New-York tribune., 1909-03-13
CENSOR FOR PICTURES
EXHIBITORS HAVE BOARD
FORMED FOR PURPOSE.
Action Taken uith lid Of Peoples
Institute-PubEc Hearing on
Sunday License Question.

Through the Peoples Institute as an inter
lnediary the moving picture exhibitors OF the
city have caused the formation Of a board OF
censorship This board will pass upon all pict-
ures that are TO be exhibited, and in case OF
disapproval Of any. steps in the courts Will be
taken 10 prevent their exhibition
The board which is composed of executive
committee. of which John Collier Is chairman,
and a governing board on which nearly every
civic society in New York is represented. Will
act as q volunteer police body. After first at
tempting to obtain the CO operation Of the NOV
ing picture n1anufa cturing concerns in this coun-
try and abroad the censorship board viii theh
cooperate as much possible with the ex-
hibitors. One of the tasks of the committee VIII
be to go over about thousand pictures in the
old stock of the exchanges After that ts done
1t will be 4 comps ratively easy matter to pass
upon four pictures a day, all that brought
ont upon the market at a time For this
purpose hall at No. 1866 Third avenue will be
used. Illustrated songs and vaudeville will also
be considered by the committee
Sunday licensing of motion picture shows and
slot machines. as proposed by Aldermanic
resolution. brought out large gathering at the
City Hall yesterday before the Committee on
Affairs of the Boroughs, Alderman Smith. chair
man Alderman Smith, who lives at No -
jackson street. the lower East side, recently
introduced resolution providing for. seven-day
licenses for motion picture places at $3.50 a
license. His proposed ordinance says:
Such license shall be operative on the seven
davs Of the week. under the express condition
that on the first day Of the week, commonly
known as Sunday, device, instrument OF
other means shall he employed "herehy persons
may be attracted induced to enter any such
place.
Any person hrn1. partnership or corporation
conducting place Of public amusement as here
in described who shall fail TO take out q license
therefor shall be subject to g fine of 800 for
each day such place shall he open to the public
without being duly licensed
The Rev. Dr. Foster, chairman Of the inter
UNCONVENTIONAL committee. was the first speaker
at the hearing He said that the aldermen had
no authority to sit in judgment the laws of
God" and then he read from the Ten Command
ments with reference TO Sabbath observance
Canon William Sheafe Chase. OF Brooklyn, de
cared the board had no power TO grant this
license. He said IT was contrary to Section 80
OF the Penal Code and to the Doull ordinance
passed by the board relating to the prohibition
Of dramatic performances on Sunday.
These moving picture shows Sunday
would lead to immortality" said Canon Chase.
Let us have moving pictures on sunday b.
the Board Of Education I'm the schooihouses
Gustavus Rogers asked Canon Chase whether
it were not true that in some churches in Brook
st
those who paid an admission fee.
L don't know Of any such charge replied
Canon Chase The only admission fee charged
in this city for church that I know If on Sun
day is charged 70 those who attend mass in
some Catholic churches Surely YOU would not
want TO prevent such charges AS to stereopti-
con views | have no objection to them in
church I've had them in my oRn church. but
I wouldn't have the stereopticon operated by
? man who works six other DAYS Of the week.
W Field Malone. representing the Catholic
laItv said that he spoke with the highest u
tbor,tv as 10 the opinion Of Catholics. incud-
ing clergymcn"
There is not a pastor OF Catholic church
in the city Of New York" he said. who is not
opposed to opening these places Of amusement
on Sunday: and their objection is based upon
religion upon the fact that these shows are
drawing the children from the Sunday schools,
taking them from the churches the one day
Of the week when all children, OF parochial and
public school alike. may obtain religious instruc-
ton
Mrs D. X Herring president OF the Manhattan
auxiliary Of the Women's National Sabbath
Alliance. presented aud read a letter from the
auxiliary. declaring: There is a desecration Of
our American Sabbath. largely by the foreign
element who have come here to enjoy the ad-
Vantages of our country lReSe duN duldSSS' W.
claim, are the result Of the good and sound
foundations laid by our God-fearing ancestors.
and while We are glad to have all share them
we refuse to lot the alien and newcomer impose
upon us his crude ideas Of freedom which only
too often mean license"
Father Evers the Tombs chaplain, said that
he spoke by Archbishop Farley's direction. for
aas clergynlen and 100000 Iaymen. who were
positively opposed to any enactment such as
that proposed"
Frederick W Block. representing the City
Vigilance League. and the Rev. A. =. Churchill
smoke along similar lines. Professor Charles
Sprarue Smith. Of the Peoples institute, pre-
scented in turn the speakers who upheld the pro
nosed measure the Rev. John Haynes Holmes
of the Unitarian Church OF the Messiah, being
first introduced
Mr. Holmes said that. according to his under
standing no Christians observed the Sabbath
dav". H NJ. Hamburger. Of the Association of
Moving Picture Show Operators said the organi-
zation would be willing TO accept an amendment
to keep moving picture places closed until after
Sunday school hours, and 10 have all films
sured The Rev DR.. James Barr. Presbyterian,
also spoke for the proposed resolution.
Alderman Smith closed the hearing with the
remark that the arguments would he carefully
considered.
A THOUSAND LIVES LOST IN JAVA.