Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-23

Any change Of policy permitting bill
boards to be repaired or renewed would
be "a distinct step backward" Fred
eric A. Delano, president of the Ameri-
can Civic Association and chairman Of
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, declared today in letter
forwarded to Dr. Luther H. Reichel-
-derfer, president Of the Board of Com
uaissioners.
The Board Of Commissioners had be-
fore 1t for consideration today the
amendments drafted to the bill regu-
lating outdoor advertising signs within
the District Of Columbia, bill which
already has passed the Senate and Is
pending now before the House District
Committee.
Asks Public Hearing.
It was in his capacity as president OF
the American Civic Association, spon-
sors Of the campaign to clean up road
side conditions on the highway en-
frances to the National Capital, that
Mr.. Delano protested both to DR..
Reichelderfer and also to Maj. John G.
Gotwals, Engineer Commissioner, who
has given his approval to the proposed
amendments. Besides the question OF
keeping existing billboards in q state OF
repair, which would extend their life
indefinitely, Mr.. Delano stressed to the
two Commissioners the desire teat
some mandatory provision be inserted
in the bill providing for public hear
iFses before the Commissioners adopt
new regulations.
Mr.. Delano requested the right to be
heard BY the Commissioners before they
approve the bill in its amended form.
Mr.. DelanoS views might be inter-
preted as representing generally the
views Of members Of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission,
which is vitality interested In the cam
uaisn to remove and regulate signs from
the highway approaches to washington
In connection with the BicentenniaI
Celebration In 1881.
Reichelderfer Letter.
The letter TO DR.. Reichelderfer was as
follows:
naissionefs today Q draft Of amendments
proposed for the pending measure
co A022-H n l1.09o) to regulate out
600r signs and billboards. have written
to MAJ. C0twals expressing the approval
of tliis association in the plan to give
the commissioners more effective power
over signs advertising goods or service
sold on the premises, but voicing our
belief that the bill should provide for
public hearings before the District Com.
HiAiesionerS adopt new regulations. 1t
IL always dif1icult 10 be informed con-
corning proposed regulations unless
there u some orderly procedure by
which organizations representing the
public may express themselves. We
As0 feel some apprehension that the pro-
posed words cor maintaining" inserted
Ia the second section, line 8, would
permit the District Commissioners to
policy OF refusing permits to repair ex-
istink bilINoards We believe that ii
would be O distinct step backward for
the Commissioners to adopt this change
OF policy and we hope very much that
they viii not recommend such wording
for the bill and that we can look for
ward to q day not too far in the future
when the Federal City will be entirely
free from billboards.
ITO that end we would like to ask
for hearing before the Commissioners
concerning these two points, unless, In
deed, they agree with US, and so render
hearing unnecessary.
Assuring you Of our cooperation In
al measures to bring about civic I'M
provenent in the Nations Capital, j
am, respectfully yours,
FREDERIC A. DELANO.
president, American Civic Associa-
tion."
To Maj. Gotwals, he said that 1--WE
would feel that the future was better
safeguArded II these hearings were pro-
vided for In the bill and q procedure
similar to that used In changing zonine
regulations were adopted"