The Washington times., 1916-01-14
Opponents Appearing Before
House Committee Against
Hughes Bill for Board.
CALLED MODE OF EXPRESSION
Declared Censorship Would Vio-
late Right of Free Speech
and Tie Up Industry.

Whether Uncle Sam shall put his o
K on the movies is the issue now
before the House Committee on Edu-
cation, which will continue its hear
ings tonight on the Hughes bill for n
Federal board OF censorship 10 pass
upon every foot of film shown within
the United States.
The hearings began at the Capitol
last night, and many representatives
OF reform organizations and the moV-
ing picture industry were present
The reform forces were led by tn"
Rev. Wilbur Crafts, OF this city, who
declared Federal censorship is neces-
snry to prohibit the exhibition OF
risque pictures.
J. w Binder, of New York. secretary
of the motion picture board OF trade,
snd other spoke esmcn for film produ
cers, told the committee that the eN-
listing method of censorship by state
board and municipal authorities, in
conjunc ction with that maintained by
the industry itself, meets all require.
ments.
FOresees Industry "Tied Up"
Mr.. Binder predicted that the indus
try will be tied up" by a Federal in
spaction aystem, which must pass on
some ten million feet OF film per
week. that great harm will come to
the industry, and some concerns will
be forced to go out of business.
The Hughes bill would prevent the
exhibition of any picture in the Unit
cd States without the o. X OF the
Federal Government. Its mandates
would be made effective by refusing
copyright and interstate commerce
privileges to objectionable films.
The hearings on the bill will continue
from night to night for the next Week
and additional time will be given FOR
the filing of briefs. Report of the bill
by the House committee is expected, as
similar measure was reported last
session. but the reception of sucn n
proposal in the House and the Senate
is problematicaI.
Mr.. Binder argued that there is nc
more reason for Federal censorship OF
the moving picture than there Is ror
Federal board to censor speeches.
Modes of Expression.
There are several modes of express
sion" he said; "one is speech another
Is printing. third is the presentation
of news facts or stories on a film. All
mon may use the first two in unlimited
manner. with due regard to certain
responsibilities. II they disregard THESE
responsibilities they are punished. No
one attempts to censor speech or ~
"cns.'r everything that is printed. why
should a third method OF expression.
which did not happen to he invented
when the Constitution was adopted. he
SUBJECTED to governmental censorship
Mr.. Binder said the bill would pro-
hibit the showing of a film made pre-
Nious to the Enactment OF the law be-
"HuSe il provided that all films shown
must be censored i'm advance. lie
asserted that delays in cenSoring
would tie up millions of capital. that
over ten million feet per week Of
new film must b" passed upon. and
that under the bin as drawn there
could he no film imported r"om other
countries. Th" censOring Of on 9 scene
h" argued. would tie up a. entire
play and no One board could possibly
do all the work necessary to pass
properly upon the millions OF feet Of
film made weekly in thi. country
Other opponents of tive legislation
present included Paul Iromelin, J. II.
Frcuhler. =. y. Powers. Chester Bee
croft, William \. Johnston. and Will
liam \. Seahury, all connected with
tho producing companies of New
York.