Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-27
IN THE HOUSE. q
Regulation of Moving Picture Houses
 Discussed.


 Hartford, April 2s-In the house to- day there was lengthy debate on the moving picture bill, which was finally practically unanimous in its passage. Another feature of the session was the congratulatory message to Russia. ] Much business on the calendar was disposed of and as. a whole 1t was a busy and successful session
 Moving Picture Bill. The moving picture bill amend=d Tn the senate was up for action ii the house Thursday. which provides that ducting any place where any moving picture or theatrical production is ex- hibited who shall sell any admission ticket or charge or receive any adIn.S- sion fee or collect or receive any val uable thing from any person IT, excess of the seating capacity of such place shall be fined not more than $2J, or inn priSoned not more than 30 days, for each offense. The sale of any a,imis i.sion ticket or the collection or receipt of any fee valuable thing from any person not provided with seat in any such place shall constitute an offense.
 The state police shall in order 10 insure safety and health, limit the number of persons that may occupy standing room in each place where any moving picture or theatrical produc- ton is exhibited, and shall require the person owning, managing or conduct ing such place to conspicUou5l.' Gis- play at each entrance thereto pla- card upon which shall be plai7Iy printed such standing room capacity.
 MT. Higgins of Coventry explained the bill as amended and said that the committee was not in favor of the new bill, as it was not the one recom- mended. In the original bill the pen alty was $50. He moved the indefinite postponement of the bill.
 MT. Bowers of Manchester. favored the passage of the amended bill as a convenience. He did not be'.eve ir. applying the remedy after the horse had been stolen. The bill would place the control of the movie hou ses as to their capacity, with the state police, a disinterested party. as between the He said the moving picture interests favored the bill in several cities.
 MT. Hall of New Milford told of go- ing to a picture house in Bridgeport, paid his ten cents and entered a crowded house, and still more came IT. Had there been alarm the result could not be estimated and he favored the passage of the bill.
 MT. TaIcott of Vernon sail there was need for such legislation and pa trons' protection should not be left solely with the managers, who are af- ter the coin. He said he had a rela- tive in the business and had nothing to say against the managers, still he believed they were in the business for all the profit there was in 1t. He said the bill was In good shape and ought
 MT. Hea1ey of Waterbury called for the reading of the statutes that at present pertain to places of amuse ments. but he believed the matter was covered by the act of 1909. He was not opposed to the bill.
 Mr. Peas1ey of Cheshire believed the proposed law was more adequate than the law of 1909. He said many nov ing picture houses sold tickets of ad- mission after all available standing room was occupied.
 MT. Corbett of Hartford favored the amended bill in the interests of public the people and the movie managers He said 1t was reasonable for the state police to specify the standing space and unreasonable for the managers not to announce standing room.
 MT. Higgins of Coventry said he had consulted with his committee on pub lie health and safety and cou-i not learn that one of them favored the amended bill. The superintendent of the state police had told him the ai- legged abuse could be cared for under the existing law and he bell isved the present law was adequate. The testi- mony before the committee showed that not a life had been lost by req public safety was properly safeguard ed.
 The motion to indefinitely postpone did not prevail.
 MT. Higgins read an amend nent that the bill shall not affect Union, An dover, KilHngly. Rockville, Manchester, Derby, Plymouth, Windsor, First war d in New Haven and the fourth floor ef the Allyn house. Speaker Heaiey asked if the proposer was serious in the offer of the amendment MT. Hig- gins said he was, and the amendment was ruled out of order.
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