The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-19
OF SENATE.
StayeIy Bill a Rich Find for the
Administration.
Moving Picture Censorship a
Revenue Producer.

Like legacy from an unknown rela-
tive. the administration forces of the
senate have stumbled upon a source of
revenue that will bring into the state
treasury annually hundreds of thou
sands of dollars The rich find is no
other than the Stavely moving picture
censor bill providing for a censorship
on all pictures shown in this state and
charging a fee of from one to two dol
lars for each reel sent into the state
This measure when first introduced
failed to cause a ripple of interest in
the senate. When reported out for
passage by the committee it contained
no apparently sensational merits And
now that il is up before the senate as
whole for discussion and final pass
age. it has been found that the bill will
mean thousands to the stac~'s general
revenue fund annually-and incident
ally will forever forbid the showing of
immoral or obscene reels in this state
In these times when the Democrats
have promised the people to lower the
taxes when laws have been repealed
which brought fees to the state and
when the institutions are clamoring for
additional appropriations and salaries
are being raised-the Stavely measure
with its profitable attachment is thrice
welcomed by the administration forces
The senate this morning appointed a
committee composed of Stayely, OF
ney. of Cloud. to go over the bill and
work out the plan of moving picture
censorship in detail. Practically every
member of the senate has promised his
support to the committee decision
It is figured that there at least 800
moving picture shows in the state
Each show averages nearly four reels
a dav In cities where the Sunday
theater law is not obeyed-the pictures
are shown 365 days in the year In
Kansas City, Kansas, alone IT Is esu,
mated that $1,000 reels are exhibited
every year. Here is a revenue of $35,Ooo
or $4,000 in one city alone.
The bill. drawn up by ]. H StaTely,
of Usage county. has been declared one
of the most important measures OF the
1918 session-and the senators did not
discover it until it came out in the COM
mittee of the whole
The senate is lying in wait for the
grain inspection bill from the house
Members from all parts of the chamber
arr giving their knives the last fond
vhetting for the reception that VIII De
given the house measure drawn up by
the committee on agriculture Here Is
the trouble
The agricultural committee bill says
that the owner of grain may direct
that the grain be inspected or weigh
ed In other words if the owner ism
particular about it, the grain may
be taken over on the missouri sue anu
here allow the board of trade to reap
the benefits-and fees.
None of this for the senate The
grain must be inspected and weighed
by the state department on this SIDE
of the state hne-and here the fees
will be collected and turned over to
the state treasurer 1t isn't choice
with the owner-it is compulsory
Meanwhile the senate waits-like
Bluebeard in his castle.
The committee on committees of the
senate this morning appointed a new
conference committee on the initiative
and referendum-J. W. Howe. of Dick
inson county. and A. B. Carney, of
Cloud. Heretofore the house and sem
ate lawyer cOnferees have failed to Gre
ate harmony. Now the senate Demo-
Gratis have decided to try out a news
paper man and a school teacher.
The new bank guaranty plan sug
gested by Senator Josph, of Butler
county. has started trouble In a