Los Angeles Herald, Volume 34, Number 309, 6 August 1907 — LANDLORDS SAFE FROM HEALY'S IRE [ARTICLE]

LANDLORDS SAFE FROM HEALY'S IRE

CAN CONTINUE TO BAR CHILDREN

UNDER THE LAW

City Attorney Says Councilman Cannot Legally Coerce Property Own. ers Who Object to Rent to Families

City Attorney Hewitt put a quietus on Councilman Barney Healy's ambition to put out of business landlords who refuse to rent rooms to families with children.

Mr. Hewitt reported that such an ordinance would be unconstitutional. He said:

"I have been instructed by your honorable body to present an ordinance prohibiting the owners of property renting the same or advertising the same for rent from refusing to rent property to persons having children In their families, or from advertising that they will not rent thtir property to such persons. '

"I do not consider that such an ordinance would bo constitutional, and therefore I have not reported the same.

"An ordinance containing the provisions referred to, In my judgment, would Infringe upon the property rights of individuals unreasonably and would be repugnant to the constitutional guarantee to the enjoyment of property."

All that Councilman Healy could say after the statement was: "Well, what do you think of that?"

"We gave the landlords a jolt, anyway." remarked Councilman Dromgold, amid laughter.