Evening star., 1926-12-06

With almost complete unanirn!ty,
the press reflects national approval of
the Supreme Court decision upholding
the legality Of city "zoning" for the
protection Of residential sections. Thus
a policy doubtfully practiced by many
cities becomes safely established. and
it is predicted that q general move
naent toward orderly expansion and
identification will follow.
"Jurists Of other days must have
turned in their graves" declares the
Louisville Courier-Journal. when the
United States Supreme Court sus.
tained the constitutional!ty Of the
Euclid (Ohio) ordinance. The court
itself was not insensible to this radical
departure In the trend Of American
Jurisprudence. Fifty. perhaps twenty.
five years ago. 1t admitted. such an
ordinance would have been rejected as
arbitrary and oppressive but consti-
tutional provisions must be interpreted
in harmony with changing condt'
tions. Zoning laws are given their
place with traffic regulations within
the elastic scope Of inherent police
powers
When" says the Manchester Lead.
er, "the highest tribunal of the land
states that the segregation OF restden'
tial, business and industrial buildings
inorea ses the safety and security OF
home life, tends to prevent street acc!-
dents, decreases noise and other condi'
tions which produce or intensity nerv-
Gus disorders and preserves a more
favorable environment for the young,
the court has by inference advised the
public to adopt means to effect these
50 desirable ends, and becomes an ad-
vocate Of the system which would
bring them about-Zoning. The ABB
lene Reporter pronounces the decision
"a great victory for the cities In their
fight for civic development along sane
lines" and recalls that for years the
cities which were progressive enough
to set in motion machinery for the
purpose OF controlling and directing
their growth have been handicapped
for lack OF definite court rulings on
the subject"
Il is pointed out by the Santa Bar
bara News that the justices Of the
court take the view that these regu.
iations are the natural and logical re
suit Of the complex developments OK
the times; that '1n effect the decision
Is a reiteration Of the principle OF the
rule Of reason" and that 1t takes the
QUcOtlOlk vi LcnlII6 OOI Va SAiC ASotAAA -
debate" The Indianapolis News holds
that 'zoning, II not a social necessity.
has become great social advantage.
and that the decision will make for
we'll arranged cities" The Atlanta
Journal believes that "the effects.
most likely, will be far-reaching and
properly result in revival Of the aStta-
ton for zoning restrictions In many
communities that have been dIscour-
aged by real or imagined legal OBJ
stacles."
aside from the general good Of the
community which coming seeks." the
Flint Daily Journal secs IAN actual
economic beneft that probably offsets
all price reductions. The purchaser OF
property under the coming system
knows exactly what that property and
the property next to It can be used
for. Buyers are protected. and the
majority OF them prefer this protec-
tion to Surrendering their rights TO
real estate boosters who may suffer
temporarily from coming restrictions"
The Asbury Park Press predicts as a
result community organization. com.
munity efficiency, community prosper,
!ty, when the planning Is done wisely
by far-sighted persons who recog.
nize the economic, social and artistic
needs OF their cities
THE court ruling" says the Jack.
son Citizen.Patriot. squares with the
contention that city property 10 Gre
ated by community life; that many
recc-e gather together 20 make a city,