The San Francisco call., 1906-06-04
TENANTS SAFE
UNTIL JULY 10
Legislature Comes to
Relief of Victims of
Landlords.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

SACRAMENTO, June 3-Championed
by the Senate of California the poor of
San Francisco. unable to pay the ex-
orbitant demands of landlords, have
defeated the effort to drive them from
their homes upon the cessation of the
legal holidays The fight for the poor
led by Leavitt, Shortridge and Saw
age-was only won after a heated and,
at times excited debate But the vic
tory was decisive and those who are
now sheltered and whose rents have
been raised. will have until June 10
to secure other quarters. or prepare
their defense to the actions instituted
to dispossess them.
Not day passed during the first
month following the confiagration that
the San Francisco relief committee
was not called upon to move against
some of the offending landlords. The
relief committee announced its help
lessness in the premises. but so far as
it could it gave its moral support to
the helpless tenants. Yesterday the
Legislature convened. Confident that
business interests required the measure
a bill was drafted providing that Amy
act or proceeding appointed. required
or limited by law to be performed on
any day in June. may be taken on any
day not later than July 10 with the
same effect as if it had been performed
WIlulH tile time SUCH ACT was uHlIcQ
to be performed"
CHANGED IN ASSEMBLY.
This bill was framed by the San
Francisco legislative committee, but
before it emerged from the Assembly.
realty interests had succeeded in hav-
ing it amended so as to exclude from
its charitable intention proceedings in
unlawful detainder and unlawful entry
as provided in the statutes.
The purpose of the amendment was
quickly discovered in the Senate and
the fight against it began. Leavitt of
Alameda said 1t was apparent to him
that graspfng landlords had expert
enced no change O.. heart since the
confiagration and so far as he was con-
cerned he would contest any measure
that sought to protect every interest
except those of tenants whose occupa-
tions were gone and who were unable
by the owners of dwellings in which
they lived.
Lukens said he could see no reason
why the bill should not pass and point
ed out that the Senate bill contained
a like provision.
Well, If the Senate bill is as vicious
as this one. we will knock out both OF
them" said Shortridge. Il will see the
landlords of San Francisco lose mil
| lions rather than to see one mother dis
possessed of her home, leading her
children through the streets in search
of shelter. This is a time when all
should be charitable and as the fact is
clear that all are not charitable we
should divest them of the legal ma
lchinery that will enable them to fulfill
their selfish purposes"
BILL IS INIQUIToUS.
Savage also protested against the
measure and branded 1T as ubiquitous
| Hahn was afraid that IL the bill did not
pass without amendment, the Landlords
Iof Los Angeles would be unable to Sc
4 cure enough homes to take care of the
Eastern visitors who enjoy the sum
mer months in the southland. Tenants
now in these homes he said woulc
/ hold on to- them and beat the land.
lords out of full months rent
1 The plight that may wound the feel
Iings of the Los Angeles landlords was
accepted. however, rs naught to tn,
plight of San Franchises fire victims
and when the call for the vote wa.
made the bill stood amended so tha
its provisions play to no favorites ant
the poor Will find defense in its line.
as well as the rich.