Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-30
TWO GROUPS Join
BILLBOARD FIGHT
Montgomery County Civic
Federation Endorses Mary
land Campaign.

With Maryland civic forces uniting
for anti-billboard legislation at the next
session of the Legislature, in January, a
resolution indorsing the civic campaign
against DETACHMENT of the highway ap-
breaches into the National Capital by
advertising signs and other unsightly
objects was introduced at a special
meeting of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation last night in Bethesda.
The movement for the identification
of the highway entrances TO Wasnlng-
ton in time for the George Washington
bicentennial celebration in 1882 also
was favorably discussed at meeting
last night of the Rhode Island Avenue
Citizens Association in the Sunday
school hall of the Sherwood Presoy-
terrain Church.
Federation Plans Action.
THE resolution of the Montgomery
County organization called for study
nv its Committee on Internal County
Improvement of the existing law, besides
pending and proposed admlnlstr atlve
ACTIVITY relating to elimination OF Dill
boards and Identification Of highways
leading into the Federal city through
suburban Montgomery County. II APP
proved by the federation at It's regular
January meeting the resolution Will
REQUIRE the report on the billboard study
to be made at the February meeting.
The federation long has been on
record as opposed to DETACHMENT OF
roads by billboards. but the resolution
was offered last night just before ad-
journment. 1t was introduced by Fred
eric P Lee of Edgemoor, vice president
of the federation, as follows:
Resolved, that the federation heart
ily indorses the campaign of The WASH
ington Star for the total elimination OF
billboards on all approaches to the Ma
tional Capital and urges that the coun-
ty and State authorities cooperate with
The Washington Star to this end; and
Report to Be Provided.
"In order that the federation may
be informed as to existing situation re-
lating to the improvement of the sight
illness and appearance OF suburban
Montgomery County to the end that the
federation may take further steps Tor
the improvement Of the slghtlinesS and
appearance of the suburban county
prior to the Washington Bicentennial
celebration in 1882, and obtain any
necessary legislation therefor from the
1881 session of the Maryland Legisla-
ture, be it
Resolved further, first, That the
COmQlJlec OIL l1lLCIIld1 SOQAlby
provement is directed to report to the
federation not later than the regular
February meeting upon the existing law
and pending and proposed administra-
tive activity relating to the following:
"a Elimination of Signboards ana
similar structures.
"b. Location, maintenance and de-
sign of filling stations and refreshment
stands.
&C. Planting and care Of trees and
shrubs along arterial highways and
other streets, including center parkings.
I'd. Handspring of grounds Of colln-
ty buildings, including schools.
&c. Removal of trash from vacant
privately owned lands and along road
sides, the enforcement Of the law
against dumping Of trash and the
cleaning Of streets In the business dis
tricts.
"And second, that the Committee on
Legislation and Legal Action Is directed
to report to the federation upon the
status of the project for an ash, trash
and garbage removal system.
First Action In March, 1929.
On March IL, 1929, the federation
took a definite position regarding bill
boards with the adoption Of the follow
ing committee report:
1T has come to the attention of your
committee that the regulations under
the present statute prohibit the erection
of new signs along the highways OF
Montgomery County without flrst OBJ
tanning a permit therein, and that ar
rests have been made recently for the
violation Of such regulations, and your
committee recommends that this fed
Grafton request the immediate prose-
cution by the States attorney OF all
persons arrested for such violations.
Your committee further recommends
that this federation go on record as
favoring the enactment Of laws prohib-
iting the erection Of any new signs
within Montgomery County except for
the sale or rent Of property on which
sign is displayed, and prohibiting the
repairing or repainting of any signs now
existing within Montgomery County ex-
cept those for the sale or rent Of the
property in which they are displayed;
provided, however, that such laws make
exceptions for legitimate business and
amusement establishments to display
signs on their own or leased premises
where such business or amusement is
carried on, covering announcements of
such business or amusements offered to
the public. It is the unanimous opinion
OF this federation that legislation of
as prohibitive a nature as can be con-
sidered constitutional should be passed"
Boycott Is Suggested.
At the meeting of the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association, the out
door advertising situation and general
condition of highway approaches was
brought to the attention OF the aSSocia-
ton by George S. Dodge, chairman Of
the Parks Committee. He declared II
appeared to be the concensus of the
opinion of members to whom he had
talked that the Rhode Island avenue
citizens should align themselves with
other civic groups working for beautif1-
cation Of highways.
After streSsing the need for beautifi.
cation of many traffic arteries leading
into Washington, especially the Balti-
more Boulevard and the Defense High.
way, President Thomas j. Llewellyr
declared it might be advisable for the
citizens to announce then intention not
to patroniZe the products Of advertis.
ers who use bllboards.
The matter having been presented
just before adjournment and no definitS
recommendation having been made, thu
president referred the question to TIT
associations special committee on thu
oicaY1tR0Nizl celehPafi0Y for q rorOPf a