Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-09
NEW MOVIE ORDINANCE
CREATES CENSOR BOARD
Provides for Three Members, One a
Woman, at Salary of $1,000
Per Year.
UNNECESSARY, SAYS MAYOR
AinsIie CriticiZes Rccklessness OF
Statement of Advocates, and De-
nies City Has Been Made Dumping
Ground for Indecent Pictures.

foiiowlng an exhaustive and pro-
longed appeal from clcrgymen and lay
men, representatives of civic associa-
tions and women who are, in one form
or another. identified with the social
life of Richmond, the Council Ordi-
nance Com mittce last night disposed
cffectually of the ordinance which
would make the superintendent OF
Schools censor of motion pictures by
not taking II UP, and tabled, for con-
sideration at its next meeting, a pro-
posed ordinance which would provide
for the appointment of three residents
OF Richmond as IL censorship board. the
power of appointment OF members of
this board to he vested in the Judge OF
the Hastings Court.
Of the three members Of the censor
ship board, one is TO be a woman, we'll
qualified By education and experience
10 undertake tho duties imposed. Tho
term Is to be for three years, but In
the original appointment for three,
two and one years, respectively, the
first terms to be designated by the
Judge. One member is to be the sec
retary The salary for each is to be
$1,000 year. and the members are to
take the oath prescribed for all city
officers and to give bond in the sum
of $1,000. For the expense OF the
board 5000 is provided. Appeal from
the rulings Of the commission may be
taken TO the judge OF the Hastings
Court.
HOARD IS TO VIEW ALI.
PICTURES TO He PRESESTEn
The board is TO examine all motion
picture reels TO be presented, and It
ct, Il
proper and disapprove those which are
deemed sacriligious. indecent or i'm
moral. or which tend TO debase or cor
rupt public morals or disturb the peace
and good order of the city. The fact
that the reels have been passed shall
be certified upon the screen. The board
Is to keep record OF all its actions
and make annual report to the City
Council and statement Of the prose-
cutions for violation OF its orders.
For the offense Of d!splayinr reel
which has not been passed by the board
q penalty of not less than s5 nor more
than $40 shall be imposed. and for dis
playing pictures which have not been
passed the penalty shall be fine OF
not less than $40 nor more than 500 for
the hrst ofense and not less than 500
tor the second offense. every subsequent
oHcnse to be considered as a separatc
violation.
rms ordinance is modelled after :,
state law OF Maryland. and was pre.
sented in behalf of various pe,itioner.
rs substitute for the original ordi-
nance by Councilman Paul 1t will h,
considered amply and thoroughly bv
thc committee ms n whole at its next
regular meeting motion 20 refer 10
subcommittee Of three having been
dereated by IL vote of TO A.
MOTION PICTURES NOT
HARMFUL IN THEMSELVES
The meeting was not without nor.
sonal incident, and an occasional pass
age at arms between those who he
!icre that censorship is essential and
inevitable and those who have not beer,
persuaded that motion pictures are so
Rehcraiiy dangerous TO public morals
as 10 demand supervision. Walker c, |
Cottreil. member OF the City School !
hoaro, SAID. with some emphasis. that |
ne oehcVcd motion pictures to be .,
powerful contribution to moral uplitt. |
ana that he thought the world had
progressed towards achievement Of i
higher standards. and tina, the chill |
dren OF to-day are better and hett.r
advantaGed than they were twenty |
years ago. lie nut his statement once
in the form of Il question. and minister
and laymen agreed with him that tbe |
world had improved. hut tried TO make
Continued on Third PngeD
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YORK RIVER LINE ro BALTIMoRE. /,