Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
District Commissioners Decide Upon
Form Of Regulations.
AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS
Indecent Behavior and lewd Songs
and Gestures Forbidden.
E X P r ESS COM ITIONS

The District Commissioners have finally
decided upon the form of the regulations to
be promulgated relative TO regulating
licenses to proprietors of theaters under
the Joint resolution OF Congress. approved
March I. 1901. for the public decency IN
theaters and other places of amusement"
The matter has been under consideration
by the District authorities ever since the
passage of the resolution by Congress. and
number Of proposed regulations have
been drafted. Two forms were submitts d
by Mr.. A. b. Duvau, the attorney for the
District
Mr.. Ross. the Commissioner under whose
supervision the matter was directly placed
In the interest OF brevity. consolidate ed tho
two proposed forms of regulations In his
consolidation he made a wider definition Of
the kinds OF places wherein indecency Is to
De prohibited In accordance with the sug-
gestion Of Major Sylvester the supertn-
tendent Of police. The prohibition is con-
fined to the subject of decency or indie
cency. In accordance with the language Of
form the draft Of regulations was referred
to the attorney for his approval az to its
legal form. He has returned II with one
slight correction in the wording. The reg
ulatfons have been formally approved by
the Commissioners and will be officially
promulgated through advertisement In the
next few days. rhe matter is covered in
the following language:
Terms Of the Regulations
Ordered. That the following regulations
to prevent indecent exhibitions or perform
ances in theaters or other places of amuse-
ment in the District OF Columbia are here
by prescribed. under authority OF the Joint
resolution Of Congress approved March 1,
1901, entitled Joint resolution regulating
licenses to proprietors OF theaters In the
District Of Columbia.
Section I. No person shall take mart I'm
any entertainment. play, opera. lecture
museum. circus. menagerie exhibition
OF animals. panorama exhibit Of a paint
ing. sculpture wax works, or other repre-
sensations. tricks Of legerdemain, gymnas-
tics, game. ball. musical party, concert or
any other exhibition, entertainment show
or amusement Of whatever name or ma
ture. In any building. tent or place In the
District of Columbia, whether as an actor,
performer. director. manager. exhibitor
lecturer or employee, in which entertain
ment any person shall use any indecent
language. or conduct himself or herself in
an indecent manner. or sing any song or
render music Of an indecent character or
take part in any song, act, farce or play
wherein any person shall make any indie
cent motion, sign or movement, make
any indecent gestures, exhibit herself
himself or themselves in a manner Often
sive to common decency; wherein any
thing whatsoever shall appear or be I'm
any wise represented or exhibited which
In any manner Is offensive to common de-
cency-
Section 2 No person shall conduct as
proprietor. agent, director manager or en-
ploye any building, tent or place wherein
any violation OF section 1 Of this article
shall occur.
Section 3. Any person violating any OF
the provisions of section 1 or Of this
ticle shall on conviction thereof In the Po-
lice Court be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding forty dollars for each ofrense.
Strict Compliance Enforced.
Section 4. All licenses to conduct the
aters or other places Of amusement shall
be issued upon the express condition Of
strict compliance with these regulations
and any such license shall be terminated
and revoked by the Commissioners OF the
District Of Columbia whenever a Ncensee OF
any theater or other place Of amusement
shall give or allow to be given in the the
ateT other place Of amusement con-
exhibition or performance Is described
In section of this article.
Section 8 Whenever any such license L.
terminated or revoked under these regula-
tons the pro rata amount OF the license
fee for Its unexpred time shall be refund
and no license shall be issued to such per
son as the proprietor OF q theater or other
place Of amusement within one year after
such revocation"
As the new regulations will be a part OF
the police regulations, Major Sylvester and
his officers will be called upon to exercise
their Judgment and discretion in taking
action against any performance the decency
OF which may be questioned. Then, Of
course, the courts will have to finally pass
upon the moral character OF the exhibition
or performance complained OF.