Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-16

| continued from Page ono
Mr., Lucas asked for an itemized state.
| ment. Mr.. Breitlnger refused to furnish
one, Mr.. Lucas declared that he would
not pay sl26 a month for the room and
board of Mrs. e. c. Niver, the assistant
censor who had been living at the Rit.
tenhouse Hotel.
EXCHANGE MEN REVOLT.
Other exchange men followed suit In
declining to pay the extra charges as
sessed by Mr.. Breitinger. They declared,
and still assert, that such charges are
without warrant in law and that Nj
Rretinger is imposing financial burdens
In direct violation of the law under which
he IL acting, They are preparing n peti-
ton to Governor Brumbaugh asking for
an investigation of the censor's office
his work in alleged discrimination against
certain films and his imposition Of Illegal
expenses. In detail, these charges. which
VIII be filed by Mr.. Lucas, S. w. Wheeler
Jack Levy and others, are:
THE CHARGES.
That Mr. Breitnger prepared the bill
for censoring motion pictures and voted
for i while a member Of the LEGISLATURE
Ihat Mr.. Breitinger. while a member
OF tue Legislature, was counsel for the
Exhibitors League and as such received
pay for influencing legislation.
Ihat Mr.. Breltinger Illegally forced ex-
chahse men TO maintain censOrs office
at their expense. when the law is clear
ana distinct that the State shall pay
Tor all cenSorlns out Of the fees Of $3.50
collected for the viewing of each film.
That Mr.. Breltinger bought EXPENSIVE |
furniture for his Philadelphia office at the |
expense of the exchanges
lhat he installed his own brother-in- /
aw as chief clerk and forced the film
neh to pay for the Illegal maintainance
,f the office.
That he issued hundreds of INSPECTORS
afds TO personal friends, members of the
legislature, elevator men In City Han
nd even to bartenders. and that as MANY
5 80 OF these passes were presented at
ne theatre in one day
mat a certain film exchange in tbis
NY advanced money to the Censor's Of
oS ior current expenses when the State
illed 10 provide needed money.
These accusations will reach the Gov,
rhor within the next 4S hours and will
o accompanied by facsimile checks Ist
srs and other documents TO bear out
le allegations. The Governor viii be
squested to investigate the entire matter
{ censorship
Tne letter. which Mr. Lucas sent this
orning to Mr.. Breitinger and which nra
plated the crisis, follows:
since you opened the PHILADELPHIA
offlee of the board of censors, we have
paid TO YOU through your brother-In-
law. Robert w. Read as clerk. the
following sums as our pro rata share
Of the cost OF maintenance of said Of
fCe:
INV NH '''''''''''''r'''.'''... S2I.9d
August September ana octto66ei......'. 2Sf. IS +
December. ,bili not reeeivsd ...:.:,. a
january 1919 .'-'''t''.....',,.,... DS98 I
Making total OF ....................,s42 s429.5i {
Aside from various other sums al I
eyed 10 be due by us for the main
enance OF your office. o
The bills you rendered were not
temized This, we think, should have =
'een done as matter of course 1t =
3 poor business policy for US TO u
ollow' TO pay bills we know nothing
Z In detail Likewise, II would seem
0 US that 1t may possibly open you 20 =
uhlic criticism 10 collect sums for ex- ~
enses without openly setting forth In ~
our pllls the various items covered -
As we are sort of partner in de- -
raying the expenses of your Philadel- -
hia office, with the other exchanges -
re ask that you furnish us immedl- -
tely the names and addresses of all tr
he employees Of said odice and the
eekly or monthly salaries received
y them from the date of their respee- n,
We employment, together with a de-
'hed statement OF each months ex- N
snditures. :,
We trust you win do US the eour- =
s. OF answering by return mail.
cry truly yours. n,
ARTHUR LUCAS. n
District Manager, ~
Mutual Film Corporation.