Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17

make no changes respecting real estate
signs on property for rent or sale, they
would restrict the size OF such signs.
Where located within a residential zone
within the city limits, the area Of the
sign would be AZ square feet. In outly-
ing and unsubdivided sections of the
District, signs not exceeding 100 square
feet would be allowed.
Truck PIacards Ban Asked.
The regulations are aimed also at the
nuisance Of the moving billboard"
AS an example, the committee points
out, it would be illegal for moving
van to display on its sides an adver-
tisement Of cigarettes. To safeguard
legitimate eigns on trucks, the proposed
regulations would read THE pro-
visions of this act shall not be held to
apply to signs displayed on vehicles adj
vertising the bona fide business Of the
owner" But otherwise. no sign could
be carried or transported on any public
space.
Under the proposed provisions pro-
hibiting lacking or placarding Of small
signs on stores and other places Of bust
ness, the committee aimed at one of the
chief abuses which the District Com
missioners sought power from Congress
to eradicate. It has been estimated that
strict enforcement of such regulation
would result in the removal of approx
mately 10000 Of such signs, condition
with which the commissioners hereto
fore have been unable to cope success
fully. A majority of these signs adj
vertise products which are no longer
sold on the premises, an investigation
has shown.
The scope of this prohibitive section
would not be confined to business. Sec
tons, but would apply equally to all
Such signs visible from the public
highways" on the walls of buildings,
fences. barns and trees, except as other
wise exempted. In this way, the COM
mlttee hopes to clean up the outlying
sections OF the city.
Exception Made for Stores.
Signs other than door plates would
De banned in all zoned residential dis
trlcts but an exception would be made
IN the case OF trades places established
before the coming law went into effect.
Replacement signs would be authorized
Ior such places, provided, however, the
sign snail not exceed 40 square feet in
area.
Temporary signs used during con-
structlon or alteration of buildings. CIV
ing the name and address of the general
contractor or architect, would be per-
mltteo, provided they be removed upon
completion of building operations and
CONFORM to requirements.
Would Limit Roof Signs.
ALI applications for permits to erect
roof or wall signs on buildings falling
within the provisions of the so-called
Snipstead act would be submitted to
the commissioners for their action.
This proposal was recommended in
order to comply with the law which
authorizes the Commission of Fine Arts
10 pass on all structural additions fac
ing public buildings and parks. Fur
tnermore, the proposed regulations de-
clare that no roof sign may be erected
on any building which exceeds the limit
OF height as established by the coming
law. Signs authorized for roofs would
De limited to an area of 100 square feet,
except where the area of the sign will
not exceed one-fortieth Of the area of
the frontage wall.
The proposed regulations stipulate AZ
inches as the limit beyond the build
ing line for projecting signs.
In addition to Mai. Dawson. the
other members Of the Sign Committee
are Col. John w. Oehmann, building
inspector; Roland NJ. Brennan. chief
clerk OF the Engineer Department; E.
w. Thomas, assistant corporation coun-
sci, and Capt. L. I. H. Edwards Of the
Police Department.