Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
BILL
SUPPORT GROWING
Sponsors at Annapolis Plan
to Get Measure Reported
Today.
81 4 stafs correspondent Of Ths star

BY q stan Correspondent Of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March "a
Spurred by the prospect of having
their bill caught in the legislative jam
that always marks the final day of the
session, now only two weeks of, spon-
sors of the measure to regulate and
restrict billboardS again planned to get
the measure out of the House Ways
and Means Committee today.
The bill was scheduled to come be-
fore the committee yesterday but was
Shunted into the background when
consideration of the Governors budget
required more time than was antici-
pated.
Sentiment for Bill.
Sentiment in favor Of the measure
Is reported to have appreciably In
creased during the past week as word
Of the modifying amendments spread
among the members OF the Legislature.
These amendments are. scheduled to
be explained before the Ways and
Means Committee today by Delegates
Lavinia Engle, Kent r. Mullikin, Law
renee P. williams and Oliver Metzerott,
who introduced the measure jointly.
Although they reduce the annual tax
on the individual signs from to one
half cent per square foot per year. and
make several other changes suggested
by the members of the Assembly, all
of whom have been invited to criticize
the bill, the amendments do not, in
the opinion of those backing the
measure, sacrifice any Of the princi-
pies of the bill.
These principles include supervision
of all signs by the State Roads Com
mission, payment of an annual. license
fee by the companies operating in
Maryland, and taxation Of the various
signs on an area basis.
Exemptions Are Provided.
Exemption Of signs advertising his
county fairs and businesses operated on
the premises is provided In some Of the
amendments.
In anticipation of consideration of
the bill by the Ways and Means Com
mittee, representatives of the billboard
companies appeared in force in the
corridors of the State House again
last night
They are now reported in accord
with most Of the provisions Of the
measure, their chief line of attack, that
against the Scent per square foot an
nual tax, having been removed when
that feature was changed to one-haf
cent.
Having exhausted their arguments
against the bill, which in amended
form, without doubt. will prove benefl-
cial to the industry as well as the
travelling public, representatives Of the
billboard concerns last night turned to
criticizing the alleged hypocrisy" Of
newspapers and individuals sponsoring
the measure.
Sponsors of the bill were plainly APP
prehensive last night over the short
time remaining in which to get the
measure adopted and issued call to all
their supporters to assist in every way
to get the bill through the House as
promptly as possible. Should the bill
be reported by the Ways and Means
Committee today, and favorably re-
ceived in the House, it can be read the
third time tomorrow. It would then
go to the Senate Thursday.
A duplicate bill was introduced in
the Senate several weeks ago and re-
ferred TO the Finance Committee. The
members Of that committee are IA
miliar with its provisions and will be
asked to report it promptly.
The Finance Committee is headed by
Senator Lansdale G.. Sasscer Of Prince
Georges County. Inasmuch as the
Prince Georges delegation in the House
has been consistently supporting the
bill, two Of its members, Mullikin and
Metzerott, having helped introduce It.
Mr.. Sasscer is expected to assist in
every way in securing prompt action in
the upper branch.