Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-15
BILLBOARD DEAL
BLIGHT TO CAPITAL,
PROTEST CHARGES
American Civic Association
'Astonished' at Sign Com
mittee Stand.
CALLED BACKWARD STEP
IN REMEDYING SITUATION
Compromise Taking Benefit Of
Doubt on Locations From Pub.
lie Vigorously Opposed.

Aroused over the alleged favoring OF
local billboard interests in a compro-
mise which the District Sign Commit
tee was endeavoring to negotiate in
secrecy until exposed yesterday, the
American Civic Association protested
today that such an agreement, If even
tually approved by the Commissioners,
would impose a veritable billboard
blight on the Federal City at time
when every effort is being made to i'm
prove the appearance OF washington
for the Bicentennial celebration"
The American Civic Association,
which stanchly supported District Off
Gals in obtaining legislation from Con-
gress to curb the billboard industry in
the District, became acquainted with
the present situation when its eXecu-
tive secretary, Miss Harlem James, re-
turned from the annual meeting OF the
association in Detroit last week. The
association was "astonished and dis
appointed" she said, to learn that the
Sign Committee was willing to give the
billboard concerns the benefit OF the
doubt respecting doubtful" sign loca-
lions. in return for certain favors, when
I'VE had understood the public was to
be given the benefit of the doubt" To
compromise with the industry in this
way. she believed, was a backward
step" in the efforts to remedy condi-
lions in the CITY,
Rehabilitation Plan Hit.
The proposal to allow the billboard
companies to rehabilitate their boards
also was vigorously opposed as con-
trary to previous policy. This would
result in perpetual locations for large
~ how ~ hnn faC Iar do
clared. including those boards whose
titles are clouded.
For more than 25 years the Ameri-
can Civic Association has opposed bill
board excuses" the statement Of the
association said. las the blight of bill
boards has become aggravated, the as
ISOLATION has followed the undoubted
trend of public opinion and has advo-
Gated the removal of bIllboardS from
the rural landscape and from all resi-
dence neighborhoods. The association
has approved the action of the super
visors of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties in banning billboards
from residential and commercial areas
under the coming law. as recommended
by the National Capital Park and plan
Ling Commission.
From the time, over 10 years ago,
when the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict of Columbia began to clean up
Washington by refusing new permits
for billboards and by refusing permits
sion to repair existing boards the
American Civic Association has given
its hearty approval of the action Of the
successive Commissioners and has broad
cast the encouraging news throughout
the country.
AT the travelling annual meeting of
the aScnNio finr hold nPtnl1or : in he
Detroit region, Mrs. w. L. LaWton, who,
with her husband, made the survey of
highway approaches to Washington and
who has been making more recent road
side surveys In California, Illinois and
parts Of Michigan, reported progress on
the fight against billboards In many
States.
Encouraged by Decrease.
There was also a session devoted to
billboard legislation. under the able
leadership of Albert S. Bard, New York
attorney. Here the working Of the New
Jersey law was outlined. The encour-
aging decrease in the number of bill
boards since last January has justified
the passage of legislation, and the i'm
provement in the appearance of the
roadsides enabled the public-spirited
citizens to resist successfully the at
tempt Of the billboard interests to re-
duce the 3-cents-a-S quare-foot annual
tax on billboards.
The American Civic Association,
with other public interest groups. tries
always to keep in mind the general
welfare. and in taking its stand it is
actuated solely by desire to improve
the amenities of American life and to
raise the spiritual and esthetic stand
ofd nf No wr1,@ fiaiV@ fnd
in the Detroit sessions and who has
been following the trend of recent pub
locations on the subject of billboard
control can doubt that the American
public is thoroughly aroused.
When, therefore, we returned to
Washington to find the official list OF
billboard locations to be submitted to
the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia under an act of Congress
passed at the last session apparently
includes many locations which are
doubtful-that is. no sufficient evidence
exists to prove that the billboards oc-
cupy location originally authorized
by the CommissionerS-We were as
tonished and disappointed. We had
understood that in these doubtful cases
the public was to be given the benefit
of the doubt.
1T appears, however, that there is a
plan afoot by which, If the billboard
companies remove the absolutely un-
authorized billboards and also within
the next three years remove the COM
paratively small number of billboards
now existing in residential neighbour
moods and the insignificant number in
Shipstead act locations. they, and not
the public, ere to be given the benefit
of the doubt
When it is considered that one COM
pany alone out of more than 400 large
boards has some 275 doubtful locations,
with only some 70 authorized boards
and some go absolutely unauthorized.
the agreement does not seem to be in
the interests Of the public.
Civic Action Recalled.
When it appears that the proposed
arrangement by which the long-settled
policy of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia that no new locations
and no repairs will be considered may
be changed so that all boards may be
repaired or rebuilt If at the present
time they are not more than SO per cent
deprecated, it will be seen that the
proposals to come before the District
Commissioners are distinctly in favor OF
the billboard interests and not in &C
cord with public interest or public
opinion, If we may Judge by the action
Of the large number of citizens organl-
cations and civic bodies last Winter and
Spring. Who can tell when board
is more than so per cent deprecated?
Certainly the District Commissioners
will be taking several backward steps II
the large number of doubtful blllboaroS
are to be given the benefit of the douh
a1Nin l.