Barton County democrat., 1914-04-17
WAS UP TO ROSS.
State Superintendent Entrusted With
Film Censor Law.

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tedral court uphOlding the picture
J finn censorship law In Ohio, Attorney
General Dawson expects to establish
before Judge Pollock the constitution.
ality Of the Kansas censorship law.
Yet the revenue and moral effect Of
tn law will probably be lost for at
least two years. This fact Is CAIN.
ed to be largely due to the derehc.
tion Of w. D. Ross, state superinten-
dent Of public instruction, to aid in
the enforcement Of the new enact.
ment.
When the 1913 legislature passed
the picture film censorship law, It
placed directly On the state superin-
tendent the responsibility Of inspect
ling the films offered for display in
Kansas. In Mr.. Ross was vested the
power to admit or reject amy picture
film offered for display. His deci-
sion was final. He was the court Of
last resort. Only expensive litigation
in the courts could overrule his deci.
sion. If purchance it could be over.
ruled at all. But the state superin.
tendent did not enter into the spirit
OF the new reform. Largely BECAUSE
Of his failure to aid in the enforce.
ment OF the new law, it is claimed
that the cmstitutionality of the act is
lied up in the federal courts and pic
tures are being displayed with the
same freedom that was in evidence
befor the law was passed.
There was complaint from many
sources in the state regarding the
character Of many picture films. These
complaints came principally from the
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smaller towns. Children in the small
towns had been Iured to the picture
show houses to see the James BOYS
holdup a train, or view scenes Of
crime or questionable high life on
Broadway. showing women in CUES
uonable attire and in resorts that
were new and strange to the mind Of
the boy and girl who lives on the
Kansas prairies. Many Of these pic
lures were suggestive and immoral
and the Legislature sought to stop tn s
display. 1t provided an inspection fee
Of 81 film that would afford annie
funds for all expenses Of inspection
and perhaps leave a surplus sufficient
to meet any emergency. The Iegis
lature provided that the superinten-
dent Of public instruction should in,
| opoCI tneSe LumS.
When the law was passed, the safe
superintendent was not in a cheerful
mood. The law makers had trimmed
Superintendent Ross contingent fund
until there was no money for sum.
mer junkets to educational meetings
at the Seaports and summer resorts
The legislature had enacted a law
creating the educational administra.
ton board. 1t had passed a law pro-
Vidng for the state publication of
school text books. The legislature
had not provided, as Ross desired
that all members Of the textbook
commission should be school teachers
And Ross was in a peevish and irrit.
able frame Of mind when the legisla-
lure gave him the best advertising
opportunity ever afforded a Kansas
state official, when it said he should
inspect the picture films.
Ross saw only sorrow and trouble
In the new law. He pointed out to
the newspaper reporters a dozen de.
fects in the law. For days he didn 4
know whether he would inspect pic.
ture films or not. His statements
were published and the picture film
manufacturers saw a division among
state officials regarding the opera
Ton q the law and planned to save
$4,000 a ysaE IN inspectim sees and
to feed The smAH towns the same
bsand q pictures hey bad drawn q
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