Chapter  III

c
THE  THIRD  LEG  OF  THE  SINGLE  TAX  TRIPOS
THE  ULTIMATE  BURDENLESSNESS  OF  A
LAND  TAX
EVERY  LANDOWNER  IS  EXEMPT  FROM  TAXATION  ON
HIS  INVESTMENT,  TO  THE  EXTENT  OF  THE  TAX
TO  WHICH  HIS  LAND  WAS  SUBJECT  AT  TIME  OF
HIS  PURCHASE,  AND  THEREFORE,  PRACTICALLY
SPEAKING,.  NEARLY  ALL  LAND  IS  TO-DAY  OWNED
FREE  OF  ANY  TAX  BURDEN
The  purpose  of  the  following  illustration*  is  to
make  clear  by  means  of  iteration  and  reiteration
two  facts,  viz.:
Fact  I.  The  land  ownerf  of  to-day  who  has  purchased ­
  since  the  present  tax  was  imposed  escapes
taxation  upon  his  investment.
Fact  II.  The  burden  of  a  land  tax  cannot  be  made
to  survive  a  change  of  ownership.

*  The  statements  and  arguments  used  in  this  illustration  deal  only  with  the
general  principles  of  taxation,  and  assume  such  conditions  as  prevail  in  the
United  States,  including  for  instance,  lack  of  universality  and  uniformity  in
taxation.  Single  tax  terms  and  arguments  are  studiously  excluded.
•j-  Care  is  taken  to  designate  owner  and  user  in  their  respective  capacities,
whether  they  be  two  persons,  or  two  combined  in  one.
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