Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2525

Letter from John S. Codman, 222 Summer Street, Boston,

February 22, 1957

 

Dear Mr. Heath:

I apologize for long delay in acknowledging several documents from you. But weak eyes and hands make it difficult for me to carry on my correspondence as I should. I am especially interested in the pamphlet entitled “Why the Henry George Idea Does Not Prevail.” To this question my answer is much the same as yours and let me register my acceptance of the following sentences:

“That rent instead of taxes is the naturally ordained recompense for Community Services is the very heart and essence of the Georgian ideal.”

 And also the following:

“But his instrument for employing rent in lieu of taxation was taxation itself, the very tool of tyranny.”

 However, your most interesting statement is the following:

“Only the general landowning interest, depending as it does on public values for its recompense, can properly perform the public services. It has none but public services to perform, none but public revenue to receive.”

 I do not quarrel with the above statement, nor do I endorse it but I have been thinking a lot about it and I have tried to envision how it would operate. There are many questions that arise but I cannot ask them now. However, I should like very much to hear from you again if you care to express any further ideas as to practical details.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

(signed) John S. Codman

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