Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
SIGN LAW PLANS
TO Be CONSIDERED
Committee Will Study Cues
tons of Responsibility
for Enforcement.

Questions Of responsibility in enforce
ment Of the new sign regulations for
the District of Columbia probably will
be considered at tomorrow's meeting of
the Commissioners Sign Committee,
one Of several such meetings before the
proposed regulations can be whipped
into shape prior to the public hearing
authorized by Congress. With the law
involving many rami1cations, public In
terest groups who view regulation pri-
marily from the esthetic viewpoint, are
anxious that responsibility in this mat
ter Of enforcement be clearly defined
by the committee at the outset
Acting under instructions from the
committee, Building Inspector John w.
Oehmann has prepared a tentative revi-
sion of existing regulations with neces-
sary changes to conform to the sort OF
regulations the Commissioners had in
mind when they requested from Con-
greSs additional powers to enable them
to improve conditions before the 1882
Bicentennial Celebration.
Hearing May Be Delayed.
This tentative draft Of regulations.
the committee pointed out, Is intended
solely as a working basis in preparing
recommendations to the Commissioners.
Mai. John c. Gotwals. Engineer Com
missioner, Is due to take leave Of alb
sence soon, so 1t is hardly likely that
early in May. There will be ample
time, therefore, for the committee to
complete its work.
An outdoor sign, under the law en-
acted by Congress means not only a
billboard but any lettering, picture or
combination thereof used for adverttS-
ing purposes. In the matter of Tegu-
lation and enforcement, it was felt that
some distinction should be drawn be-
tween signs in general and billboards.
The former are supposed TO advertise
only the business conducted or the
products sold on the premises where
they are located. Billboards. on the
other hand, can advertise commodities
or a business conducted, regardless OF
the location Of the board.
Would Provide Police Control.
Since the building inspectors office
cannot be expected to supervise the
miscellaneous small signs Of the tack
and hammer" variety 1t was felt by
some who are interested in the matter
law with respect to these small signs
should be vested in the Police Depart
ment, which is represented on the Sign
Committee. 1t would take small army
of inspectors for the building inSpec
tors Office to keep track OF signs posted
on trees, painted on rocks or placed at
business establishments in violation OF
the law.
So far as the billboards are con-
cerned, as we'll as signs erected, painted
and placed on buildings and walls, it
was felt that the building inspectors
Office would be best fitted to enforce the
regulations as it is doing now.
Would Avoid Confusion.
A part of this regulation is to con-
denim those signs which are regarded as
structurally unsafe, a matter which
clearly comes within the proper scope
of the building inspector.
With responsibility in enforcement
definitely specified by the Commission
ers before the regulations are put into
effect, it was felt that there would be
less confusion on the part Of the public
in making complaints or reporting pos
sible violations. At the public hearings.
the organized advertising industry,
business men and public representa-
tives will all be given equal oppor-
tunity, it was said, to present their
views.
1t is possible at other meetings of
the Sign Committee that consideration
will be given to needed changes in the
existing Zoning laws as enc way of
restoring more orderly appearance in
the outdoor advertising situation