Evening star., 1932-02-28
D. C. Officials Checkmated by
Monopoly of Larger Sources
of 0ffense.
SECOND LIST HAS 81
NOT SATISFACTORY
Different interpretations of Gen
tlemen's Agreement" Trouble
With Enforcement.

of scores of allegedly illegal billboards
before the George Washington Bicen-
tennial Celebration opened last Mon
day, District officials in charge of the
new sign regulations said yesterday
they were still trying to use persuasive
measures to bring the local outdoor
advertising industry to terms.
Checkmated at every turn by the
General Outdoor Advertising Co., which
has gained a virtual monopoly of all
the large bilboards in Washington, the
local authorities have been able thus
lar TO exercise a measure Of control
only over the individual gas stations,
stores and other business firms In either
restricting or reducing advertising dis
plays. They expressed the opinion
however. that some way may be found
to compel the General outdoor Ad-
to abandon all the boards and wall
signs which are not duly authorized
under the new regulations.
Further disclosures by T. H. Roch
assistant building inspector. show that
the second list Of abandoned loca-
tions" submitted by the company Is
far from satisfactory.
List Several Weeks Ago.
The first list of SO abandoned loca-
tons was submitted several weeks ago.
Mr.. Roch reported that only 16 units
had been removed. These removals
were necessitated by Government and
private building projects.
A second list of 81 abandoned" bill
boards was in better shape but still un-
satisfactory to District officials Seventy
one small boards of the by feet size
lNad hnny lynr 1Irf f7y.a Iar hill
boards and four large wall signs re-
manned. officials at the District Build
ing explained that the company had
removed the small boards because ''it
was no longer interested in that type.
Capt. Hugh P. Orem, director of in
spection, who now has charge of the
sign regulations, said yesterday he had
asked Mr. Roch to make another check
Of all the boards on the unauthorized
list to see If the company had taken
any of its large units down in recent
weeks. This final check, he said, would
be used as a basis for further negotia-
tions with the billboard industry.
The trouble of enforcement, Capt.
Orem said, has arisen over two differ
ent interpretations of the so-called
"gentlemanS agreement" entered into
with the company. Under this agree
ment the company was given two
months or until February to abandon
all locations not included in an "au-
thorized list" printed as part OF the
regulations.
Capt Dram declared the Sign Com
mittee interpreted the abandonment OF
a location as meaning the physical re-
moval of the billboard or the painting
out of the wall sign. The General Out
door Advertising Co., he said, holds that
it is not responsible for the removal oi
the units. When the billboard Is on
private property, the company is said
to claim it is the duty of the property
owner to remove it. The company seems
to feel that it has lived up to its part
of the agreement, officials said. when II
cancels an advertising contract.
Accurate Check Difficult.
Capt. Dram admitted it is almost i'm
possible under the existing conditions To
keep an accurate check to see If new
posters are plaStered on abandoned
boards so long as they remain standing
In the same manner officials have Deen
unable to stop violations Of the law by
many store keepers and business f1rms
who are displaying signs that DO not
advertise bona flde business conducted
on the premises. Many proprietors; II
was felt, are unaware OF this regula-
ton.
Thorlgh police cooperation, most OF
the vacant premises have been renoereo
signless, and on the whole, District or1l-
cials are well satisfied with the CO:
operation of the public. In several
cases painters and proprietors nave peer
prosecuted successfully in Police Court
While District authorities are unable
to cope entirely with the situation, II
was learned they have been SuccesSlul
to date in refusing permits Tor many
new signs and in seeing that sucn Signs
for which permits are rightly granted
are made to conform strictly TO tne
regulations. In this connection, tne
Commissioners will meet this week WIFI
members of the Commission OF Fine
Arts, which acts as an advisory body, on
a question of policy involving projecting
signs covered in the regulations.
On Sign Inspection.
Mr.. Roch is thus far the only as
sistant in the building inspectors OIL
flee who is charged with the duty OF
sign inspection. Except for some police
cooperation, the job of keeping track OF
the hundreds of billboards and hun
dreds of stores and business houses II
the downtown section has fallen en-
tirely upon him.
Several months ago an order was
issued by the District Commissioners
providing for the designation Of a CHIEF
sign inspector and providing also that
each assistant building inspector be d.
rected to include the inspection Of signs
as a part of his work. This order has
not been put into effect.
Mr.. Roch has been negotiating tor
months with the various oil companies
here with a result that conditions at
gas stations generally in the District
are better than before. The Stand
ard Oil Co., he said, has reduced
its advertising space at local gas
stations by over 100000 square feet
The Shell, Texas, Amoco and Lord Bal
timore stations, he said, also have CO.
operated in very satisfactory manner
Many of the stations have virtually
eliminated all advertising displays OF