The Washington times., 1916-05-08
MOVIE CENSORSHIP
BILL INTRODUCED
OVER ALL PROTESTS
Provides for Federal Regulation
In All Federal Territory and
Interstate Commerce.
FOR COMMISSION OF FIVE
Fees for inspection and Penal
ties for Violations Of Rules
Are Provided For.
FOR COMMISSION OF FIVE

A bill providing for the Federal CEN
sorship OF motion pictures has been
agreed upon by the House Committee
on Education ana was introduced to-
day by Congressman Dudley M. Hughes,
chairman OF the committee.
Protests OF the motion picture inter-
ests against a drastic censorship by
Uncle Sam have been unavailing. so
FAR as the committee IL concerned.
Whether the bill will become a law Is
problematical. considering the con-
gested condition of business in both the
Senate and House.
The bill introduced today which will
he formally reported by the committee
tomorrow or Wednesday, bars from in
terstate commerce any Aim that has not
received the approval of the Federal
Government.
Five Commissioners.
In the District OF Columbia and other
Federal territory no film may be shown
without such approval, whether or not
II has entered Interstate commerce.
Il Is provided that there shall be
created a Federal motion picture COM
mission, composed of five commission
ers, appointed by the President and ap-
proved by the Senate. This commits
uty commissioners and to establish
branch offices. The headquarters of
the commission will be in Washington.
but 1t may establish and maintain Of
economy, and tho public interests re-
quire." Each bureau is to be in charge
of commissioner or deputy commits
sioner.
The license section of the bill pro-
"That the commission shall promptly
license for interstate and foreign COM
merce every motion picture film pre-
such f1lm or a part thereof is obscene.
Indecent. immoral, inhuman.. or Is a
reproduction of an actual bull fight or
prize fight. or is Of such character that
Its exhibition would tend to corrupt
morals or incite to crime"
No film is to be transported in inter
state and foreign commerce without the
license OF the Federal commission.
To Meet Criticism.
Realizing the, impossibility Of passing
upon the millions of feet of Aim already
in existence, the House committee has
provided that these films shall be IL
censed without inspection upon appli-
cation.
In an attempt to meet the criticism Of
representatives of the motion picture in
dustry that long delays will result in
the inspection of licensing of films. the
spected and licensed within four days
after the application Is filed by the pros
pective exhibitor. Applicants whose APP
plications are refused by some member
of the commission or deputy commits
eioner. will have the right of appeal to
the full commission.
The cost of Federal censorship Is to
be borne by the industry. 1t provides
an initial appropriation by Congress. but
after its organization the commission Is
to collect 81 for each 1000 feet Of film
licensed, and 80 cents for each additional
copy Of films. After six months the
cordance with the estimated cost of the
censorship.
Penalties Provided.
Tho commission would have no
authority over films not handled in in
terstate commerce. but II Is provided
that no film may be exhibited within
Territories. or Government reservations
without approval of the commission
even though such films may not have
entered interstate commerce.
II Is proposed that educational and
scientific films may be licensed without
tion Of the exhibitor.
The commission would be authorized
20 license certain types of films for ex-
hibition to adults only. and no child
under the age OF sixteen shall be per-
mitted to see such a film.
the commission. and II Is provided that
any person. firm or corporation sending
an unlicensed Aim in Interstate COM
mercc shall be subject to n fine of not
more than $1,000. or imprisonment for
not more than one year. or both. and
all films SO improperly shipped shall be
conhscated.