Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-24
DRIVE IS PLANNED
ON ILLEGAL SIGNS
Police Campaign Decided on
to Enforce Regulations on
Unauthorized Notices.

A general police campaign to remove
signs placed on any public space in the
city in violation Of existing regulations
was decided upon today by the District
Sign Committee as the first step neces-
sary in regulating the outdoor advertis-
ing situation in the District Of Column
bia.
The effect of this general cleanup. It
was said, would be the removal OF many
unauthorized signs used by filling sta
tons, delicatessen and other stores
which are now placed between the build
ing line and the curb in front of these
places of business. These signs are
clearly in violation Of existing regula-
tons, the committee said, and must
either be eliminated or moved back be-
hind the building line.
Considers New Law.
The Sign Committee, which is headed
by Mai Donald A. Dawson, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, held its first
meeting today and considered in gen.
eral the sign situation and the new law
enacted by Congress authorizing the
Commissioners to promulgate and en-
force regulations controlling all forms
of outdoor advertising.
Capt. L. I. H. Edwards, personnel
officer Of the Police Department, who
is member Of the committee to draw
up these regulations, was instructed to
take up the matter of the police survey
with Maj. Henry @. Pratt, superin-
tendent Of police. Bulletins informing
the police of their duties in this matter
will be issued to each precinct.
A. complete survey of all signs in the
District, including wall signs, authoriz-
ed billboards and the familiar 4x8
signs, will be made through the CO.
operation of the police and the inspec-
tor of buildings so that an accurate
check may be made of the number of
illegal or unauthorized signs in exist
ence, as well as the exact locations and
number Of duly authorized signs.
Oehmann Plans Study.
Building Inspector Oehmann also viii
make careful study Of the regulations
tentatively drawn up last Spring and
committee on April 6, with respect to
needed revision.
Mai. Dawson made a suggestion at
the meeting which will be given careful
consideration in view of its important
bearing upon the whole question Of
dealing with the authorized billboards.
In exchange for the privilege Of re-
facilitating some of the large bill
boards now in a generally delapidated
Ills SuBBCSblOllSs b4lC
billboard companies would be asked to
make three concessions.
These concessions include agreements,
first, for strict adherence to a definite
and specified list Of authorized bill
board locations which would be agreed
upon by the bill board companies and
the District officials; second, removal
of all billboards in residential areas,
and, third, removal of all billboards
confronting public buildings and public
parks.
Maj. Dawson was Of the opinion that
the advantages to be derived from such
concessions on the part of the bill
board companies, If agreed to, would
outweigh yielding in the matter Of re-
facilitating boards which eventually
would drop to pieces. Under existing
regulations repairs are not permitted to
billboard units, the idea being to let
them rot away. Many of them, conse-
quently, are sorry looking objects.