Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-11
A. A. A. REJECTS
MODEL SIGN LAW
Condemnation Features
Cause Aide to Quit Road
Scenery Conference.

Following the lead Of other public
groups, the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION has refused to subscribe TO
the legislative panacea proposed by
representatives OF organized businesses
as method OF conserving to the public
both the esthetic value and proper
commercial values along rural high
ways.
without discriminating against any
business using the highways for COM
mercial advantage, A. J. Montgomery,
representative of the American Auto
mobile Association on the Continuation
Committee of the Washington confer
ence, indicated that Endorsement of the
proposed model law by his organiza-
ton would be a surrender OF its own
legislative program, designed to meet
the same ends.
Unable 10 subscribe to the condem-
nation features Of the model law,
Mr.. Montgomery withdrew from mem
bership on the Continuation Commit
tee, the object OF that committee be-
ing TO obtain formal Endorsement Of
the legislative proposal by the directors
of the various organizations represented
at the conference.
The action CT the American Auto
mobile Association in this respect leaves
in the membership Of the Continuation
Committee only one public group-the
National Grange-all others having
withdrawn because OF recognized fu-
tility of active cooperation. While
making it plain that hs could no longer
serve on the committee. Mr. Montgom-
cry volunteered 20 cooperate in other
ways. But we do not want to commit
ourselves to this particular measure"
he added.
One Public Prop Left.
With only one public prop remaining,
the Continuation Committee. with lit
tie hope Of success. will endeavor to re-
tain the membership Of the General
Federation of Nomens Clubs, whose
representatives, as OH a previous occa-
sion, failed TO attend Yesterdays ses-
sion. All interested organizations will
be invited to attend a later confer
ence at which reports will be made on
the actions OF the affiliated business Or
carnations with respect to its model
law.
The objection Of the automobile as
ISOLATION hit at the essence Of the plan
for the creation Of State scenic highway
systems The initiation of this effort
centers in voluntary action By owners
Of three-fourths OF the abutting prop
erty in making gifts Of easements OF
view. In the case Of the remaining
one-fourth of the abutting owners, con-
domination proceedings would be Iusti-
tuted and compensation made for the
land thus confiScated.
we will have no part In any pro-
gram which deprives the public from
property by confscation, condemnation
or taxation" Mr.. Montgomery said. TIC
depend on action by Volition OF the
land owner is very slow and uncertain
/ method. Maybe 1t is something to shoot
at but it is not what the American
Automobile Association would like in a
program"
Mr.. Montgomery. in explaining why
( he did not wish TO vote for the pro-
posed model" law. outlined the program
/ Endorsed by his group in the interest
/ Of preserving rural beauty and regulat-
| ing roadside commerce.
! This plan, he said, embodied three
main proposals based on the principles
of safety, sanitation and regulation
/ The first would prohibit structures on
/ curves or at intersections which would
! endanger the safety Of the travelling
I public. The second would impose State
| supervision over the sanitation of all
! kinds of business catering to the public
-, on the roads The third, that of regula-
| ton, is designed to preserve the beauty
/ of rural landscape by a reasonable and
| fair regulation of billboards and other
Z
4 businesses.
Mr.. Montgomery declared that the
/ problem before the conference goes far
| beyond the scope of its limited model
law. My personal opinion" he said
SIS that this plan. based on voluntary
action, will not meet the situation"
The conference approved the plan on
! the ground that a method based on the
| right of eminent domain would prove
| the line of least resistance in the courts.
Representatives of the outdoor adver-
| Using industry and the National As
/ ISOLATION Of Real Estate Boards, whose
/ executive secretary Herbert U. Nelson
! drafted the proposal, turned thumbs
down on any suggestion involving the
exercise Of the State police powers.
! Is for Police Regulation.
| In their view that methods involving
police powers would get, nowhere at
| this time, Mr.. Montgomery was disin-
| clined to agree. He said he believed in
reasonable amount Of police power
| in meeting the situation.
| Mr.. Montgomery said the Automobile
| Association believed in treating COM
merce on the highways as an entity
subject to regulation in some degree.
| His association does not subscribe to
| the view that billboards should be
| singled out for regulation exclusive of
| other roadside commerce. In dealing
with the subject of regulation he
stressed that If any differentiation
! should be made between kinds of busi-
ness it should be based on public con-
| Venience and necessity.
I'VE do not desire to be put on rec
! ord by calling any single business an
outlaw business" he said
/ Several amendments were made in
! the draft OF the So-called model" law
| which George w. Kleiser, president OF
! the outdoor Association of America
suggested be put before State Legis-
| lature and enacted as an experiment at
the earliest opportunity. These changes
we're chiefly in phraseology and did not
| alter the intent of the bill.