,-like
other people, sometini' - ,
a correct conclusion with-it
standing every st-p of th
that led them there. It ma;,
course, that. I am on- of
but I offer the following f.,r
is worth :
It is perfectly true tl-.a' if '
munity is entitled to land va
cause it created them; it it ;
titled to all other values v
creates. But the fa. t that u
these values is not the r-ai
upon which it should claim
them. Let me explain:
1. It must, be self-evid'i.'
rightful owner of any kind
erty is the rightful owner -,f
ue. For property without .a
mere nothing a nullity.
2. But one man may he ' i.
the property in a thing, tha'
value of it, and another may !
possession of it. It is a cnmi
perience. Every lease is pr-.
Every livery stable and
testifies to it.
3. The value is in--id- nt
property. The use is in. Hen
possession. This is in th
things. 4. Land is by nature p-.K
erty. It was the common nr.
was looked to for the payin-t:
expenses of the war of th- r
Every land title original- ;ii
from the state or federal g- v
This grant is a contra, t i--1
vs. Feck. G ('ranch, I'. S. K
The state gives the right -1
sion to a man and his !,, :
should the grant- . do on ' h
Justly. 1 hey ought to pay
of making the posse-si..:.
They ought to pay all i -ditures
which add value -erty.
The ultimate p:'"l"
in the people. This :.- 1 .
law. It is aNo .uiiiiiu -n
I use belongs to th- it,.:
I piop-ri) and n1u- b-hu.
' lie.
j r.. l'.ui lw'.ir ''
pruduc-s from 'i 1- i i' '
i belongs to him 'I 1 '
I prodin t of his labor i
j belongs al, 11 to t.ttii I
; and use le..r.g a! " '
willingly part - w 1' u ' '
To my mind, 'hi
-lU-sl illtl. To b. il '
nicul. be. an the '
pr-iM. cl viuo T ' ' '
'I'he ft I'lltl,. '1' "
luto-i ti. th iiiti, 1". '
, minium it ' ' ;l
Th- Mllu- of
public b.-i an- M
pilhlb'. Till! is
The nrg-iiiu i.t
I fill I'll.-l'V '- " 'I
broad" r elinph '
the b-sl for He
itul that Is .1 .! f
U II
lSirTah. N .
I; -:
I
I