Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-12
LAWS To PROHIBIT
D|LLbOARDS ASKED
Montgomery Civic Federation
Moves to Prevent Fur
Their Signs.
By a stan Correspondent of The star.

By a staff Correspondent of The star.
BETHESDA. Md, March l2--Bill-
boards came up for a severe ccndemna-
ton at the meeting OF the Montgomery
County Civic Federation in the ele-
mentary school here last night. The
discussion of the report of the COM
mittee on internal county improvement
indicated that the citizens arc strong
~ opposed to leaving these structures
in the County. and the federation sub
seuuently ADOPTED the report of the
recommendations of the committee that
the committee on legislation and legal
action seek to obtain the passage OF
such laws as would prohibit any new
signs from being erected in the county
and would prohibit the repairing and
repainting of those in existence. Signs
advertising property for sale and on
business houses advertising the business
carried Oh therein would be eliminated
from the proposed prohibition.
The report of the committee was pre-
scented by Andrew c. Wilkins, its sccre-
tary. He pointed out that several ar
rests had been made in connection with
sign construction, under the building
permit ordinance. but that the States
attorney had taken no further action
He said that. in view of this failure
to act. the police did not know Just
how to proceed in the future and urged
that the county commissioners be re-
oueSted to direct the States attorney
TO proceed to trial with the cases. Capt.
Joseph c. CiSSal of Silver Spring, at
torney for the county commissioners,
pointed out that the States attorney
was not under the county commission
ers, and the latter could not do this,
but pointed ont that the federation
itself could request the States attorney
to proceed.
PrOhibitive Fee Urged.
II was pointed out by Oliver Owen
Kuhn, Alta Vista. that there is now on
the statute books law authorizing the
county commissioners TO pass an ordi-
nance to license the erection of such
signs, and he urged the adoption of
such an ordinance, with the license
fee so prohibitive that it would drive
the signs out of the county. He also
pointed out that they should be placed
so far from the roadside that they could
not be seen Mr. Kuhn said that it was
the sense of the people of the county
that it should he fully and completely
cleared of these obstructive signs. and
added that a nominal license fee would
not stop them.
The matter has been before the fed
Grafton for three years, he said, since
which time scores of the signs have
been put up, obstructing the beautiful
scenery in many cases.
Mr.. Cissel said that it was desirable
b eliminate the signs, and he felt sure
that the members of the House of Dele
gates from Montgomery and the county
fathers would be willing to go as far as
possible in an effort to wipe out the OBJ
jectionable signs, but he pointed out
there were certain limits beyond which
would be illegality. He pointed out that
the Maryland Court of Appeals had
ruled that person could use his prop
erty for any legitimate purpose, as long
as IL did not interfere with the public
health and safety. But he said that the
legislation and legal action committee
could draw up a law, and take stab at |
the proposition. But he urged prompt |
action, as only a few weeks remain of |
The present Legislature.
Legislation Committee Report.
The report of the legislation and le- |
gal action committee was presented by |
j. Bond Smith, chairman. He said that |
the resolution seeking authority for /
residents to pay taxes semi annually |
was being Investigated, and that the |
committee was Scehuis W lediH stiic |
opinion of the county officials, and par |
ticularly was it seeking information as
to cost. Successful efforts were made
to discharge the committee from fur
ther consideration of this resolution, MIR.
Smith making the original motion. And
the federation passed the motion that
1t was the sense of the federation that
such a provision should be made by
the county commissioners. The dis
cussion indicated that it would involve
an additional cost on the county.
The committee on public safety,
through it's chairman, Stephen James
of Linden, at its own request, was dis
charged from consideration of reso-
luton seeking a change in the motor
vehicle laws of the State which would
require vehicles to stop behind school
BUSES when the latter were taking on
or discharging passengers. The COM
mittee took the action on the ground
that there was bill now pending in the
Legislature which would give the coun-
ty authorities power to adopt traffic
ordinances.
This committee also reported unfa-
n.uzzling of dogs throughout the year.
The federation adopted resolution,
also reported by this committee, which
recommends that the county commits
sioners be asked to pass an ordinance
restricting the height of hedges and
other vegetation at street intersections
where a clear view to traffic Is OBJ
structed.
Holding of professional prize fights
anywhere in the county was opposed
by the committee. and the federation
subsequently approved it. The action
of the committee was to approve the
action of the county commissioners in
refusing a permit for a. fight at Glen
Echo and asking continuance OF the
policy. It was made clear in the dis
cussion that the majority were not OPP
posed to amateur contests, but they
objected to the professional bouts be-
cause of the element that was attracted
to them.
The county commissioners will be
asked TO require. by ordinance. the fill
ing of all abandoned excavations, wells
or cess-pools, or covering them over,
as safety precaution to preclude chill
dren from falling into them. The reso-
luton would only have the ordinance
apply to thickly populated sections, and
would define abandonment as non'lse
for period of one year.
o. M. KiIe, chairman of the publicity
committee. told of the plan to inaugu-
rate an advertising campaign to detail
the advantages of greater Washington
to the country. and urged that the
matter be brought to the attention of
sthe interfederation conference so. that
( could be taken up by other civic
organizations.
The April meeting will be held at the
Woodside School on Georgia avenue.
Joseph C. Cissel detailed the standing
of legislation now pending at Annapolis,
affecting Montgomery County.
PARTRlDGES RELEASED
IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY