"This is the land of absolute individuality as well as absolute
equality. Every man who reaches maturity becomes the individual owner
of property in one or more of its forms, the foundation being the soil
for residence or productive purposes, or both, at his option. All lands
are subject to individual ownership, within clearly defined limits, the
public domain being held in reserve to meet new demands of increasing
population. It is the common property of all until it passes into
individual ownership, to be used for agricultural or other purposes,
under fixed rules, a specific proportion of the product, or its
equivalent, being turned into the common treasury, to prosecute public
improvements and for other public purposes.
"This stands in lieu of taxation in other countries, and it is only
on rare occasions that it is necessary to supplement it with a direct
tax on the people, except as to the municipal and provincial taxes for
local purposes, in which case each man of mature age, or twenty-five
years, pays the one hundredth part of his earnings monthly into the
treasury, the sum thus paid being evenly divided between the treasuries
of the province and municipal division. When a surplus equal to the
previous year's expenditures accumulates this tax is remitted for the
ensuing year.
"A man may own a home and a separate farm or garden, or business or
manufacturing site; nor may he engage in more than one business or
employment, except the public service, at the same time. He may change
from one line of business to another, but may not buy or sell real
estate for mere speculation. He may not acquire property other than his
earnings until he reaches maturity, and designs to marry and become the
head of a family. If his intent fail, or remains unfulfilled for three
years, the home thus acquired becomes public property, and may be sold
to another who assumes the marital relation, and the proceeds divided
equally between the municipal treasury or bank and the former owner.
"Residences may be exchanged, as may farms, gardens, business sites
and factories, including the line of business or manufacturing, but
neither may be alienated by the owner, except with the approval of
the Custodian of the Municipality upon a satisfactory showing of the
reasons therefor.
"All persons of both sexes must take up an occupation at the age of
twenty, and continue therein, or in some other occupation, until sixty
years of age, unless incapacitated, and deposit in the municipal bank
or treasury at least one-twentieth of their monthly earnings. At sixty
they may retire from active life, and their accumulations are subject
to their wants and demands under salutary rules. The residue, along
with their other personal property, is distributed pro rata among their
direct descendants, and if there be none, in is turned into the general
treasury of the Commonwealth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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