Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-17
WOMEN PROTEST
RENT INCREASES
u. S. Asked to Probe Ad.
vances in Usage Ave.
nue., $500 Block
ANSWER FROM OWNER

The United States District Attor-
ney's office today was asked by a COM
mittee Of women. representing the resi-
dents of Usage avenue, between Fifty
third and Fifty-fourth streets, to in
restigate two rent increases they say
have been forced upon them within the
last seven months.
petition signed by thrty-five ten
ants of the block was presented to AS
slstant United States Attorney Sterrett
with request that he do something .
DR. C. F. Harbaugh. l143 South Broad
street. owner of the house. vigorously
denied any attempt at profiteering. He
said the increased cost of materials for
repairs and other expenses warranted
the increase. which, he said. was not
excessive.
According to the committee of women,
the tenants have been subjected to three
increases in eighteen months. two of
them within this year.
New Increase August 1
January l, 1917. the rents were raised
/, from $50 to SCI: January I, 1918. they
were increased to s24. and notice has
now been served that a further increase
of 50 will become effective August 1.
ut is outrageous" one of the women
said. 'It appears to be a deliberate
not worth what we will be forced tc
| pay"
| According to the women the lates,
notice of an increased rental came June
| Is. Notices were signed by Doctor Har.
| baugh the women say. and were de.
! livered by agents of the Thomas A. Red
ing & Son real estate company. At the
West Philadelphia office of the Reddins
Company, 52O5 Spruce street. 1t wa:
| stated that the company had nothing tc
do with the increased rent and would
not discuss II.
Doctor Harbaugh. when Informed
that the women had accused him o.
"gouging" them to pay for 100000
piece of property he purchased in tn,
vicinity of Hog Island. said:
What | buy is my business. no
theirs. Let them charge all they want
I am ready 10 prove at any time tina
the rent is not excessive, and is neces
sary.
The rent was raised to S21 last year
apd at the first of this year was raiset
to s24. August l it will be raised t,
s27, and if they don't like the in
crease they can do what they want.
Says He Protects Them
Il have protected these people b.
heads, although I have had at leas
fifty good offers for them. have re
fused to sell because of the scarcit
of houses and the trouble I knew tn
tenants would incur If they were force
to move"
When the women met Mr.. Sterrett
they were told the matter would b
taken up with Henry NJ. Stevenson, VIII
is investigating alleged profiteering Il
rents in West Philadelphia.
Mr.. Sterrett told the women that an
who had sons or husbands in the Unite
States service. upon whom they wer
dependent, should refuse to pay the in
crease. Two of the women who signe
the petition have sons in the service. tn
committee told Mr. Sterrett.
Protest Meeting Planned
The tenants of the houses owned b
the Elevated and Subway Real Estat
Company in the block bounded by 81,
tieth. Sixty-frst, Market and Arc
streets, including the double rows {
dwellings on f. dgewood and MlliC
streets, will hold meeting at o'cloe
this evening at 5909 Market street I
protest against the increse in their rent
! and to organize and adopt a petition I
be presented to United States Attorne
Kane asking the Government to intel
, vene and enjoin the increase.
A bill has been introduced in Congres
by Congressman Barrow for relief
residents in adjoining sections of We
Philadelphia, who were victims of greed
lndlords.