Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-18
ROAD ADVERTISING
LAWS ARE SIGNED
Richie o. KS Two Bills
Passed by Legislature.
Effective June |.
By staff Correspondent of The Star.

BY stan Correspondent OF The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, April 18.-Gov
Albert C. Ritchie of Maryland yesterday
cleared the way for widespread improve
ment of the States highways by sign
ing the two billboard measures passed
by the recent Legislature. The law be-
cores effective June /, next.
One of the bills places all signs with
in 500 feet of public read under the
Jurisdiction of the State Roads Com
mission, requires the billboard COM
panies to pay an annual business license
fee and a square-foot area tax or fee
on each individual sign.
The other puts teeth in an unenforce-
able law which has been on the books
for some time. by making the adver-
tiser responsible for signs illegally
placed.
Identification Advocates Win.
The final enactment of the bills
through their approval by the Governor
constitutes the chief victory gained by
the advocates of roadside identification
In a campaign inaugurated more thar
decade ago in Maryland.
1t brings to a successful conclusion
legislative battle begun soon after
the 1881 session of the General Assem-
bly, convened and carried on with tire
less vigor through nights and days Of
arguing debating and compromising
until, on the neXt-to-last day OF the
session, both bills completed thell
courses through the two branches.
A handful of delegates who took the
responsibility Of sponsoring the bills
found it necessary to use every particle
of skill that they, as veteran politicians
had learned in years of experience, tc
get the measures passed.
Among the chief obstacles faced by
those who backed the bill was the out
right opposition in some cases, and the
utter apathy in others, of the leaders
of the two houses in regard to thelI
measure.
Lobbyist Gets Support.
Another difficulty faced by those
working for the bill was that the CHIEF
lobbyist of the billboard companies, q
Baltimore lawyer himself, had practi-
cally the united support of the 36 mem
bers of the Baltimore city delegation
while those lobbying for the measure:
had to pick up a few votes here anc
there, never more than three or 1oul
at time, among the county delegations
The billboard battle began the open-
ing week of the session. wh5n Delegate
oliver Metzerott of Prince Georges
County the Republican floor leader, In
troduced a bill to regulate and tax out
door signs. A short time later Mr.
Netzerott presented the measure IHak-
ing advertisers responsible for i.sEtilS
placed signs, which eventually passed.
Early in February a bill similar tc
that previously presented by Mr.. Met
zerott was introduced by Miss Lavlnla
Engle, delegate from Montgomery
County. together with Delegate Law
renee P. williams of st. Marys County
and Delegates Kent r. Mullikin anc
Oliver Metzerott of Prince George:
County. BY Joining in the introduction
of this measure, Mr.. MetZerott per-
mitted his first bill to be superseded
and at the same time eliminated the
probability Of the bill becoming a mat
ter of partisan debate.
The bill introduced by the four mem
bers had been carefully examined BY
several authorities to insure its con-
stitutionality It had the backing o.
the League of Women Voters, the South
ern Maryland Society, the Garden Club;
of Maryland the Civic League anc
numerous other organizations.
License Fee and Tax.
It called for a 5000 per year license
fee for billboard companies operating
in the State and Scent per square
foot annual tax on each billboard.
The lobby of the billboard companies
which had been at work since the early
DAYS of the session, Immediately begar
an attack upon the bill, criticiZinl
especially the 3-cent annual tax feature
On March proponents OF the bill
were granted hearing before the way!
and Means Committee. Lieut. Col. U
S. Grant, Sd, director of the Office O
Public Buildings and Public Parks o.
the National Capital and Frederick A
Delano chairman of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission, were
among the speakers who urged favor
able report on the bill.
Then next day opponents OF the bill
were given a hearing and criticized thu
Federal officers for interfering witt
Marylands affairs. The opponents
hearing got off to an inauspicious STAR
when the very first speaker charged the
bill was conceived in hypocracy' anc
drafted in New York. and had to swal'
low his words when Delegate Metzerott
a member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, recalled that he had introduced
similar bill 10 years ago. and made
the speaker virtually apologize for at
lacking the sincerity of the four mem
bers Of the House of Delegates who
introduced the BILL
Marks Of Professionalism.
The opponents hearing bore TIT
marks of professionalism and was thu
most dramatic demonstration seen dur.
ing the session of the Legislature o
the well organized and financed lobb!
flat vas at work against the bill. Thu
chief item which was criticized was the
proposed Scent per square foot annua
| tax. which, the speakers commended
would bankrupt the billboard industry
A few days later a poll of the mem