Evening star., 1961-06-14
Anti-biIIboard
Bonus Is Seen
Winning Vote
By J. A. O'LEARY
star staff Writer

The Senate is expected to
vote today or tomorrow to con-
tinue for two more years the
Federal inducement to the
States to regulate billboards
along the interstate highway
system.
Billboard regulation has be-
come the main point of con-
troversy in the pending bill to
authorize the additional appro-
priations and taxes needed to
complete the Nationwide main
artery system by 1912.
Supporters Of billboard con-
troll failed to get their extern
sion provision into the bill in |
the Public Works COMMITTEES,
but they are confident they
have the votes to adopt it in |
the Senate.
The FEDERAL Government |
puts up 80 per cent Of the cost
of building the interstate sys-
tenn. and the law passed in
1858 offered a bonus of one
half of one per cent additional
to any State enacting a local
law for the control Of SIGNS
within $50 feet of the highway.
The bonus offer vii. expire
on July / unless the pending
bill is amended.
Two States In AccOrds
Opponents of the extension
argue that only two States
Maryland and North Dakota
have c o mplete d agreements
with the Commerce Department
for the regulation Of billboards.
Advocates Of regulation say
10 other States have passed |
legislation this year to pave
the way for compliance, and
are awaiting or seeking Com
merce Department approval.
The opposition contends the
States have had three years in
which to take advantage Of
the bonus and that the failure
of q majority Of them to act
indicates q lack of interest in
the subject.
Supporters say the action
taken since 1858 does not re-
fleet the total interest Of the
States in this new policy. They
say the standards for control
under the 1858 law were set
Up too late to permit most
States to act at the 1859 ses-
Sions of their Legislatures, and
that 10 have acted this year.
Neuberger to Offer Plan
The two-year bonus extern
sion proposal will be offered by
Senator Maureen Neuberger,
Democrat of Oregon, whose
husband, the late Senator |
Richard Neuberger, helped put
through the original provision. |
Senator Cooper, Republican Of
KENTUCKY, will ioin In urging |
the extension.
In . minority report from
the Public Works Committee
the advocates Of billboard con-
troll said:
Extension of the billboard
control provision is necessary
lest the highway system created
by expenditure Of some $40 bill
lion of public funds deteriorate |
into a billboard jungle"
The House-approved measure
authorizes an additional $11.5
billion to cover the Federal
share Of the increased cost of
completing the interstate sys-
tenn.
Provides Tax Increases
The bill also raises certain
highway taxes to comply with
the pay-as-you-go Byrd pro-
vision Of the law, sponsored
by Senator Harry F. Byrc. Of
Virginia.
Neither the House nor the
Senate Finance Committee,
however, imposed all of the tax
increases recommended by
President Kennedy on heavy
trucks and diesel fuel.
Senator Douglas, Democrat
of Illinois, will renew on the
Senate floor the unsuccessful
effort he made in committee to
include the Presidents tax
schedule.
Mr.. Kennedy asked that the
Accent tax on diesel fuel be
raised to Z cents, but the bill
leaves it at four.
The President asked that the
weight tax on heavy trucks
and buses be boosted from $3.50
to SIS per thousand pounds on
vehicles over 26, 900 pounds. The
bill compromises on So.
The Senate com mite e
changed the House bill to post
pone for another year the
transfer Of $3.50 million or rev.
enue from the manufacturers
tax on trucks and buses from
the general fund to the high
way trust fund. Senator Gore,
Democrat of Tennessee, said
he doubts the wisdom of this
move even temporarily but will
not attempt to change it in
the Senate. He said he will
"yield his doubt to the admin
istration and its budgetary