Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-11
.S|GNBOARD BILL
AGREEMENT LIKELY
Senate and House Confer
ence Shaping to Avoid
Failure This Session.

Steps were being taken today to work
out in a conference between the Senate
and House a final agreement on the
bill empowering the District Commits
sioners to regulate outdoor signs in
Washington.
The Senate conferees were appointed
last night. and a message viii be sent
to the House during the day asking
that its conferees be named at 'once
so that no delay might be encountered
in securing enactment Of the long
sought legislation before Congress adj
journs. Senator Arthur Capper OF
Kansas, chairman of the District Com
mittee; Senator Wesley L. Jones OF
washington. and Senator William H.
King Of Utah are the Senate conferees.
So as to clear ANY doubts as to the
validity of the bill in the form as
passed by the House, Corporation
Counsel w. w. Bride, after conferences
with supporters Of the measure, yes
terday submitted some amendments
to the Senate District Committee which
necessitate sending of the bill TO con-
ference. Not only will these amend
ments put more teeth" in the regula-
tory features Of the bill, it was said, but
will base it on grounds that have been
sustained in the courts.
The proposed amendments are said
to have the approval of the Senate con-
ferees and civic forces which have
sponsored the campaign to remedy the
outdoor advertising situation in WASH
ington and the metropolitan areas in
Maryland and Virginia.
Modification on Distance.
Question having been raised as to
the validity of an amendment which
would give the Commissioners regulatory
power also over signs on private prop
erty within public view," Mr.. Bride
suggester the substitution Of 800 feet
of such public ways or public space"
In this way the section would place
under control of the Commissioners
"a1l outdoor signs and other forms OF
exterior advertising on public ways and
public space under their control and
on private property within 500 feet
of such public ways and public space
within the District of Columbia, and
such regulations as may be promulgated
hereunder shall have the force and
effect of law"
1t was believed the original language
was unnecessary and so worded that II
might not hold in the courts, in so far
as control over signs on private prop
erty was concerned The immediate
objective sought was the elimination OF
signs Of the 'tack and hammer" variety
now plastered unfortunately ovel
many stores and buildings and garages
BY substituting the words 800 feet,
Mr.. Bride pointed out that the same
object could be achieved even more
effectively as 1t would prevent the show
ing of signs, such as the Commission
ers would allow, on buildings fronting
on public ways or public space, and
avoid also Interpretation Of what con-
Stitutes public view"
Further Safeguard Offered.
A new section also was suggested BY
Bride as further safeguard. Thu
reads: IF any provision of this act !:
declared unconstitutional, or the APP
plicability thereof to any person or cir
cumstance Is held invalid, the validity
of the remainder of the act and the
applicability of such provision to othel
persons and circumstances shall not b.
affected thereby"
Only one other amendment was sug-
gested. This would strengthen the
legality of the measure, it was ex-
planned, by declaring it is for the pur-
pose of promoting health, safety and
morals for the general welfare Of the
community" BY basing 1t strictly
within recognized police powers Of the
Commissioners, it was believed this
phraseology would sidestep the gen.
eral grounds of esthetics, on which the
local courts have not passed.
With the incorporation Of these
amendments supporters of the bill be-
lieved the Commissioners would have
more definitely defined powers to effect
the eventual remedy Of the sign evil
in washington before the opening OF
the 1892 Bicentennial, as they desire to
do. Steps for promulgating the regu.
E1ations at public hearings, as provided
In the bill, await only the final enact
ment Of the legislation.