Evening star., 1916-01-14
Motion Picture Manufacturers
Object to Bill in Congress
for Federal Supervision.
DECLARE THE MEASURE
WILL DESTROY INDUSTRY
First of Series of Hearings on Sub
Ject Given by House Committee
on Education.

ut is impossible to conduct the mo-
tion picture industry in the face of a
federal censorship" said William n
Seabury, general counsel of the Motion
Picture Board of Trade. in an argu-
ment before the House committee on
education last night. The committee
held the first of series of six hear
inss on the Hughes Smith bill to Gre
ate an iron bound censorship over mo-
ton pictures. which would have to be
viewed by federal authorities before
being allowed copyright privileges and
rights in interstate commerce.
Fully score of motion picture man
ufacturers have come to Washington to
attend the hearings and oppose the bill,
and the general outline of their posi-
tion is in the hands of William " Sea-
bury. counsel. and J. w. Binder secre-
tary. of the Motion Picture Board of
Trade.
Favored by DR.. Crafts.
The bill was favored last night by
Rev. DIR. Wilbur F. Crafts. head of the
international reform bureau of this
city, who presented the committee with
an extract from report to the House
on similar bill in the last Congress.
He read letters to uphold his claim
that the motion pictures now shown
are dangerous to morals
1nasmuch as the manufa cturers had
the floor most of the time, 1.-The committee
heard more of their side than of any
thing else, and a continuation of the
opposition will be carried on toni ght.
Mr.. Binder told the committee that
there are fundamental errors in the
bill: that the measure seeks to censor
a form of expression which would be
tantanount to federal censorship
over all printed newspapers, magazines
and books.
p. A. Powers Of the Universal Film
manufacturing Company said that the
national board of censorship now in
operation is a voluntary body. and
described it ''as a lot of good people
who wished themselves into job.'''
He said the national board does not
aid the uplift of the motion picture
industry.
Opposes Putting Out "Bad" Pictures
I'VE cannot afford to put out bad
pictures he said. IF only % per cent
Of the motion pictures are good, as is
claimed. the industry would not exist,
and could not exist. The people would
turn against it. AS an example of the
practical workings of censorship al
low me to call attention to the Ohio
board of censors. One of the mem
bers is sick. and the other two are sore
on one another and never speak to
each other
The censorship as proposed in the
Hughes Smith bill is vicious and un-
American declared William n Sea =
bury. 1T wauld so tie up the indus
try as to, put out of business entirely
all films of travel and news features"
Asked for substitute measure. Mr.
Seabury promptly replied that motion
picture films shoo4d be included under
the existing law which stops the ship
ping or mailing of improper books and
pictures.
Finds Fault With Wording of Bill.
Paul Cromelin, a former Washing
toniap and now motion picture i'm.
porter of New York, told the committee
that the bill is so worded as to abso-
luteIy prohibit the importation of any
films at all; also that it would stop the
shipment of Photographic films from
one state to another. He denied vigor
ously the statement of DR.. Crafts tina
there is government censorship il
Great Britain.
II was in the business in England
and l know he said.
Some of the other motion picture mer
present were Jenkin L. Jones. Than
hauser Film Corporation, New York
Don J. Bell. Bell and Howell Company
Chicago; Chester Beecroft. CentauI
Film Company. New. York city; Nicho
las Power. New York; John r. Freuler
Washington. D. c.; w: stephen Bush
New York, and Granville S. Mcfarland
Boston