The courier., 1901-08-10

as the '-Scsps.- Starting uodes,ly
about eight years ago. it uou nuuoe:'
over one thousand members and eoIoyi
group Of supporters 10 parliament. IL
influence has prohibited hsshlight sd-
Vertisements where they cause dange'
70 traffic, has effected q uiscoutiuuanc:
Of the recent London Innovation Of eu-
ploying young girls as advertising pla
card bearers on the streets; has secured
40 ordinance prohibiting advertisement
on the onuibuses, a reform greatly
needed. And through the influence o
Scapa workers parliament has passed ar
act giving municipal authorities tbs
power 10 control the places where sd-
vertisemeuts are allowed.
In France every advertisement which
can be described as painted sign is
subject 10 the payment OF fee If dis
played in public place. An American
Who has recently spent a year in travel
ing through France, writes: There il
in France no such general Disagreement
Of beautiful scenery as one finds here a
home. This sort Of advertising is ir
the main confined to the rail1sy lines
and il much more noticeable as one sp
proaches the city Of Paris"
By the municipal ordinance Ct Rome
advertising announcements are confined
10 biIIbosrds which are not licensed il
appropriate localities.
Turning to our own America, while
the field Of work has not been large, ye'
some Of our states already have laws az
fecting advertisements In New Jersey
any city that cares TO has the right tc
pass an ordinance regulating or restrict
ing public advertising. Ohio has SIM
liar law, including villages as well al
cities, but restricting practically non-res
ideuts in their advertisements
San Francisco has an ordinance pro.
tecting telegraph. telephone and electric
light poles from Disagreement in ad
vertisement, and prescribing that sign:
shall not be over three feet high anC
those OF any premises not over ten feet
high.
Chicago. with characteristic progress
siveness, gives distinct recognition OF
aesthetic rights in an ordinance passed
last July, which. in addition to determ-
lining the size and height OF signs and
biIlboards, forbids their erection on
boulevsrde, pleasure drive or residence
streets without the consent in writing oi
three-fourths Of the residents and prop.
erty owners on both sides OF the street
in the block where il is desired to erect
the sign or billboard
1t has been argued by Mr.. Oimstead
of the American Park and Outdoor asso-
citation, 10 looking at the question from a
legal point OF view. that an offensive
sight lie no less public nuisance than
au offensive sound: an offense becomes a
nuisance. by the definition Of the Cen
tury Dictionary" when 'the selfish use
OF right transcends the obligations TO
respect the welfare OF others" And il
is believed by those interested 10 the
work that our courts will soon recognize
the offensive sights as a nuisance. even
il they do not today. In Belgium a
municipal art society. some years ago
held contest for beautiful signs, the
best and most beautiful receiving prizes
The result has been that all over Brus-
sells you find pretty signs, and the curl
ous part is that the beautiful ones pay
Letter than the ugly; for. while the lat
ter receive passing notice. they call
forth feelings Of disgust, and the beau