Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1712

Penciling on the same notepad pages as penned Item 1719.

No date

Without land owners to merchandise the public services to their tenants at market values, would not every occupant hold possession by grace of political persons who would compel arbitrary tax payments instead of free payment of rent for a measured value.

     Could there be any security of possession if the occupants were at the mercy of the politicians as to the rent they must pay, the same as they now are as to the taxes they must pay.

     Small wonder H.G. /Henry George/ was opposed drastically to public ownership (nationalization) of land even if he took what he thought a moral stand against private ownership of land.

     It is my clear perception that rent  must be  treated as private property in the hands of the land owner in order that he may distribute it properly among all the persons whose public services to the land create it and that he, collectively, will do this as fast as he discovers his enormous economic interest in doing so; but this cannot occur except as rent is restored by the abolishment of taxes. Rent so restored . .