The San Francisco call., 1906-11-11
REFUC[ES OBJECT
To PAYING RENT.
Supervisors Hear Protest
Against the Plan Adopted
by Relief Corporation
EVICTION IS OPPOSED

The Board of Supervisors resumed
consideration yesterday of the petition
of the United Refugees that thew be
permitted to occupy their temporary
homes in the public parks until Octo-
Der 1, 1907. and that the Relief Cor
poration be prevented from collecting
rents for the houses. About one hun
dred refugees were present to voice
their protest against the plan adopted
by the Relief Corporation Thomas
Magee. member of the Relief Cor
poration, was on hand to defend the
pIan- and Park Commissioner Reuben
H. Lloyd explained the position of the
Park Commission in the premises.
Harry Hill, one Of the refugees. ad-
dressed the board, stating that the Re-
lief Corporation had not treated the
refugees fairly and that a charge was
being made without warrant of ss per
month for shacks without light, fuel.
water or other conveniences. Hill
charged that money sent for the bene-
mt of refugees was being withheld
from them by the Red Cross Society.
The quicker you get rid of the Red
Cross Society," said HILL ''the better IL
will be for the refugees and the city
OF san Francisco. as men are being
urlVen TO suicide as the result of the
tactics employed by the society,"
Alva Udell. president of the United
Refugees. held that the right to collect
rent for public property by a private
corporation was absolutely indefensible
in law. and the City ATTORNEY had so
advised last August In an elaborate
opinion, Udell claimed that the Super
visors had the right to render nugatory
the clause in the charter making IT .
{ 2 NJ for he Do
ers TO permit the use of the parks for
other purposes
TELLS OF COPPER LOOTER.
Referring to the various charges of
graft" now under investigation by the
Grand Jury. Udell said that while he
was refugee at Jefferson Square one
of the occupants of tent in which he
was located was a looter of copper junk
which fact was known to the camp
commander Udeil said he reported the
case to a special policeman and to the
camp authorities. but no attention was
paid to the complaint Udell wound UP
by demanding protection for the refu-
gees. and said it was a crying shame
for the people of San Francisco to al
low the abuses complained of to go on
unnoticed.
Joseph Tuttle asked the board TO per-
nit the refugees of Duboce Park to
remain there and not be compelled to
go to Mission Park, and L. H. Cosper,
representing refugees at Lafayette
Park. asked that they be allowed TO re-
main there.
Thomas Magee. representing the Re-
lief and Red Cross fund, said that il
had been decided to charge a nominal
rental for the cottages in order to en-
courage thrift and industry and to dis
courage pauperism.
We were at first inclined to charge
no rent" said Magee. but we decided
that the self-respecting people would
prefer to pay rent in order to be in a
sense Independent. The rent of
three-room cottage. which costs $3.50 to
build. is s6 per month. and at the end
of a year it will become the property of
the one renting il. We do not intend
to allow refugees to take possession
of the houses in a high handed man
ner, as has been several times at
tempted"
COTTAGE is SEIZED.
Magee produced a notice signed by
Alva Udell. as chairman of the United
Refugees, to the effect that certain
cottage had been set aside for one VIII
liam Peterson. When Magee said that
the money paid in rents would be re-
turned TO the people there were Kisses
from the assembled refugees, and Act
ing Mayor Gallagher, who presided /
said he would have the lobby cleared t
IL there was any more demonstration /
Magee said that $50 600 is to be ex-
pended. for sheltering the aged and in t
firm refugees.
Supervisor McGushin said there was
no good reason for collecting rent at /
all and Gallagher thought SIS more than
a nominal rental. Magee said nobody /
had objected to the paying of a rent |
except few who stood out against 1t |
on principle or as matter of right. |
Gallagher suggested that the Relief |
Corporation give the houses to the ref
ugees so as to eliminate ground for I
complaints.
Lieutenant Scott of the Relief Cor
poration explained the nature of the
notice served to occupants of houses |
who refused to pay rent, and said that
those who were non supporting We're |
sent to Ingleside.