Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-07-04
Taxation of Signs.
New York Tribune).

| tNew York Tribune).
bufaio's commendable efforts to
mitigate the advertising sign plague
nave been frustrated by the appellate
division in the fourth division, which
rev days ago upheld the contention
OF an advertising company that the
city had no right to regulate the dis.
play or posters upon its boards. Their.
Is no reason to suppose that the de-
cision Is not good law, and the action
OF the court emphasizes the need of
legislation making possible the ef-
| fective regulation of advertising
Bufalo's inability under the existing
| laws TO relieve itself OF a nuisance
| should prompt an early change In the
| laws. Otherwise no effort to beauti
fy our cities can be accomplished In a
satisfactory manner.
Probably the hest method OF regu-
| lation Is by taxation, such as Is I'M
posed in France Our Paris cores.
pondent in n Letter published In another
| column, gives an interesting detailed
account of the working OF the French
| law. which brings the state consId-
cradle revenue and affords a means OF
keeping poster advertising within rea-
sonable bounds. The trouble with
most regulations in this country is
that they are not enforced. The av-
erage policeman has no interest in
stopping Illegal posting. His superb.
ors are likewise indfncrcrft rssa.sssa
now in this city law forbidding post
ers within n certain distance OF public
parks, but scores Of vacant lots In
close proximity to the public parks
are covered by the ugllest OF bill
| boards. with the most glaring signs
and the officials make not the slight.
est attempt to enforce the law regu.
lating the matter. When. however,
someone Is concerned-to collect money
for the display OF advertising signs.
and all such signs are prohibited. ex-
cept those placed and taxed according
to law. it is comparatively to secure
enforcement. Not only the officials
who collect the tax. but the people
who pay II are made active upholders
of the law against those who seek to
defraud the treasury and take unfair
advantage OF business rivals.
In France. as our correspondent
points out. In 1898 3.515 900 francs and
In 1899 1888. 600 francs were realized
that were extremely light. Nobody
was discouraged from any legitimate
advertising though possibly the per-
fectly senseless multiplication OF post
ers and exaggeration of their sizc
were somewhat restricted. The
French law does not touch the signs
OF u merchant. manufacturer. store
keeper or professional man on his
own premises announcing the place
Of his business or the nature OF II.
It is by no means certain that some
tax should not be placed on such signs
when they are multiplied beyond the
reasonable necessity OF directing the
passerby to a place OF business. and
certainly as these signs increase In
size beyond a very moderate limit
they should be subject TO Increased
taxation. The greatest advertising
nuisance. however. comes from the
signs apart from the premises OF the
advertiser The ordinary billboard
poster should be regulated as to size
and place and subjected to sufficient
tax to secure enforcement of the law,
but the signs plastered broadcast over
roofs and walls making the view hid
eous. should. If possible. be taxed out
| Of existence.
| New York state is In need OF indi-
rect revenue. and 1t might well levy
stamp taxes on public signs and post
ers. These are so numerous and np-
parently so profitable here that large
sum might be secured without max
ing the tax so heavy as to interfere
with legitimate business. and SO far a.
wanton Disagreement Of buildings
could be discouraged by graduated tax
a public benefit would be conferred.
No advertiser would really be hurt
by such restriction for II would oper-
ate equally upon all. and the result
would simply be the restriction Of
competition within reasonable limits.
The treasury Inigbt realize 1000 600
a year by tax on ugliness. and 80 re-
lIeve the farmers and househOlders OF
the state. without placing any serious
burden on advertisers. The subtect
is one worthy OF attention Of the lsgis-
lature. In view OF the beneficial r.
suits OF similar imposts In other
kcountries.