Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-02
D. c. HEADS EXPECT
ACTION ON SIGN BILL
Would Be Given Regulatory
Power Over BilIboards by
Pending Measure.

Yope was expressed by Distric
officials today that favorable actor
might be obtained in the House at ar
early date on the pending bill EN-.
powering the District Commissioners tC
adopt rigid regulations for the contro
of outdoor sign evils in washington.
1t was pointed out that about three
weeks would be required to conduct
public hearing and frame the necessary
regulations after the passage OF the bill
So as to have the situation well in hand
before the 1892 Bicentennial, official:
are anxious to start OH the work during
March
While other District legislation is
pending, it was believed the over
whelming sentiment in favor of the
proposed sign regulations would eXpe-
dite their passage in the House should
Republican leaders permit them to be
taken up next week or soon thereafter
Those in support of the legislation feel
that Washington should lose no time
In putting its own house in order, it
was said, while bringing pressure on the
Maryland legislature to clean up road
side conditions outside the District.
Nation Condemns ID. c. Signs.
washingtons conglomeration of bill
boards and "Snipe" signs, extending
within the view of the Capitol, has re-
ceived Nation wide condemnation along
with roadside conditions in nearby
Maryland and Virginia. Hundreds of
copies of the survey made by Mrs. w.
L. Lawton, chairman of the National
Council for Protection of Roadside
Beauty, have been sent to civic organi-
cations and newspapers in many sec
tons Of the country. To many COM
munities the conditions portrayed with
in the metropolitan area Of Washington
have been revelation.
The San Antonio Express, which has
been waging a campaign that amounts
to an Onslaught" against billboards in
that Texas city, was particularly severe
in its indictment of the organized bill
board industry and the part it is doing
to deface the highways leading into the
National Capital.
Referring to the action of many
Washington advertisers in canceling
contracts for billboards in preparation
for the 1882 Bicentennial, the Express
indicated that there was no reason why
the elimination of billboards should not
be made permanent in the Washington
area.
Visitors Miss Beauty.
'Iet the organized outdoor advertis-
ing interests and the business enter
prises and property owners that have
been making it possible for them to
disflgure the Capitals immediate en-
vironment and the Virginia and Mary
land highway approaches thereto an
swer that question in all sincerity" the
Express said editorially.
"Why will those selfish public dis
agreements be any uglier, any more
disreputable and shameful during the
George Washington Bicentennial cele-
bration next year than they are in
1881 or than they have been throughout
all the years of their eruption? All the
time every nation maintains diplomatic
representatives in Washington. All the
time distinguished officials and other
visitors and tourists from many foreign
lands travel those poSter-smeared roads
into the American Capital
The Kansas City Star, one Of the
leading newspapers in the Middle West
refers also to the millions of dollars
spent TO make Washington a beautiful
Capital.
IF washington and the beautiful ap-
proaches thereto cannot be cleared OF
these unsighty contraptions, then there
is not much hope for the rest Of the
country" the paper said editorially
THE people spend their money on fine
highways Then the parasitic billboard
advertisers cash in by erecting signs
for their own profit that depreciate the
value Of the puDlic's investment"