Evening star., 1932-02-05
Meets to Consider Measures
in Connection With New
"ReguIations."
ADVERTISING COMPANY
GAINS D. C. MONOPOLY
Some Unauthorized Displays Still
Standing, Despite Agree
ment.'

With the Washington Bicentennial
celebration opening this month, the
District Sign Committee met today,
probably for the last time, to consider
Strlcter enforcement measures in con-
nection with the regulations promul-
gated several months ago to give the
Commissioners better control over out
door advertising displays
The billboard situation, which the
committee evidently believed would be
solved under so-called "gentlemens
agreement with the organized indus
try operating local billboardS, again has
arisen as one of the chief obstacles in
the way of cleaning up the city in time
Tor the Bicentennial. This situation
has become aggravated, it was learned
by recent business deal out of which
the General Outdoor Advertising Co
has gained a virtual monopoly of the
existing billboards in Washington.
Morton Withdraws.
The Morton Co has withdrawn from
the Washington field, turning over all
its billboard sites to the General Out
door Co, in exchange for the latter's
Baltimore business. The withdrawal of
the Morton Co from Washington came
as distinct disappointment in official
circles, as that company was said to
have co-operated 100 per cent" in
carrying out the spirit Of the new sign
regulations having the best interests
of the city in mind
Aside from the General Co. the
only other operator of billboardS in
Washington is the Criterion Co. but
Its units are confined to small boards
The gentlemen S agreement" whereby
billboard Oip ta
abandon all unauthorized sites. is one
of the matters to come before the
Sign Committee today. Although the
companies were given two months to
remove unauthorized bilboardS and
signs. some of the boards are still
standing
1t is understood the Morton Co had
complied with practically all of the
conditions under this agreement with
the District officials before its retire
ment from the local field.
Situation Displeases.
The situation with regard to the
General outdoor Co.'S boards. accord
ing to those familiar with conditions,
is far from satisfactory. What few
boards have been taken down. it was
learned were removed by the necessity
of new building operations In a few
cases the repainting of buildings have
obliterated some of the wall signs that
the company was pledged to remove.
Civic leaders who were interested in
obtaining a model sign law for the
District of Columbia were of the opin-
ion that the District Commissioners,
having waited longer than the two
months period Of grace, should take
prompt and effective measures to see
that the billboard section is strictly en-
forced.
In many ways the new regulations
have been effective in restraining out
Goor advertising that cutters the streets
and store fronts in various sections of
the city. BY refusing new permits for
additional display signs in numerous
cases, the Commissioners have accom-
pliShed much in maintaining degree
of order. In few days the regulation
sign markers will arrive and then each
authorized sign will be required to show
its license number. This will be a help
to the police in reporting on conditions.
Another problem with which the Sign
Committee is faced involves the section
governing the character of advertising.
This section declares that no sign shall
be displayed unless it advertiSeS
bona fide business conducted on the
premises" The provision is admitted to
be difficult to enforce.