PAGE 6.
THE NEBRASKA
INDEPENDENT
SEPTEMBER 15, 1904
The Philosophy of Freedom
An Open Forum for Single Taxeri
A QUIET CAMPAIGN.
Editor Independent: "O, what a
quiet campaign," is what we hear ev
erywhere. No indications of even a
"still hunt" campaign. Although
Judge Parker's letter of acceptance is
yet in the background there" are strong
indications that upon the paramount
issue, i. e., the Philippine situation
there will he a strong contrast for our
populist friends to conjure with.
Promise of "immediate' instead of
"ultimate," independence will be de
clared upon. The tariff, or taxation, as
a means of revenue, will probably be
gingerly dealt with, but the populists
have taken no advance ground either
upon this subject.
They declare foran ' "Income' lax,"
and attempt to sugar coat it by calling
:it Jeffersonian and ask single taxers to
orally to their standard. Whether this
be cowardice or ignorance is only
.guessable. If does not occur to me
that single taxers, generally, will so
stultify themselves as to declare by
'their, vote for populist electors, for
an income tax, as a reform measure,
thus placing a contempt upon the phil
osophy of Henry George and the single
tax and also erect against themselves a
wall of prejudice to be overcome in
future years. Suppose , Watson and
. Tibbies were elected and their money
reform be established; government
ownership of railroads affected and all
public utilities reduced to public own
ership and operation; every highway
parked and lighted from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, from the St. Lawrence to
Florida and with either the present
system or an income tax yet in vogue
the condition of the workman, the
landless .man will not only be no bet
ter, but will be yet harder for him as
the effect will only be to raise rents
at the expense of wages and interest.
' Every single taxer knows this because
he knows that a tax on incomes, how
ever graded, can be and is as easily
shifted from the rich to the poor as a
tax on sugar or corn.
. Furthermore It would be class legis
lation in its provisions if not in effect
and would be declared unconstitutional
by the courts.
The single tax is now too well un
derstood in intelligent circles and in
practice is known to be so much of a
success that no one can be excused
from its advocacy who really means or
desires a just system of taxation.' '
The Hon. James G. McGuire of Cali
fornia, years ago, and while Watson
was in the United States senate, so
thoroughly tore the mask off of this
income tax bill that it is now most
remarkable that anyone, especially ex
Congressman Watson of Georgia,
should attempt to revamp it as a re
form measure. Perhaps this is the
reason of quietude on the eve of a most
important state and national campaign.
But single taxers will take no pointers
as to how they should vote, they need
no advice. It is regretable however,
that with so much ado about reform in
taxation, that a national party,, calling
themselves ".reformers," should in the
light of all we have had from the
George philosophy, from the late Thos.
G. Shearman's masterpiece on taxa
tion, I. e., "National Taxation," and all
the literature on that subject together
with the stated experience from those
localities where It has been but par
- tlally tried, that we are now confronted
with a declaration in platform and
from candidates for the presidency,
that an income tax is the "fairest kind"
of tax known.
The subject of taxation is only sec
ond in matter of importance between
republican, democrat or populist par
ties concerning which those "who dic
tated the populist platform on revenue
cither know nothing or are arrant cow
ards. They dared not champion, "jus
tice In taxation," but like other polit
ical KchemeiH. concocted a platform to
get In on. There wUI b ome ques
tions out for you in in campaign.
H. C. CUUK.
F)raeiwe, Neb,
(The associate editor, himself an
uinoiupuiuIiu hiiA anient IiikI
luvr, ntu.t tlient from a few of Mr.
'Urk' (omluakutri. It U true that
tht people' party hm not tt n uilml
the hU; of iklnK out boldly UHn
the all-Important laud piobbui. All It
hm tUrnl to v upon thl intt im
portant qut'ktlou ha t ti UI lu KH
etaliiU. Hut Utl in the HpringtWM
VUtlurm it UWi a tmiiku upon the
Umt question that U tvilbU of
iiiiljr one bouet oio.tr utUn. It tiai t
oiU ai: "Ir&ud, tut iudlutf ail tu
. -wlaittl toturtv t't rUh, U a hrl
lu it UI th ami fciUUtUt itol
W MiAoptlUMl tor 4uUiitf ur-
ixww; aad ttitt oMfrMj of Uttd
should be prohibited." Now what does
it mean when it says that "land is the
heritage of all the people?" There can
be no other meaning to this phrase
than the meaning single taxers give it.
And if it is the heritage of all the peo
ple, then the people can secure their
heritage only in one of two ways. That
is, the state must either own It, as pro
posed by the socialists; or, by taxing it
to Its full rental value, as proposed by
single taxers, restore it to the rightful
users of it, and prevent its monopoly.
Then, how can we prevent its monop
oly and alien ownership, except by the
same means? There is no other es
cape than by one of these two methods,
except by the passage of oppressive
laws limiting the amount of land to
be owned by any one person. This could
not be'done except by the recognition
of principles dangerous to freedom
and would effect no relief. Besides it
is not the amount of land in private
hands that hurts. It is the amount of
the value of land In private control
that does the mischief. To recognize
private ownership of land values at
all, not the amount of them, is the
dangerous principle. Now then, to be
true to the principle set down, the
people's party must either adopt the
socialist proposition or that of the sin
gle taxers. If it : adopts . the -former,
there-would remain no excuse for the
existence of the party, since the social
ist party wju Id cover that field. It
must,, then, eventually adopt the latter.
If, therefore, behooves all single taxers
to take advantage of that plank and
hold, to the people's party, since it has
convicted itself upon this question, and
has gone further than any other party
in the right direction. The single tax
er can accomplish nothing by voting
either the republican or democratic
tickets. Associate Editor Q.)
THE ARGUMENT.
Editor Independent: ?The enclosed is
a tract of the Henry George (single
tax) club of Rhode Island. It is a
modification of a story by Louis F. i
Post, editor of "The Public", of Chi
cago, 111. It explains better than any- j
thing I have ever seen how land ab
sorbs the entire benefits of govern
ment. It also shows conclusively that
the I land owner (when he is not a
land user) can not possibly pay any
tax whatever.
JOHN A. MCLAUGHLIN.
Providence, R. I. , , ,
A gentleman on the lookout for a
place of residence found two sites, the
natural advantages of which attracted
his avorable attention. One of these
sites was located in a town, which for
the purpose of this story, we shall
designate as "A"; the other in another
town,' which we shall call "B."
On inquiry the gentleman learned
that neither site was for sale, but
either could be had on lease. The rent
demanded by the owner of the site in
"A" was one hundred dollars per year;
that by the owner of the site in "B"
was two hundred and fifty dollars per
year.
On learning from the owner of the
site in "B"the amount of rent de
manded, the gentleman remonstrated,
saying: "Why, that is out of all rea
son; I can hire just as good a site in
'A for one hundred dollars a year."
"Certainly you can,' the owner re
plied, "But if you build a house there
and it catches fire, it will burn down;
they have no fire department. If you
go out after dark you are liable to 'be
held up' -and robbed; they have no po
lice force. If you ride out In the spring
your carriage will sink in mud up to
the hubs, and if you walk you may
break your legs, and you will bo lucky
if you don't break your neck; they
have no street pavements, and their
sidewalks are dangerously out of re
pair. When the moon doesn't shine
the Btreeta are in darkness, for they
have, no tstreet lighti. The water you
need for your house you imiHt get from
a well, for there la no water supply
there.
"Now, in our town it H different.
We have a splendid fire department
and a polWe force equal to the ltrt
anywhere. Our treti are. pared and
Hunted, by electricity. We have a
water ayntcm that equala that of
Provident e, and in every way the pub
lie fctrvivt In this town are unur
Pif.Ms. It 1st the beat governed town
lit all the region hereabouts, Un't It
ftortli a hundred aiat fifty dollars a
year more for a building sltv here than
over lu 'A,' whria there are no public
write to 4W off
j T)i jcetdktfiiaii a onuued by the
iatfiwmeat of the maer of lae iavnd lit
"It,'' and agreed to hi trt, tmUMln
house there and occupied it. Soon aft
erwards a stranger called upon our
friend, the home builder, and greeted
him with the query:
"How much do you regard this house
as worth?"
"What is that to you?" the home
builder asked
The stranger replied: "I am the town
assessor, and have come to appraise
this property for taxation."
The home builder said: "Am I to
be taxed by this town? What for?"
"What for?" echoed the assessor in
surprise. , "What for? Is not your
house protected from fire by our mag
nificent fire, department? Are not you
protected in your person by the best
police force anywhere? Do n6t you
have the use of paved and lighted
streets, good sidewalks and a first-class
water supply? Don't you suppose these
things cost something? And don't you
think you ought to pay your share?"
"Yes," replied the home builder, "I
do have the benefit of all these things,
and I also believe that those who enjoy
these benefits should pay for them. But
I have already paid my share forhis
year. I have paid it to the owner of
this land. He charged me two hundred
and fifty dollars a year which is one
hundred and fifty dollars more than I
should pay or he could get but for
these very benefits. He has collected
my share of this year's expense of
maintaining town improvements. My
friend, you are after the wrong man;
you go and collect from him. If you
do not, I shall be paying twice for
these things; once to him and once to
you ; " and he won't be - paying at al 1,
but will - be" making money out of
them." .; v":
Neither increased population or pub
lic improvements add to the value of
wealth. Both increased population
and public improvements add to the
value of land. Both increased popula
tion and public improvements require
increased taxation. Should not, then,
the one hundred and fifty dollars which
the public improvements in the town of
"B? added to the rent of our home
builder have been taken from the land
lord to pay for tiose public improve
ments? If not, why not? .
BRIEF PARAGRAPHS FOR BUST
MEN.
The single tax is the name of a sys
tem of taxation proposed by Henry
George. : ;
The proposition is simply to increase
the tax we now levy upon the value of
land until it absorbs the entire rental
value, -.
i As this tax would be sufficient for all
public expenses all other taxes would
be ;abolished.
This tax would be just; for the value
of land is produced by the presence and
industry of, the people as a whole, and
not! by any individual.
This tax would be equitable; each
would then contribute to the expenses
i of ! government and public improve
ments according to the benefits re
ceived, and not. as now, according to
what he produced or what he con
sumed. , ,
It would be the most practicable.
Land lies out of doors and its value is
known to all or can be easily ascer
tained. . ,
This tax could be most easjly and
cheaply collected. Land can not be
hidden or carried away.
It would remove the premium that is
i placed upon dishonesty, and perjury
that is now apparent in false state
ments to our assessors.
By removing the tax upon the prod
ucts of labor it would encourage indus
try. As the single tax is a tax on laud
value and not on land, it would fall
only on valuable land and land which
had no value would become absolutely
free.
As the principal part of land values
are, jepreseuted in locations in great
trade centers and the franchises of
railway, telegraph, telephone, gas and
water companies, the principal portion
of the single tax would fall upon the
owners of such locations and fran
chises. The farmer and the working man
would pay h taxes than they now
pay. for the reason that they own the
smaller portion of land value.;.
Thope who own no land valucn would
pay no tax, except In the rent of the
laud that they ut; they pay th!a rent
now; they would pay le(, then, for the
reation that vat quantities of unused
farm, timber and mineral land and illy
lotji would enter Into lompctlliou with
Uiul in u
The hIijkIc tax U not proved mere
ly at a Just artd equitable it yule in of
taxation, but a a uu-au by whU h land
monopoly will be dthtroyed and natural
opportunities will be made anvntble
to labor.
Aa It wottUl lake all lutreaM) value
tWal alia be U la), holding laud out
of use would be unprofitable. Under
this system, therefore, no one would
bold more land than he could use.
In the last analysis all wealth is
produced by labor applied to land;
therefore, if land is held out of use,
labor, in that degree, is denied em
ployment. ' . -
In the United States five-sixths of
all productive land is held out" of use
for speculative purposes. V"
We include in the above, farming,
mineral and timber land and city lots.
The monopoly of all land in use
and out of use has the same effect as if
every foot of land were occupied or in
use. . , .
Land can not be increased in quan
tity. Population 'is increasing with
each year. t
As population increases competition
for the use of land increases. In com
peting with each other for the, use of
land,. by offering a larger share of their
product the disinherited decrease wages
by Increasing rent.
" For this-reason the total amount of
wages, representing the share of the
totalV product, received by the total
number of. producers decreases as pop
ulation, or land monopoly, increases.-
As the consuming power of the peo
ple depends upon the total wages re
ceived, each decrease in wages in the
same proportion decreases the demand
for the total product, resulting in
stagnation, low prices, etc. .
By opening natural opportunities to
all, anyone who wished to produce
wealth could do so and demand would
only be limited by desire. , ; : ;
In taxing to their full value all, fran
chises, as well as mineral and oil lands,
we' would destroy the tribute-taking
power of these monopolies.
Wages would then rise. Profits to
legitimate capital would increase. The
farmer and the manufacturer would
then find a market for their goods at
their own door, at fair prices.
J. B. VINING,
; Sec. Ohio Single Tax League.
Cleveland, O.
"INCURABLE" HEART DISEASE
SOON CURED. ;
During the last two or three years
very great improvement has been made
in the treatment of diseases of the
heart. Cases formerly considered in
curable now rapidly yield to new rem
edies. The well-known specialist.
Franklin Miles, M. D., LL. B., will
send $3.75 worth of his new Special
Treatment free to our afflicted readers.
This liberal offer Is for the purpose
of demonstrating the unusual curative
powers of his new Treatment for heart
troubles, such as short breath, pain in
the side, oppression in the chest, irreg
ular pulse, palpitation, smothering
spells, puffing of the ankles or dropsy.
They are the result of twenty-five
years of careful study, extensive re
search, and remarkable experience in
treating diseases of the heart, stomach,
liver kidneys and nerves, which often
complicate each case. '
The Treatments are prepared ex
pressly for each patient, as the result
is very much more certain and satis-,
factory.
Few physicians have such confidence
In their remedies. And there is no rea
son why all afflicted persons : should
not avail themselves of this liberal of
fer. No death comes more suddenly
than that from, heart disease. ; Thou
sands die unnecessarily each year -because
most physicians do uotf under
stand their cases. . ',
Mm. Frank Smith, of Chicairo. wan cured of
heart dropsy, after fiv leading physicians hart
ictvr n lier up. Mr. Kvlttrr, of ChlcuRo, wu cured
after fHllureof ten ablo physicians.
A thon-mxl reference to. nnl teMlmonlalj
from, litshop, Clersjrnitu, Hankers, Fariuerf,
and their iTts will te nenl free on reiuett.
Thee Include innny who have t"een rnrert after
from five to twenty or more byitciana and ro
feuin hud pronounced them "Incurable."
Amonp them are ft. A. .'rore, MX Mountain H.,
Kltlo, III : Mrt. Sophia FnowberMt No. ' tti
Ave., K Mlnneapoli", Minn.; .Mr. A. P. (Xilbtirn,
Menlnc, In,; Mr. M. It. Morcland, ItoRert, O.,
the president! of two medical colleei. etc.
Send at once for free personal treat
ment before it Ih too late, and mention
thlst papr. Address Franklin Miles,
M, p.. Grand ltppnary, 20G to 231
State; St., Chicago. III.
(plea mention this paper,)
Write Us For
bargain in WaU Lnt, DiaatuiulJewtlry,
Hilte rware, Cut t Jlaa etc. Many gooda
at coat to ruaao roum for fall good
M. G. WOLTF,
tj ( jta Mrtat,
Uncola, Nrb,
Wt ,' itorfd a4 Mtoaattdt
!,. t -l wU flewlii to Mm
''" uum 4 fc MMwwiad
a . IM Udii 4ft.