The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-03
Expected to Adopt Mea-
sure Which Will Deny
Right of License.
CANNOT OPERATE
NEARANY CHURCH
Ordinance Provides That Here
after No Theatre May Be Per-
/ nitted to Open Within $50
/. Feet Of Sacred Edifcc.
Enough.Votes Pledged
to>:Pass 1t.

Wath the Endorsement of fully 80 per
cent. OF the churches Of Richmond. an
ordinance has bceh prepared and VIII
be offered in the Common Council on
1rriday night. which. 1t Is claimed.
will cfreclually prevent the erection OF
the proposed theatre at the southeast
corner OF Eighth and Grace Streets
Its patrons assert that the Ordinance,
Charter and Reform Committee Is
overwhelmingly In favor Of the meas
urc and that already large NUMBER,
II not an acrual ma iority OF the MEM
bcrs of both branches arc pledged TO
support the measure. An effort VIII
be made to have It adopted under sus-
pension Of the rules on Friday night
but oven IL that is not successful, It's
advocates claim that's VIII become q
law in ample time to prevent the open
Ing of the proposed playhouse on the
site selected.
@ Draws Line Mt $50 Feet.
The ordinance in brief prohibits the
Issuance of u license to any theatre
within $50 feet OF any church, bH
linear measure. The site selected Tor
the new playhouse is directly across
Grace street from ST. Peters Catholic
Church. one of the Oldest structures
3n ths city, and for a long time the
cathedral church Of the diocese. and
In the came block with ST. Paufs Epis
ropal Church. perhaps the most his
toric cd.ice in this country and the
one which has had In it's membership
President Jefferson Davis and Gen
erul Robert l.. Lee, as we'll as many
Governors OF Virginia and ether dig
nttarics. ilt
The proposed ordinance has been pre-
pared by Eppa IIunton, II, OF the
Law firm Of Hunton. Williams 6; An
derson and ats conatitutionality Is
said 10 be Endorsed In an opinion given
BY that firm, quoting court decisions in
many States. Mr.. Iiunton and b. Ran
dolph Wcllford members of tho ves-
try OF St Paui's Church, were named
ns a committee from that congregation
TO act with a committee from 81
Peters In an effort TO prevent the
B opening Of the theatre.
Mills VIII Orer 1t.
The floor leaders for the measure in
each branch VIII be Councilman John
j. Lynch. IN the lower branch, and Al
dcrman Graham Hobson. in the upper
branch. The paper VIII he offered By
Councilman Morgan II. Mills.
Provision Is made in the paper that
~ shall not apply 10 theatres IN opera
tlon IT the time OF its passage, since
Euch a retroactive clause might be held
10 be Unconstitutional. as OK post facto
Legislation. No present theatre or
moving picture house will therefore DO
affected. either In its present opera
ton or In the renewal Of It's license
from year To year. provided no other
objection is raised Nor Will the or
dinancs forbid the erection OF the
theatre at Eighth and Grace. Tho
owncru of the lot may so ahead. II they
gee fit, and erect the building. Tho or
dinance. II adopted, prohibits the au-
thorities from issuing license or per-
nit for the opening and operation or
= - -
house within 90 feet of any church.
Similar Regulations Elsewhere.
similar ordinances are said TO pre-
vail In many cities. III New York city
there is said to be n like provision
which not only prohibits theatres, but
also the issuance of liquor licenses
within fixed distance OF any church.
Only year or two ago, after much
discussion and some controversy tho
statute was SO amended as to make an
exception in the case of a big apart
ment hotel. erected on Fifth Avenue
lust opposite the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian Church.
s Councilman Lynch who is leading
the fight for the ordinance In the lower
branch. said yesterday that there was
no doubt OF It's passage. and that IL
would be recommended almost unani- 4
mously by tho Ordinance, Charter and
Reform Committee. H. indeed. the rules
I ~ 80 y iioA S'apGiiNtu anu lHC ORDINANCE.
passed a t once. II Is anticipated thar
formal action will he taken indorsing
the proposition by the trustees. vestry.
boards OF stewards or similar control
ling bodies of practically all the
churches In the city during this week.
a Not Opposed to Theatres.
Many OF those who favor the ordi-
nance arc careful to explain that they
are not opposed to theatres. Several
OF the Councilmen who are working
for the measure are regular Visitors
Of the larger playhouses In the city
and believe in encoura ging both high
grade drama and the lighter and cheap
or forms of popular amusement. Bu,
these men believe that there Is ample
room In Richmond for both churchcn
and thea tres. and that where churches
nave been established for years, ana
have certain historic and other asso,
Citations with their present locations
Il the whole neighborhood should not
be made objectionable and umtcna b.
by the erection OF piayhouses. with
flaming bl!boards and inevitable lear
ers, who in all cities seem to congre-