The Single Tax Would Abolish Homes

A man will ordinarily undergo greater hardships, practice more self denial, exercise more of tlie viitues wliich go to tlie upbuilding or the commonwealtli, in order to secure a homc, than to accomplish any other ob)ect. Tliis is what his nüml is firat set on, and wlien he tías Kalncd it bis efforts are eciually enlisted to keep it. The single tax threatens to profoumlly alter the ineanlng of tliis word as we onderstand t. It is not consistent with the dea of home that somebody should take it away from us by biddiiijr at an auction. If it be 8nid that no such Hiiction would take place, but that the state would iix the tax at a rato prevlously ascertalned as sufflcient to take the economie rent, diflering from the present tax only in atnount, then we say that there 8 no means of ascertaiiiing what the economie rent is. It would be possible to lorm an approximate estímate at the beginning by taking as a Standard the rents paid by Individuáis for the use of land as a matter of bargaln. Uut the standard would only serve for the flrst renting. What about the stcond ? Lrad values change. It is the aim of the single t:ix to gather in the values that grow with the progresa of society. A large part of Mr. Oeorge's argument is addressed to the coming time when all available land shall be appropriated. ilenting by auction Is the only process that will enahle society to recollect economie rent surely, ((juitiibly, progressively, and scientilícally.- From "Agriculture and the Single Tax," by Horace Whlle, In the Popular Science Montlily for February.