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THE  A  B  C  OF  TAXATION

“  It  is  a  question  of  applying  land  values  to  common  use
as  far  as  they  will  go,  or  as  much  of  them  as  may  be
needed,  as  the  case  may  prove  to  be.”*
(3)  I  believe  in  the  classification,formulated  by  the
New  York  Ford  Franchise  Act,  of  a  public  franchise  as
“land,”  and  a  public  franchise  value  as  “land  value,”
together  with  the  plainly  consequent  converse  truth,
viz.,  that  the  site  value  of  land  is  a  private  franchise
value,  because  land  depends  for  its  value  upon  those
same  concrete  and  tangible  things  that  give  value  to
a  public  franchise.
(4)  1  believe  with  Henry  George  that  "in  truth  the
right  to  the  use  of  land  is  not  a  joint  or  common  right,
but  an  equal  right;  the  joint  or  common  right  is  to  rent,
in  the  economic  sense  of  the  term.  Therefore  it  is
not  necessary  for  the  State  to  take  land;  it  is  only
necessary  for  it  to  take  rent.”  Accordingly  I  believe
that  a  man  who  owns  land  owns  the  site,  and  every
right  and  privilege,  fee,  title,  etc.,  pertaining  to  the
land,  from  zenith  to  earth’s  centre,  exclusive  and
absolute,  as  against  any  other  individual,  but  nevertheless ­
  subject  always  to  the  right  of  eminent  domain,
and  to  the  claims  of  the  community  to  its  share  in  the
value  of  those  rights  and  privileges,  through  the
sovereign  power  of  taxation.
(5)  I  believe  in  this  single  tax  doctrine  of  Henry
George,  because  it  is  broad  and  catholic  like  the  air,
the  sunshine,  and  all  other  bounties  that  heaven  sends
alike  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust.  It  knows  no  distinction ­
  of  race,  denomination,  party,  sect,  or  creed.
It  knows  no  socialism,  individualism,  communism,
anarchism,  Greek,  barbarian,  bond,  or  free.  The  Land

*  Louis  F.  Post, u  The  Single  Tax,”  p.  86.