Evening star., 1930-12-13
PLANNING DIRECTOR
FIGHTS B|LLBOARDS
Would Remove Roadside
UglinesS for Bicentenniaf
Identification.

With the Federal Government expend-
ing millions Of dollars 10 rl,sh work Snn
Its gigantic building program for tia
oeauti1cation Of the Nations Capital.
and particularly the Pennsylvania ave.
nue. area. In anticipation of the hinen.
tennial celebration In 1882, members al
the National Capital Park and Pian.
ming Commission are vigorously nlp.
porting the campaign to clean I'M TIE
entrances to Washington ON Ali sidaS.
Charles w. Eliot, I'd, director OF plHn.
ming for the National Capital Park and
Flaming Commission, which Is execut-
ing many OF the Governments plans for
improvements within the CITY. voiced
opposition to billboards in WashinRton
and surrounding Maryland and virginia
today.
Brands Boards as Nuisances.
II believe In anything that will an.
able US to restrict them without con.
llscation. We don't want to rob any.
body. but billboards are q terrible
nuisance.
"A misplaced billboard" Mr.. Eliot r..
minded, is distinct detriment to tha
attractiveness Of any city and partiou-
larly to the National Capital"
He added that such signboards and
other forms Of roadside ueliness mot
only offend against good taste, but in
many instances constitute dangerous
points on highways by distractine the
attention OF motorists from the road"
Pointing out that the courts had up.
held governmental agencies in taking
steps 10 combat bad odors and unpleas-
ant sights, Mr.. Eliot declared there was
no reason why they should fail TO per-
mlt regulation Of billboards. He said
ne thought the policy of the courts
would be based on public opinion.
The weak point in getting rid Of
Diileoards 6a,a ar s In Washington" Mr.. Eliot
1T provides no means Of removing
objectionable, non-conforming signS
which are already established in resi-
Dental districts. It was impossible 70
abolish those here in 1920, when the
coming law went into effect. We must
find some way to remove them. They
must either be permitted to fall down
from lack Of repair or be taxed out Of
existence. The taxation method G
being tested In Connections and New
Jersey"
Existing Regulations Weak.
A second weakness In existing rNRu.
lations, he pointed out. Is the inability
70 control signs advertising goods sold
on the premises.
Between the National Capital PARK
and Planning Commission and the
American Civic Association, which is
sponsoring the campaign TO tidy up
Washington's entrances, there is TIE
closest possible cooperation.
Three OF the four lay members Of the
Planning Commission are Officers Of the
American Civic Association. Frederic
A. Delano, chairman Of, the Planning
Commission, Is president Of the Civic
Association and chairman also Of the
Committee Of One Hundred on the Fed
era ersl S,S..vd City which is directly sponsorng
Of Kansas City and Frederick raw
Olmstead of Brookline, Mass. both
members Of the Planning Commission.
are, respectively, f1rst vice president and
vice president-At-large in the Civic As-
sociation.
The American Civic Association ft,r-
thermore organized the movement which
brought about the enactment Of The lAw
creating the Planning Commission IN
Letter to Forward Campaign.
With the intention Of carrying the
night to eliminate roadside ugliness from
the approaches Of the Capital City To
every neighboring community, Miss Har.
lean James, executive secretary Of the
american Civic Association, Is preparing
letter which will be sent to all citixArs'
associations and prominent civic orRani.
zations In Washington and the rleiah-
boring counties. AS an evidence Of the
personal interest which many indi-
viduals are displaying In the efforts 10
Improve the appearances Of the highway
entrances, a woman came into the ONCE
and purchased 5000 of the campaign
pledge seals. These are being used on
letters and are q public notice that the
user fayors products not advertised on
the landscape.