The Washington herald., 1907-06-26
CRIMP IN BILLBOARDS
Mr.. Mcfarland Wants Nui-
Sance Squelched.
THINKS CAPITAL SHOULD LEAD
Believes Law Leaves Commissioners
Power Enough 10 Restrict Them in
Character and Territory-Proper
Regulation Results I'm Big Revenue
Returns TO European Cities.

| Commissioner mcfarland has announced
| himself as favoring the movement against
the increase Of outdoor advertising stat
/ ing that he would like TO see the bill
/ boards OF the city abolished
| In support Of his views. he advances a
number Of arguments gained in his Eu-
/ ropean travels. all of which point to
billboard advertising as dishguring and
| unnecessary. In speaking Of this matter,
| Commissioner mcfarland yesterday said:
| Il was glad to read the editorial in The
| Washington Herald on tho billboard
question, for I have felt for a long time
/ that Washington ought TO lead the way
in the regulation Of street advertising. l
would Ike TO see billboard advertising
abolished. and in It's place advertising on
small ornamental structures erected by
! the municipality, which should rent
spaces upon them. and so derive rev.
enue while keeping the advertising within
strict bounds. This is the method used in
several foreign capitals. notably Paris,
Berlin, and Vienna. while in Berlin, ac-
cOrding TO our consul general, the system
yields revenue Of over $4,000 a year.
District Gets No Revenue.
When you consider that We now re
ceive practically no revenue from the
binboards you viii probably agree that
at least there ought to be a sufficient tax
to yield an adequate revenue as tie bust
/ ness is now carried on. The only revenue
now is that from the license required OF
bHlpOsters which is so a year. and under
this any biIlpOster can use as many bill
boards as he pleases. But Congress hav-
/ ing passed upon the subject in the license
law Of July !, 1902, the Commissioners
cannot increase the tax. nor can they
rent out space on the streets for billboard
purposes.
i think Congress should give the Com
missioners power to do both things. and
thus enable them 10 work out system
like that Of Berlin, which would make
bilpo5ting slightly and yield a large reve-
nue. TO the municipality. Until Congress
does act. the Commissioners can do moth
ing IN the matter beyond the authority
given in paragraph 80 of the license law,
as follows:
" No person shall place exhibit. main
tain. or continue any advertising or pos
ter except upon such houses, buildings,
billbOards fences, or other structures as
the Commissioners Of the District Of Co
lumbia may in their discretion authorize
I'm writing for that purpose
Regulation May BE Attempted.
ITO this IS added the proviso that re-
quires the consent Of neighbors. and also
the exemption of persons advertising on
the premises where the business Gdyer-
tised IS conducted, or erecting signs re-
lating 20 the sale, rent. or lease Of land
upon which the sign IS erected. Under
the general police power Of the Commits
sioners, believe that they might define
an area within which they would not
permit the use Of bilIboards or street ad-
yertsing except as authorized In the eX-
emption Of that paragraph, and also
that the size and shape and height Of
billboards nigh. be regulated. Under the
general police power. ! would be willing
20 go farther, 70 provide by regulation
that there should be no billboard adver-
Using outside of the business streets.
and also that unsighuy advertising
should be prohibited entirely. Ny atten-
ton has been called 20 a significant pas
sage IN Freunds 'On Police Power sec
ton lS2 which suggests the idea that I'M
slightly advertisements may be prohibited
under the police power.
Congress has vested general power
I'm the Commissioners for the protection
Of lives. limbs. health. comfort. and quiet
Of all persons. which might properly be
tested in this relation by such a regula-
ton as ! have suggested