The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-05
WANT POLICE CHIEF
 TOCENSURE SHOWS
The Women's Civic League
 Holds Meeting
APPEAL TO MIR. LANE
Appointed to Take Up Matter-League Pleased With
 Successful Elimination of
 Questionable Picture Plays

To request an enforcement of the city ordinance requiring the chief of police to witness the first production of every censorship of their moral status, the subcommittee of the public morals com mittee of the Womens' Civic League of Birmingham has been authorized to ap- peal to Judge 4. o. Lane of the city commission. This action was the out come of a discussion of the effect that questionable theatricals might have upon the ignorant and the young and formed the main business of the meeting of this organization held yesterday afternoon in the city hall.
 Mrs. Zac Smith is chairman of the sub committee, which has been assigned the duty of extending their investigations and reforms from the photo playhouses to the theatres. Associated with her are Mrs. E. w. Moore and Mrs. Robert Har ris Winn This committee was also dele gated to sort out the plays recommended by the Drama League of America, as several dramas classified by this league as proper have met with the disapproVai of th Birmingham Civic league, anl therefore Mrs c. P. Orr, the president, has created a board of judgment to draw the line of distinction still plainer be- tween the objectionable and the desirable in the histrionic presentations.
 The matter of forming connection with the National Domestic Science assc- citation was also presented for the coI- sideration of the league. The feasibility of the inauguration of buying circles in this city was touched upon but not thor oughly discussed, as a plan of purcnas ing vegetables for neighborhood throug one person is very new to the south. The clean amusement committee announced that more action will necessarily be -akcn in the campaign against the vaudeville in the motion picture theatres but that the progress toward a better grade or amusement of this type was very enecur- aging at present.
 Mrs c. P. Orr, who presided over the meeting, led an interesting exchange or opinions regarding the attendance Of the Chief of Police at the first performance of every theatrical company exhibiting In this city and it was claimed that the only time that this had ever been praetieed was during the mayoraity administration of George B. Ward. The members pres ent were heartily in favor of again bring
 ing this custom into existence as safe guard against any undesirable play
 Declaring the aim of the Civic league to be constructive rather than destruclve, the chair named Mrs Ruffn A. Smith, who has recently moved here from Ne" York city, as chairman of a committee to secure data on the public amuse- ments provided in cities similar in size to Birmingham and the best possible means of obtaining these fQr this city.
 Mrs Hannum, chairman of the commit tee appointed to confer with President Ford of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, in reference to the violation of the transfer ordinance, rec commended that a representative of the Civic league be sent to each of the schools of the city to deliver few remarks rel ative 10 unlawful use of the car trans fers This report was adopted and the same committee instructed to take the question up with Dr. Phillips, superintend- cnt of the city schools at an early date.
 The next meeting is called for Thursday afternoon, January IS, in the council chamber of the city hall.