Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23
!. ENOS RAY HITS
BILLBOARD LOBB|ES.
Chairman of Maryland Demo-
cratic Central Committee
Fights Signs.
a STAR Correspondent of The Star.

BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 23.-"All
billboards should be subject to some
regulation, restriction and reasonable,
control such as provided in the bill in
troduced by Miss Lavinia Engle, Dele
gate Kent R. Mullikin and others. I'm
for it and hope it passes"
With this declaration, j. Enos Ray,
chairman of the Maryland Democratic
State Central Committee and former
speaker Of the House of Delegates, to-
day aligned himself with the forces
which are working to clean up Mary
lands highways.
Calls Boulevard Disgrace.
Enlarging on his views, Mr.. Ray
characterized the Baltimore Boulevard
as a disgrace" and the billboard in
dustry as a potential menace" that
has already ruined many of the
beauty spots along the roads that have
cost the taxpayers millions Of dollars.
Declaring he knew "a powerful lobby"
has been at work for years, not only at
the State Capital, but in all the county,
to defeat any legislation designed to
impose regulation on billboard COM
panies, the veteran political chieftain
expressed the opinion that the time has
come when the unrestratned desecra-
ton Of the States highways should be
stopped.
Financial Provisions.
Regarding the financial provisions of
the bill, Mr.. Ray, who is president of
the Prince Georges Bank and Trust Co.
and former chairman of the State Tax
Commission, asserted the 5000 annual
license fee and 2-cent per square foot
tax seemed to him equitable.
Citing his personal experience, Mr..
Ray said that few days ago, returning
to Hyattsville from historic Annapolis
over the costly Defense Highway, in
places he noticed one could hardly see
the road for. the signs.
"At one place particularly" he said
at appeared that the road ran right
into the sign. Not until you came upon
1t would the curve in front of the sign
become noticeable. Any one whose
would be in danger OF missing the curve
completely"
Signs a Shame.
Maryland is q beautiful State and
1t Is shame the way signs have spoiled
much Of the scenery.
when we build roads costing $50, 900
or more mile we aim not only to serve
our own residents but to please and
attract others to settle in our State.
Too often unsightly signs then spoil all
our pains.
IT suppose the billboard companies
know their business, but personally I
can see no reason for so many signs,
advertising the same product over and
over, mile after mile.
IF there were fewer signs, the I'M
kempt, illegal and dangerous ones being
eliminated, the others would be less re-
pulsive and have better chance to get
across their message"
Treasurer of Campaign Group.
During the last campaign, Mr.. Ray
was treasurer of Gov. Ritchie's advisory
committee. He is now president of the
Prince Georges County Bankers Asso-
citation, an active worker in the county
Grange and Red Gross, and prominent
member of the District Of Columbia and
Maryland bars.
His definite stand in favor Of the bill
board bill is expected to aid materially
in having the measure adopted at the
current session of the Legislature.