The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-04-07
BILLBOARD BILL
IS READY FOR !.
PASSING
Measure That Should
Be Upheld Is
Drafted.
is CAREFULLY FRAMED
Y. M. C. A. Roasted for
Its Exhibition Of
SeIfishness.
Is CAREFULLY FRAMED
lFrom Thursday,s Advertiser.l


Recommendation for billboard legis-
lation were made yesterday afternoon
by the central Improvement committee,
when the draft of a bill framed by the
attorney for the planters association,
chamber of commerce and merchants
association, to whom was referred the
question of billboard law, was gone
over section by section and approved
as whole, except that the committee
felt that the annual license for con
Quoting billboard business should be
$500 rather than $3.50, equaling the
license fee to conduct auction sales.
From Missouri.
Chairman Berndt, who presided, sta
ted that the bill proposed was based
largely upon the billboard law which
was upheld by the supreme court of the
State of Missouri, but in eleven or
twelve other States was not upheld in
the courts. He stated that the present
draft had been gone over carefully,
authorities being looked into thorough
ly, and while it was felt that billboards
could not be legislated out of business
entirely there were opportunities for
regulating them so that abuses would
be eliminated
The salient features of the proposed
bill as recommended and approved by
the central improvement committee,
unanimously, place the. billboards at
least fifteen feet back from street,
limit them to a height of fourteen feet
above ground, with four feet of clear
space between the ground and the bot
tom of the boards, limit the length and
otherwise provide for safety of the pub
lie.
Ready to Fight.
1t was stated at the meeting that Mr..
Frazier, who controls the billboard bust
ness here, for which he has not paid
a fee of any kind to the government,
except in the pas year wAen he paid
$25, has retained Hcll es, Stanley &
Olson as his attorneys to fight any leg
islation which would tend to do away
with billboaTds altogether, or restrict
his present use of boards.
Chairman Berndt stated that the pres
emit draft was only completed in the
forenoon and that in the framing of it
Mr.. Castle had also delved deep into
authorities and had compiled pros and
cons on the question. The aft repro.
sented a large amount of thought
Upon the motion of C. w. Ashford
the proposed draft was read section by
section and each section commented
upon. The first dealt with what bill
board advertising comprises and the
second section concerned the fee, which
had been recommended at $3.50, but on
motion of Mr. Ashford was raised to
$500. 1t WAS stated by the chair that
larger amount had been suggested,
but that the attorneys felt that any
excessive rate would be considered
arbitrary and exorbitant and would be
an element of weakness should the bill
be brought into the courts to determine
its eonstitutionality.
Fence Defacing.
The third section dealt with restric.
tions upon the use of all advertising
matter, whether it is pasted, posted,
tackled, nailed, painted, carved or other
wise and restricted it from public build
ings and places. This would prevent
small signs or big signs from being put
upon fences sides or fronts of buildings
or structures of any kind. upon side
walks, telegraph, electric light or troll
ley poles, trees, rocks, posts, gates,
fences, and is designed to prevent such
fool-killer ideas which suggested them
selves to an enterprising man who
few years ago painted a big sign on
the rocks on the face of Punchbowl, an
act which aroused public indignation.
If signs are put upon fences OF build
ings it must be with the written consent
of the owner.
Indecencies Barred.
An important clause prevents any
medical advertisements, with or with
out illustrations, TO be posted, partieu.
1arly If they are of immoral suggestion
or relate TO organs of human beings
One of the very important sections
related 10 the distance a board might
be erected from the street, putting Il
at fifteen feet and the height and
length were as above given. Il was
stated that the open or clear space
under a hoard was imperative for police
purposes and 10 prevent nulsanees from
being committed. Mr.. Ashford and Mr..
Mills both felt that IN this connection
there should DO q restriction against
boards being erected All corners whera
the view around the corner was utterly
obstmeted BY such signs. Thil Was
dWelt upon 81 measure OF public
safety. Another question was raised
feilfife 20 high nna long signs. This