Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-14
BOTH SIDES TOSUE
|NH|GH RENT FIGHT
Attorney General Names Deputy
to Aid Enthusiastically
j Men After Sheriff
RANSLEY DEFENDS COURSE

Legal action by the state against rent
profteers was forecast today, follow
ing the appointment OF 7. Barry CO.
lahan as special deputy attorney general
TO co operate in the housing probe in
this city.
Mr.. Colahan and Frank 3. McClain,
former lieutenant governor, will con
fer this afternoon with representatives
OF various tenants protective associa
tious in the Office of the Public Wei
fare Commission, 700 Finance Building.
Mr.. Colahan's appointment by At
torney General Schsffer and state
ment by Sheriff Harry g. Ranslcy de-
Tending his refusal TO eject tenants were
todsy's important developments in the
situation here.
Several real estate dealers have an
nounced they will bring action against
the sheriff for his refusal TO eject a
large number Of tenants. The suit will
he brought against tho sheriff's bond.
Humanity Is Defense
Mr.. Rsnsley today declared his re-
fusal was based on humane grounds.
Many tenants, if evicted, he said, would
be homeless. He asserted he would act
in a similar fashion if the same circum-
stances should again arise.
The sheriff declared further be was
advised by George Russell, sheriff s
solicitor, that suit probably would re-
suit if he failed to make the ejectments'
Mr.. Ransley said he was prepared per ,
sopally to stand whatever financial
Judgment may be entered as result oil
the suits.
In explaining his attitude the sheriff
was quoted as saying:
"There were so many of these eject
ment proceedings coming into our Office,
and so many of the tenants said they
could not find other places to live and
would be homeless. if they were elected
that I asked Mr.. Russell, the solicitor,
if / was compelled to put those people
out. M. Russell said that very proba =
bly, there would be suits filed against
me if ] refused to act.
Every Case Investigated
I'VE investigated every case presented
TO us, and in many instances we were
convinced that the ejectments were
purely cases Of profteering. Many OF
the real estate men would advance the
rent of their tenants and often they
went back a second and a third time
with rent increases. Those were cases
of pure and simple profiteering and
could not conscientiously eject the ten
ants under those circumstances.
II am willing to pay whatever costs
may be assessed as the result of my re
fusal to eject these tenants. This cost
will be borne by me personally. The
city will lose nothing by it.
II believe I was right in refusing tc
put those people out, and if similar cir
cumstances arise in the future while |
am sheriff, I shall act in the same way
and will personally bear whatever ex
pcnse results from suits"
Tenants Officers Confer
Officers OF the United Tenants Pro
tective Association will confer Thurs
day with representatives of the Stat,
Banking Department. The conferenc,
will be held in the departmental loca
Offices in the Bellevue Court Building
The purpose is to investigate ALLEGED
irregular speculation by small mum
ber of building and loan associations.
A conference between the tenants
association officials and state bankin,
officials was held yesterday, but Bank
ing Commissioner Fisher advised agains
making the findings public until late
date.