The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-26
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CONTINUED from Page one.l

NCOntlnued from rage Oue-l
either for the amendment or repeal of
the law.
According to the complaints of film
producers. the state has suffered
through the inefficient method of CEN
soring pictures, and the inaccurate
and misleading reports sent from the
office of w. d. Ross, state superin-
tendent of public instruction, who is in
charge of the censorship work. Mo-
ton picture magazines and numerous
dramatic publications have hurled
bricks at the Kansas law and the
method of its enforcement.
Movie producers contend they are
paying sufficient money to justify I
competent review of their films. Fig
ures produced by the Motion Picture
Review this month showed the inspec-
ton of 4,S40 reels by the Kansas cen
sors. Fees from these inspections
brought a revenue to the state of S14.-
1874, with an expense of $2,77S.71.
Yet it is not the expense which has
aroused the picture producers. It is
the fact that such pictures as Geral-
dine Farrar in Carmen the produc-
ton of Birth of a Nation" and other
popular films have been rejected,
while 1.-The Lure - 1.-The House of
Bondage" Damaged Goods" have
been seen by Kansas theater patrons
during the last few, months. The pic
ture censors passed Damaged Goods"
higher grade productions.
Other Complaints.
That is not the only complaint from
the movie men. however. They charge
that the censor board. did not know
what films had been rejected. In the
case of ]. ]. Marshall of Manhattan
a $25 fine was assessed for showing
a picture that had been approved by
the appeal board over the head of the
The EHASf1vS IN
inspector appointed by Ross, is said to
have ordered the arrest. of Marshall
The picture Despair is held out
as an excellent example of the method
of handling picture censorship work
1t was turned down December by
the state censors. Eight days later it
was submitted to the appeal board
and two of the members approved the
picture. No receipt was given as the
producers held a receipt for the orig
inal censorship. The censor board
later issued a bulletin showing pic
Despair" was listed as approved.
Later Marshall was arrested. for show
ing this film.
He Lost a Date.
While in Cherryvale last month,
the Rev. Mr.. Foster is said to have
called on 5. A. Davidson and ordered
him not to show a film advertised
get new films for the days business
and was compelled to close his theatre
until new films could be secured. A
few days later Davidson learned that
the picture which Foster rejected had
been approved.
The report sent out by W. D. Ross,
superintendent of public instruction.
and state motion picture censor, Is
filled with mistakes declares Motion
Picture Review. Some of them are
such that will cause damage some
where. For instance, the Universal
Animated Weekly has been listed as
made by the Selig company and re-
/ leased by the Universal In other
/ places they have Paramount pictures
listed as Wise. Many other mis-
| takes could be pointed out. Whether
the censor board keeps an accurate
record of its activities. is question
From the reports sent out on films
passed or rejected, it has not
/ Based on these and many other
/ complaints the movie men threaten to
go before the legislature in an effort
to repeal the law or take IT from un-
der the supervision of Ross and his
inspectors.