The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-01-27
SIGN ACTION
is DEFERRED
Matter Referred 10 Special Com
mittee to Confer With Repre-
sentatives of Companies.
Council Awaits Result

As the result Of the open meeting
held in the school auditorium last
Tuesday evening under the auspices
OF the Chamber of Commerce for a
full and free discussion of the sign
question, which has been a perplexing
problem to local civic organizations
ever since the large outdoor adyertis
ing mediums were erected in the
heart of Absecon, a resolution was
adopted, stating that it is the sense
Of this meeting that there be appoint
ed three members of City Council, one
each from the Women's Civic Club
and Chamber of Commerce to meet
with representatives of the sign con-
panies in the nea future, for the pu1-
pose of ~effecting an amicable adjust
ment of the mercantile sign tax con
troversy. respecting the tax charge,
regulation, construction, etc. of the
signs. When a compromising agree
ment is reached it will be embodied
in the form OF a recommendation to
be made to City Council which, in ali
probability, viii grant whatever mod
fcations in the Mercantile Ordinance
pertaining TO signs that the joint con
ference, soon TO be participated II.
decides is equitable and just IN the
matter. As originally presented by
Louis st. John, Of the Atlantic CITY
Poster Advertising Company, the res
oiution called for the conference be
tween representatives of the sign
companies and a committee Of three
from City Council, but this was later
amended to include one member each
OF the civic bodies previously men
toned.
During the discussions on the sub
ject, which has aroused considerable
local interest of late, much statistical
information on signs, their size, loca-
ton, number in Absecon, solidity CT
construction, value to the advertiser,
benefit to the community, connection
with State and National Sign Asocia-
tons, attractiyeness of display cost.
rental, gross income, profit, etc, was
given by Mr.. st. John, whose state
ments were concurred in by a M.
Orchard, of the Philadelphia Branch
Of the Thomas Cusack Company. both
OF whom branded the Absecon mercan-
fie AK Uf<7@~ 0srrha>gr-
companies as unfaDRgh and exo3-
bitant. If carried into court, they az
gued, their concerns are sure the local
mercantile sign tax charge would BE-
modified to a more just and reasona-
Bile levy, but stated they hoped il
would not be necessary to resort to
legal action to accomplish results
which, ostensibly, can be obtained by
a conciliatory consultation.
Mrs. Reuben L. Babcock, president
of the Women's Civic Club. and Mrs.
Lewis NJ. Clark, one of the officers,
spoke at some length in defense Of
the conservation of the natural. scenic
attractiveness of the center Of Abse
con, particularly its natural stream,
Absecon Greek, winding its way
through grassy areas, making a pleas
ant picture to look upon, which have
been partly DISTRACTED to view by the
erection of large advertising signs in
the immediate vicinity of the CONVEX
gence of the several State and county
highways, which locations We're chos-
en- by the sign companies on account
of the commercial value Of such STRAIT
egie and advantageous sites from 2
circulation" standpoint, but much TO
the regret OF the women's clubs.