Evening star., 1931-12-06
SIGN REGULATIONS
PROVE SUCCESSFUL
Public Helps Enforcement;
Five Auditorium Posters
Removed on Request.

The effectiveness of the new sign
regulations was demonstrated to the
satisfaction Of District officials yester-
Gay when five large signs advertising
a marathon dance were removed from
the exterior Of the Washington Audi
torium without the necessity Of court
action. These signs had been erected
it was said, without duly authorized
permits
1t was the first instance of a viola
ton Of the regulations to come directly
to the attention of local authorities
since the law became enforceable last
Monday. With police cooperation, they
have been keeping a sharp watch for
the appearance of any new sign. In
this case. it was said, the management
of the Washington Auditorium had un-
knowingly violated the regulations.
When notified by Capt Edward J. Kelly
Of the third precinct that permits were
required for the signs, the manager Of
the amusement corporation, Lewis J.
Fosse, ordered them taken down imme-
diately.
Public Helps Enforce Law.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Ed
ward w. Thomas, a member of the
Sign Committee. said that permits are
required 1DI every new sigh ldtRtI lIldIl
square foot. Mr. Fosse explained that
he was unaware Of this provision, since
he has been erecting signs from time
to time in the past without taking out
permits.
Even under the old regulations per-
mits were required for new signs, but
practically no attempt had been made
in recent years to enforce the provision,
except in the case of billbOards. Now
that new law regulating outdoor ad-
Vertising has become effective, the pro-
visions relating to permits will be
strictly enforced, it was said
District officials were pleased at the
alacrity with which the Washington
Auditorium management complied with
the regulations. declaring it was an in
dication that the public generally was
anxious to cooperate On the other
hand, the number Of complaints which
had been received at the District Build
ing about the appearance Of the new
signs, they said, was indicative of pub
lie interest in strict enforcement Of the
new law.
Final Sign List Made Public.
BY the time the Washington Bi-
| centennial opens, II is believed, the city
will be pretty We'll cleaned up of every
! unauthorized outdoor sign.
The final list Of authorized billbOards
! and wall signs. made public yesterday,
! shows there are 658 boards Of the 4y8
! type and 484 larger boards and wall
| signs. District officials pointed out
however, that this list includes a great
many blllboaTds IN residential zones
| and fronting on public buildings and
! parks which the advertising companies
! have agreed to tsk7 down This will
mean eventually that all the billboards
! left standing will be- located in bust
| ness and industrial zones
The General outdoor Advertising Co
| is the largest operator Of big billboards
! in the District. Il is accredited with
| 347 on the list The Morton Co has
! 1877 large boards While the Criterion
! Co. deals only in small boards inside
| the District.
Would End Sign Grouping.
District officials are hopeful that
! some way can be worked out by which
/ the billboardS might be more scattered
| than they are now in some sections in
! the outskirts Of the city They have in
mind small groups Of boards and cite
as an example, certain fences on corner
lots where five or SIX bilboards are
| clustered together. This condition ap-
/ plies particularly to the Baltimore
Boulevard and the section Immediately
! surrounding the Bladensburg Peace
I Cross, over which. however. District
authorities have no Jurisdiction
Ihe Morton Co, it was said has long
recognized the undasirability of clutter
ing bulbcardS in this manner and has
( succeeded remarkably well in diStrib-
| utlng its boards in areas which are
! least objectionable Only a few of its
boards are grouped together. The
! company, Of its own accord, has prom
lsed 100 per cent cooperation with
District authorities in cleaning out its
boards in residential and Shipsteac
zones without waiting for the expira-
ton Of the three-year period.
Few Permits to BE Issued.
Applications for permits 10 erect
signs arc being Tcferr-S to the Com
mission Of Fine Arts. istT.ct officials