Tax Troubles: Politicians Bicker Over Single Tax Measure

In a tense showdown at the Washington, D.C. conference of the Federal Fund on January 17, 1914, a potentially explosive dispute over pending legislation was narrowly averted. The issue at hand was the proposed Single Tax measure, which aimed to address the ‘evils’ plaguing the nation. However, James A. Robinson, chair of the conference, sensed a growing unease among attendees, who were hesitant to endorse the bill. Robinson astutely observed that the Single Tax movement itself would likely mitigate the problems the bill sought to fix.