Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-09
TERMS TOO GENERAL
HousEHoLDERs SIGNATURES IN
STEAD OF RESIDENTS.
Necessary for Erection of Bill Boards,
Corporation Counsel
Duvall Opines.

An interesting development in connection
with the consideration Of several new ap-
plications for bill board privileges has been
brought about through the investigations
Of the police of the Georgetown precinct as
to the signatures on the petitions filed with
the Commissioners.
Since the new board law became operative
the Commissioners have granted permits
only in those localities where a majority
Of the residents favored the continuance Of
the old or the construction Of the new
boards. These majority petitions have been
secured by a local bill posting company
and filled with the Commissioners.
The expected reduction in the number Of
bill boards in the city has not been notice
able so far In fact more new boards have
been constructed than old ones removed.
In the consideration of applications for
these bill board fences in Prospect avenue,
between 32d and s3d streets; P street, be-
tween 31st and 32d streets, and 32d street,
between r and T streets, the Commission
ers referred the applications to Lieutenant
Swindells of the seventh police precinct. In
making canvass Of the signatures, Lieu
tenant Swindells estimated all adult per-
sons living in the houses Of the vicinity as
residents. He made the following report as
to his Investigations:
Lieut.. Swindell's Report.
"The names appearing upon the applica-
tions almost without exception, are not Sig
natures. They have been placed thereon by
the canvasser for the bill-posting company,
with the consent of the persons spoken to
by him, being mostly women. Those names
appearing thereon do not constitute SUI
ficient number of signers as required by
law, there being all the way from thirty
two to fifty-sevan names In each application
lacking. There has been no complaint to
my knowledge Of the existence Of the bill
boards"
JTpon the receipt of this statement Com
missioner West, who has charge Of all bill
board matters, recommended that the ap-
pications be referred to the corporation
counsel for opinion as to whether or not
the meaning of the law as to residents
meant householders only. or all occupants
of houses. Mr.. Duvall, the counsel, has re-
turned the papers with an opinion, In which
he says:
The Commissioners are empowered by
the quoted paragraph of the law to au-
thorize in writing the land, houses, bill
boards, fences and other structures on
which in their discretion advertisements or
posters may be placed, and then follows the
clause relative to the signatures. The ques-
ton is whether the written signature and
consent must be obtained from a majority
of the householders only, or a majority of
all the inmates of all the houses on the
squares mentioned
Terms Of the Law Are General
1.-THE terms Of the law are most general.
If a majority of residents is to be con-
strued literally, then 1t would include all
the inmates Of all the houses. irrespective
Of age Or permanency of residence. I can
not believe that this was the intention of
Congress in view Of the subject-matter and
the object sought to be accomplished In
deed, 1t would be quite impracticable to ad.
minister this law on any such basis.
Il am of the opinion that a reasonable
construction of the provision would be to
limit 1t to a majority of householders on
the side of the square in which the display
is to be made, and also the side of the con-
fronting square. Such a construction, in
my Judgment, would not do violence to the
terms of the law, and would render it capa-
BILE of practical administration"