The weekly news. [volume] (Anacostia [i.e. Washington] D.C.) 1909-19??, 1909-11-06

state that every precaution as re-
quired by law has been taken Ia
guard against any danger by fire,
and the building has been care.
fully inspected by the Fire De-
partment and passed upon favor
ably AT the time application was
made for the establishment of a
five cent theatre at this place there
was no law or regulation against
the use Of wooden buildings for
this purpose and therefore a
license had TO be granetd when it
was shown TO the Commissioners
that all other requirements had
been complied with. This build
ing is especially safe from any
danger by fire for the reason that
it not only contains the three large
double doors, as required by law,
but in addition has a large num-
Der Of windows close to the
ground.
The writer Of this communica-
ton is grossly in error when he
states that these places Of amuse-
ment have been driven out of
business in Chicago. Vast mum
bers Of them are being operated
there very successfully. Possibly in
a city as large as the western metro
polls, where there is a tough ele-
mcnt in the floating population,
there may have been % number of
low and indecent places that were
broken up, bat that does not neces-
sariIy mean that general warfare
has been made upon the moving
picture theatres in Chicago.
1t is doubtless true that the Dis
trict Commissioners will not
grant any more permits here for
these places Of amusement in
wooden buildings for the reason
that the privilege would be abused,
but the necessary permit for the
Anacostia theatre had been regu-
larly and lawfully granted before
any prohibitory regulation had
been passed, and, Of course, the
constitution Of the United States
forbids retroactive laws.
Now, as to the character of the
pictures shown. In the city of
New York, where these plates or
films are prepared, there is a com
mittec appointed Of ten we'll
known men, five of whom
are high class ministers Of
the Gospel, who meet regularly
and pass upon each and every one
of these pictures before it is al
lowed TO be shown to the general
public, and particular care is
taken that these pictures shall be
moral in tone. So it is certain
that such committee would not
sanction immoral and course
scenes calculated to poison the
minds of the young. More than
that, the proprictors of moving
picture shows would certainly not
pander to initiated taste when they
must know, if they have any bust
ness ability, that it is upon the
| Christian and law-abiding people
they must mainly depend if these
/ places Of amusement are run sue
cessfully,
As to giving the exhibitions ON
Sunday, that is the universal prac-
tice in this and foreign countries,
for the amusement is looked upon
as Innocent harmless and in most
cases instructive. Instead of be-
ing harmful to young people it is
really helpful, as it prevents many
of them from congregating on
street corners and other places and
draws them into a hall always bril-
limtly lighted except during the
actual exhibition, and where the
suictcst order is maintained.
In every community there are
those people who not only fail
themselves to take any active steps
looking toward improving and
undermining the city or town, but
are ever ready to do anything they
can to discourage those who do,