The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-06
COUNCIL [. ADOPT
new THEATRE LAW
CONTINUED From First poge.)

rect IN an air line, of any such church.
=. ANY person who operates such a
theatre without license. and any
person giving 3 public theatrical or
other performance or, show therein,
shall be liable to fine OF not less
than $40 nor more than 5000 for each
offense.
g. This ordinance shall be In forco
from Its passage
Amendments Rejected.
Mr. Powell offered an amendment
making the ordinance not apply to
any building, the contract for the erec-
tlon of which had been executed al
tho time of the passage OF the ordi-
nance. and the amendment was re-
Jected. Mr.. Blake stated frankly that
lie considered it very serious legis-
lation-that might materially Affect
many people in tlme to come. and
that 1t interfered with an Improves
men, but that he proposed to vote for
what a majority OF tho people wanted,
and against his own wishes.
President Peters spoke-in opposition
to the ordinance. saying that since It
had been proposed. he had been q
target for some people to shoot at;
that no had been threatened that II
he voted against the ordinance he
would BIO defeated at the polls. and his
business interfered with. He was not
ashamed OF his fourteen years record,
he stated lie went on to argue that
tho ordinance was llegal-a form OF
legislation against ono particular per-
son. II amended to apply TO all aliko,
he was willing to support 1t. He
wanted to know why members wore
afraid to vote their convictions on this
matter, saying he had lived five years
next to theatre, and had set TO
SEQ anything Objectionable. An opin-
Ion OF City Attorney Anderson was
read at length. quoting many author
tiles On support of his objections to
the ordinance recommended by the
committee. but setting forth that tina
city has full power to legislate as to
location of public theatres. both by
Its charter and by the general police
powers. The ordinance, however, wac
rendered unconstitutional and void by
the proyiso as not applying to those
theatres already licensed and In oper-
alton. as falling to give equality md
uniformity of tho law; but were tAat
proviso stricken out, Colonel Anderson
held that the ordinance would BIO n
valid exercise of the police power OF
the city. Mr.. Mills explained that the
substitute met tho objections. and that
Colonel Anderson had pronounced It
valid. MIR. Mills also read telegra M
from Mr.. Keith, head OF tho theatre
cal circuit in Boston. saying that he
was in no way interested in tho the
atricel project in Richmond. and that
his theatre there did not adjoln u
church. as had been stated.
Mr.. Richards asked that the paper,
as a. new ordinance not yet scrnti-
rcized. be referred TO the Ordinance,
Charter and Reform Committee. which
was rejected. Mr. Umlauf spoke at
some length for the ordinance. saying
that wero 1T proposed to place the
theatre on Grace Street newt to the
Westmoreland Club, thero would BIO Il
much louder howl than from the
churches. Mr.. Richards offered an
amendment making the prohibition not
apply 10 any building already under
contract and leased for theatrical pur-
poses, which was reJected and q ssc-
ond amendment making 1t mot apply
TO any lot on which n permit for the
erection of theatre had heen granted
By the city Building Inspector, which
was also rejected. The ordinance was
then adopted by a vote OF 30 to 7, Mr.
Pollard being excused from voting.
The vote stood: -a
Ayes-Messrs. Batk,ns. Blake. Bow
man. Brown. Burke, Butler, Cease,
Fuller. Gill. Haddon, tIirschberg, Hob
son. Jones. Lynch. Miller. Mills, Pol
lock, Powers, J. c.. Powers, ]. T.. Rat
cliffe. Reade, Richardson's, Rogers
Saunders seaton. selph. Sullivan. I'm,
iauf. Vonderlehr and Wiltshire.
Noes-Messrs. Boschen. Bradley, Fer
| eusson. Powell. Richards, Workman
and Peters,