The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-10
NOT PAYING RENT.
Uncle Sam Is a Popular
Landlord.
POsTOFFICE SITE TENANTS.
Some Have Occupied Houses on Ste
Venson Street for Over Year
Without Expense.

Some grumbling in relation to rent IS
being INDUCED in by people who i've IN
houses on the new postoffice site. ana
Uncle Sam is finding that to be landlord
is not an unmixed blessing.
The old song that "Uncle Sam is rich
enough to give us all farm" or some other
kind Of home is still ringing in the ears OF
the tenants of these houses, and many OF
them are surprised that the Government,
great and prosperous as it is. should exact
rent from them.
Complaint has been made that some Of
the people residing in the Governments
structures on the site are not forced to pay
rent. while others have been put out or
been threatened with eviction unless they
pay their money regularly every month.
TWAS asserted that suits had been brought
against the delnquents. but that some of
them had been shown favoritism. as SER
vice of the papers on them had been with
beld while others had been comp elled to
depart.
Inquiry was made among the tenants
yesterday in regard to the methods Of
process-serving on jewellers on this
Federal property. 1t was learned that
only one eviction has SO far taken place.
and the woman in this case might have re-
disposed to resist tine agents of the Govern
ment. She had failed to pay the rent for
house on Stevenson street, and when
measures were taken to get her to leave
she submitted. asking for day or two in
which to get ready to move. Then she left
without further trouble.
Suits were brought against several other
occupants OF houses on Stevenson street
from whom n rent could be extracted, but
they have managed to remain, their plea
being that they we're too poor to raise the
money and would settle as soon as they
could raise the cash.
Mrs. Gallagher, who lives at 56z Steven
son street. was one of the delinQuents
sued. A deputy called to dispossess her.
but she was too sick to be turned out of
doors. She has several children. and the
Government officials. not wishing to act
harshly. let her remain. That was over
year ago and she has been living in the
qouse without paying rent since.
She said that Mr.. Harvey, who bonded
the property and sold it to the Govern
ment. told her that when it was turned
over TO the United States Government she
would not have Co pay any more rent. She
and other tenants had the impression that
the Government either could not or would
not ask rent from them. They supposed
they could live in the houses rent free
until they were torn down. Mr. Harvey
had said, according to her story. that
notice would be given so that they could
move out in time before the work Of pull
ing down the houses began.
Other tenants besides Mrs. Gallagher
said that Mr.. Harvey had led them to
think that they would not have to pay
rent to the Government, and there was
considerable surprise when it was found
that Uncle Sam, whom Mr.. Harvey spoke
OF as large-hearted and liberal in financial
matters. was inclined to behave like an
ordinary landlord.
One tenant said to the reporter: "Sev-
eral families on Stevenson street have not
paid any rent for over year. The family
in big house on Stevenson street Quit
paying rent year ago last February. The
water was shut off to get hem to move,
but they stayed. The house next door to
that used to rent for 500 month. but
now only SIS month is paid. The reason
given is that the occupant is Door
widow. For most of the houses the rent is
the same as it always was. and the Gov
eminent collector comes around regularly
every month for the money. He gets as
sassy as any other collector when the
money is not ready for him."
The postotfice site includes property on
Mission and Jessie streets, on which
houses stand. The Government seems to
be a desirable landlord, as all of its resi-
dences are occupied, while ITO let" signs
are on many dwellings around them.
United States District Attorney Garter
said that all the suits for rent were not
pressed. because in some cases sickness
prevented the families from leaving
II hope this trouble about rent may in
duce the Government to take my advice
and tear these old houses down, so that
work on the postofice can be begun soon,"
he remarked.