Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-06

cluded, that the character and loca-
ton of their billboards can be made
unobjectionable. / think you should
give them an opportunity to prove it.
Recalling that Congress had just
enacted law giving the District OF
Columbia signboard regulation Col.
Grant said the people of Washington
are anxious that all of the entrances
to the city, most of which pass through
important Maryland Subdivisions. should
be made front doors and not back doors.
Control Necessary.
From the standpoint of an engineer
and municipal official of Washington,
he added, he believed it would be quite
wrong to attempt to prohibit billboards
entirely, but some control FOR the
public safety and benefit" seemed de-
sirable. He also claimed such control
would be beneficial to the signboard
companies themselves, as the present
multiplicity of signs tends to detract
from the advertising value of each sign.
A careful reading and study of the
bill was urged upon the legislators by
Mr.. Stanely to prevent an erroneous
impression being obtained about its
severity.
Nearly every business enterprise in
Maryland Is now required to obtain a
license, Mr.. Stanely pointed out
Inasmuch as the signboard "use" the
roads as literally as motorists, it is only
fair they should pay reasonable tax,
he said
Trend Of other States toward sign
board regulation was also cited by Mr.
Stanely, who declared Gov. Buck of
Delaware recommended a similar bill
for passage by the Legislature of that
State IN his annual message.
5000 License Fee.
The 5000 license fee for advertising
companies, the Scent per square foot
annual tax on the individual sign, the
supervision and licensing of the signs
by the State Roads Commission. and
other features of the bill were explained
by Mr., Stanely.
Summarizing the arguments. Miss
Engle mentioned opposition that is be-
ing brought to bear on the measure
by the signboard companies as only
natural as any business that Is not
controlled would be slow on the job
II it did not fight proposed regulation.
I'VE take the position. however" she
said, that It is State problem and
should come under State control to
guarantee some freedom from the haz.
ards Of signs and the business Of having
one solid read Of signs built up, one
after another. where they entirely de-
stroy the beauty of the surrounding
country" In conclusion she submitted
a digest Of the laws Of other States on
signboards.
Endorsements Read.
Mrs. Holt read the Endorsements of
the following organizations as a few of
the groups on record in favor of the
bill: Maryland League Of Women Voters,
Baltimore College Club, Rotary Club OF
Easton. Easton Grange, Women's Club
OF Bethesda, Home Interest Club of
Sandy Spring, Wcmen's Club of Ken
sington, Home Interest Club OF Forest
Glen, National Council of Jewish Wom-
en-, Maryland Federation of Women s
Clubs, the Civic League, the Garden
Clubs Of Maryland, the Southern Mary
land Society, the Maryland Press Asso-
citation and the State Graduate Nurse
Society.
Before the hearing, organized oppo-
sition to the bill began to assert itself.
Before most of the Delegates had ar
rived at the state house, stacks OF mes
sages opposing the regulation as IAN
unfair handicap" were waiting on the
desks Of the 10 members Of the COM
lnittee. As the day progressed the num-
HNN Va oAAho dOh14Co anu
Single Form Used.
Almost all Of them followed a single
form. A typical message was that sent
TO the members by George N. Bowen,
member Of the Board of Commits
sioners Of Prince Georges County, which
said:
Serious objection Is hereby made to
House bill 1Sl. now before your COM
mittee for consideration. Maryland IN
dlIstries should not at this time be sad
died with additional burdens OF tax
alton. Outdoor advertising is a legiti-
mate business used by merchants every
where to stimulate the sale OF goods
sincerely hope that your committee
will give unfavorsble report to this
class OF legislation"
Other of the messages said that the
pending bill would work an indeserved
hardship on the hundreds Of people in
yolved."
The Salisbury, Baltimore and Cum
berland Chambers of Commerce we're
represented in the kilograms Of oppo-
eition.