Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-19
CENSORSHIP OF MOVIES
KILLED BY COMMITTEE
BY Vote OF to 2, Councilinanic Body
Decides to Allow Mayor to
Pass OH Pictures.
FURTHER HEARING Is DENIED
Advocates Of Ordinance Seek 10
Speak Again IN It's Behalf-Eng-
lisi, Believes Public Morals Safe
in Hands OF City's Executive Head.

lish Believes Public Morals Safe
in Hands OF City's Executive Head.
After hearing from owners of mo-
tion picture houses, who stated that
their reels wera properly censored be-
fore coming to Richmond, and on the
understanding that censorship would
be undertaken aud carried through by
the Mayor, the Council Ordinance
Committee last night defeated the pro-
posed censorship ordinance by vote
OF 6 to 2.
There were two proposed ordinances
before the committee. The Hrst was
20 vest the power o! censorship in the
Superintendent OF City Schools The
to place the power in the hands of
three residents OF the city. one OF
whom should be woman. This sec
ond ordinance vested the power of
appointment In the Judge of the Hus-
t.nSs Court
When argument last night was COM
pleted. Councilman Joseph II. Welsh.
Of Jefferson Ward. moved the commit
teo 10 recommend to the City Council
tho rejection CT both propositions. The
vote on this motion was as follows:
Aycs--Messrs. Chcatwood English,
FERGUSON. Ladd. Welsh and Chairman
Tunst. Noes-Mnssrs. Christian and
Paul
COMMITTEE DECLINES TO
HEAR MORE ARGUMENT
Mrs. Georgia May Jobson, Miss Adele
Clarke Rev. w. Ashury Christian, D. D.,
and others interested In the passage
OF an ordinance for motion picture
censorship were present. DR.. Chris
tan desired the committee to hear fur
ther from those favoring the passage
OF q censorship ordinance. but ii was
pointed out TO him that the committee "a
had already heard from the proponents
~ length. IN two meetings.
Alderman Paul offered several
amendments TO the second proposed
ordinance whereby the salaries Of the
three members OF the board should be
reduced 70 $1,000, and under which the
power OK appointment should be vested
In the Mayor instead of in the Judge
or the Hastings Court. He then ad-
dressed himself to long argument In
favor OF the ordinance Major Chris
tian also spoke In favor OF It's pas
sage.
Councilman English said that he was
In favor OF the exhibition OF decent
pictures only. but urged the commit
tee TO display. more confidence In tho
power and authority Of the Mayor.
who. by letter TO the committee and In
conversation with It's members, has
said that proper censorship is nov.
being exercised. and that the power
vested In him and in the Police De-
partment is amply adequate 10 care
for tn. situation.
GIVE MAYOR A CHANCE,
SAYS COUNCILMAN ENGLISH
we are now. under the changes In
tho city charter" said Mr. English,
trying to centraiize authority so that
we may hold certain officials and GER
tain departments responsible for the
proper exercise OF that authority, and
yet, upon the heels OF these changes
effected. there Is effor, being made to
multiply the number OF boards Let
us give the Mayor 4 chance"
Chesley Toney. Moses ID. Hofheime er
and other owners of motion-picture
houses stated to the committee that
the passage Of the proposed ordinance
wuld work a hardship on them, and
said that they and nil other notion
picture theator proprietors exercised
the greatest care In selecting their
reels. Mr.. Toney said that when he
was doubtful as to the propriety OF
exhibiting certain reel. he notified
the police and asked them to PASS
judgment. Mr.. Hofheimer said he would
be willing for any committee to pass
upon the reels displayed in his theater.
Clerk Alfred II. Mcdowell read to
the committee letter from Congress
man a. j. Montague, saying that the
bill for a national censorship board.
pending In Congress. probably would
not be acted upon during this session.
Creed Davis, member OF the Boa rd
OF Police Commissioners. presented a
letter from tho Bible class OF Cente-
nary Methodist Church, asking that a
board OF movie" censors be estab-
lished. Mr.. English asked the COM
mittee to show creator confidence in
the Mayor, and the vote defeating the
ordinance was taken
ASKS HOSPITAL. ROOM
FOR USE OF FIREMEN
Captain Charles F.. Taylor, member
and former chairman Of the Board of
Fire Commissioners, petitioned the
committee to recommend to the City
Council and to the Administrative
Board an ordinance providing for the
maintenance in Virginia Hospital of
q room for the emergcnt need Of fire.
men. Captain Taylor said that he had
not been appointed by the board or
by any body of fremen TO make his
representations, and that he did so
on his own initiative. as n friend OF
the firemen. On the motion of Sub
chairman FERGUSON, the City Attor-
ney was requested 10 draw UP q proper
ordinance OF agreement between the
Administrative Board and the authors
ties Of the Medical College OF Vir-
ginia for tho establishment and main
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