Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-21
S|GNBOARD BILL
IN FINAL STAGES
Report Expected to Reach
House and Senate Within
Next Few Days.

Legislation to give District author
itiss adequate control over billboardS
and other outdoor signs in the National
Capital is entering its final stages today.
a complete agreement having been
reached late yesterday by the Senate
and House conferees.
The report is expected to be pre-
sented to House and Senate within the
next few days, and its ratification by
both branches will send the measure to
the President for-signature.
Only two changes were made in con-
ference, one to strengthen its general
effectiveness, and a slight modification
in the penalties.
Commissioners Given Power.
In its final form the bill would en-
power the Commissioners, after public
hearings, to make such regulations as
they deem advisable to, in so far as
necessary to promote the public health.
safety. morals and welfare. control.
restrict and govern the erection and
maintenance of all outdoor signs on
public ways and public space under
their control and on private property
within public view.
No person, firm or corporation could
engage in erecting or maintaining out
door signs in the District without first
obtaining licenses. The original license
WOulu COSI Do, Will al lee OF 50
thereafter. For good cause shown the
Commissioners would have authority to
reject or revoke applications for IL
cenSeS.
The confereeS also modified slightly
the penalty section for violations of
the regulations by making the mini
mum IS and the maximum 5000.
Endorsed by Civic Groups.
The proposed legislation has been in
dorsed by scores of civic organizations
and is regarded as an important meas
ure in connection with the future of
the National Capital.
The bill passed the Senate in April
during the last session and went through
the House with amendments two weeks
ago. The purpose of the conference
yesterday was to work out an agree
ment on the amendments.
The conferees who put the bill in
final shape are: For the Senate. Sena-
tors Capper, Republican, of Kansas;
Jones. Republican, of Washington. and
King, Democrat, of Utah. For the
House, Representative Zihlman, Repub-
lican, Maryland; Representative Hall,
Republican, Indiana, and Representa-
tive Mary T. Norton, Democrat, Of New
Jersey.
The District Commissioners are hope
fully awaiting final action on the con-
ference report, in view of the neces-
sary steps that must be taken to carry
out it's purpose before the end of the
year. In recommending the legisla-
ton, they pointed out the need of
remedying conditions within the city
before the opening of the Washington
Bicentennial celebration.
Public Hearings Planned.
AS soon as the bill is enacted, Roland
NJ Brennan, chief clerk of the engineer
department will take up with the Com
missioners plans for public hearings.
These are provided in the bill as pro-
lection not only to the civic interests
which have unanimously supported the
legislation, but also to these businesses
which will be affected by it,
A committee then would be formed
to study existing regulations and decide
on whatever changes are necessary in
them in the light of the new legiSla ton
Linked as it is with the Federal pro-
gram for Improvements in the city, the
campaign to eliminate or reduce out
door sdvertising to a minimum in tn
District and at the highway entrances
to the city has had the support of
leading business interests as well as 81
civic organizations which have Endorsed
it. Some of the latter organizations in
clude powerful groups in nearby Mary
land and Virginia The American Civic
NAL Commission and the Committee of
the National Capital of the Garden Club
of America have been instrumental in
obtaining from at last one large out
door advertising company and scores of
hotels and business firms pledges of
cooperation in the removal of bill
boards at the approaches to the Capital.