The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-18
Wave That Hit "Septem-
Der Morn" Takes New
Twist.
SEMIDA ARKNESS
BAD FOR MORALS
Council Committee Approves Or
din ces Requiring Theatre
Owners to illuminate Build
ings While Films Are on
Display-Warfare on
Washers.

Riding high on the crest OF the
critical wave which has in recent days
Tapped sternly around september
Morn" and squelchcd the Sits that
threatened 10 make Richmond famous
the Council Committee on Ordinances,
last night unanimously recommended
for adoption the Moore ordinance which
proposes to food motion picture the
tres with sufficient light TO discourage
the moving picture mashcr who plies
his trade In the dark. The business
clause provides:
That II shall be unlawful for mo-
tion pictures To be exhibited for COM
pensation by any person in. the city OF
Richmond In any place where lights are
turned of or are so dimned TO pre-
vent persons in the assembly from see
Ing plainly and distinctly all other per
sons in the assembly within the range
OF their vision or so to prevent any
auch person from seeing clearly and
distinctly what such other person may
do
Aimed at Mnnher.
The act Is frankly aimed at the fiirta-
tions and petty amours which flourish
In the Stygian darkness that shrouds
many OF the motion picture houses dur
Ing the exhibition Of films Under the
shelterine gloom. which is their com
mon characteristic. the scent theatres
according 10 social service commissions
have In The larger cities become the
fa"riie recruiting grounds OF vicious
agencies In Richmond the evil has
received sufficient recognition TO sun
port sentiment In some quarters in
favor OF IA chaperon FOR the movies.
Alderman Paul, OF Clay Ward. spoke
warmly In favor Of Tho ordinance, CON
graduating Councilman Moore. OF Mad
ison Ward. upon his Initiative In
launching this needed piece Of legis-
lhuon The remarks he heard daily
from patrons OF the nickel theatres he
said. convinced him that some OF the
show places stood badly in need OF cor
rcctiNc restrictions.
Alderman Disney. while In sympathy
with the spirit OF tho ordinance. thought
II would be difficult 10 enforce. be
cause the language touchng the guam
tltN OF light the theatres should be
required TO haze loose and in
definite TO This objection other mem
bcrs of the committee re- plied that the
point may safely be left to be de-
cidcd by the chief OF Police In the cxcr-
cisc O. his police powers. Alderman
Paul thought that Major Werner would
make fully as good Il judge OF what
WAS the right amount OF light in a
motion picture theatre as he was OF
the Legitimacy OF Sits in skirts The
ordinance provides fine OF from S25
to 500 for each violation.
The committee, without dissenting
vote and without discussion. recon-
mended 10 the Council for adoption the
tmlauf ordinance amending The present
laws touching the disposal OF refuse
and garbage so as to conform with
further restrictions recommended by
the Society for the Bettcrment OF Hous-
ing and Living Conditions.
The ordinance prohibits under the
penalty of fine. the throwing OF pa
per other refuse upon the public
streets, and requires licensed vendors
selling from stands and pushcarts 10
attach suitable rcceptaclcs to their
stands for tho reception of the refuse
matter incident TO their business. An
other clause prohibits the throwing OF
any perishable or combustible matter
which might be injurious 10 health. on
any vacant lot or open space within the
city limits.
Separation of Garbage.
Owners of lots and squares. according
to one OF the provisions. must see to II
that they are properly cleaned OF all
refuse after having rented them to
circuses or other exhibitions. Another
provision requires houscholdcrs TO sep
arate combustible from noncombustiblc
refuse and TO place il in separate rccep
tacles. At the instance OF Superinten-
dent Cohn, OF the Street Cleaning De-
partment, the ordinance was amended
to require receptacles smaller than
those at first contemplated. in order to
make possible their more expeditions
handling by the street cleaning force
For Colored Church.
For an hour by the clock the com
mittee wrangled over an ordinance
granting permission for the erection OF
one-story frame church at Wallace
and Ritchie Streets. TO be used by the
colored people of that neighborhood
Subchairman IIaddon opposed the ordi-
IN cyrn hnt i-
tucnts were against the construction
OF the church. because it would tend to
enlarge the colored settlement in that
neighborhood and make ii less desir-
able as Il place of residence for whites.
Councilman Moore took the same view
For the ordinance appeared Jacob
tmlauf, not Il member of the commit
tee, who thought that the colorcd peo-
pie Of that neigh borhood, more than
500 in number, were clearly entitled to
a place In which to worship God. More
over, he said, the church building would
be OF IL temporary quality and could
easily be removed when the population
shifted.
Building Inspector Butler told the
committee that he was opposed to a
church building of a frame construc-
ton. When put to vote the ordinance
was recommended. the committeeman
present voting as follows: Ayes--Jones,
Disney, Paul and Walsh; noes Moore
and Haddon.
a large delegation Of electrical work.
ers was on hand to speak on pending
ordinance. which seeks to restrict the
number Of unframed helpers that may
be worked by an electrical contractor
with his regularly licensed electricians.
The committee voted to hold n public
hearing on the matter at s o'clock on
the evening Of July 22