The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-25

Monteomery, August 24.--(Special) If a bill introduced in the house of rep resentatives a few days ago by Repre- sentative Lynne of Morgan county be- comes a law in it's present form it will practically end the moving picture bus mess in Alabama.
 The bill was prepared under the di- rection of committee of women and introduced by Mr, Lynne at their re- quest.
 MT. Lynne wants it understood that he is not responsible for the bill nor is he committed to it and he further states that it is not an administration meas ure.
 It is very drastic and should it be enacted into law, not only would pic turjzed exhibitions of tragedies and otber crimes be prohibited but exhibi- lions of nudes or artly nude women romantic love scenes and pass1onate kisses as we'll In fact, all the JOY would be taken out of the movies and they would be reduced to exhibitions or the rnerest conventionalities.
 No longer would it be possible for The fla Bara to ''vamp" on the screen or for Mack Sennett's beauties to dlsport tneH divine forms unadorned on the sandy beaches for the delectation or movie bnticians Bill Hart and his shoot IT'S would be relegated to the scrap neap. and Annette Kellerman would go Into discard
 Here are some of the things that are prohibited:
 To sell, lease, lend, exhibit or use motion picture film, reel or view m Alabama without the approval of the state board of censors.
 To exhibit pictures that are sacrilig- ious, obscene, vulgar, indecent or lm- moral; to show the human body in the nude state, domestic or conjugal in fidelity of an immoral nature, child birth or maternity scene, seduction of women or girls, or their confinement for immoral purposes; to exhibit films, reels or views depicting the use Of opium or other habit-forming drugs, together with traffic in same; robblng, murders, poisoning, pocket-picking, lighting and wiring of bombs, use or rhloroform. ether or other drugs 10 render person unconscious; binding, gagging, stabbing, accompanied by pleading, leashing, whipping and tor turing, hanging, lynching, surgical op- erations, or persons in delirium or in- sane; abortion or malpractice, counter feiting, incendiarism: provided that nothing in this act is meant to pro- hibit or make unlawful the presenta- ton of any reel. film or view which represents the work, inquiry, investiga- ton of any reports of any inquisitorial or Investigating committee, board or organization expressly provided by laws of the United States or any. state mu- nicipality in the United States, which such reel film or view is ordered, di- rected or permitted by the will or wish of such board or organization or conn mittee; and provided further, that noth- Ing in this act shall prevent the board from approving any reel, film or view which they do not deem harmful to human welfare.
 The board of censors shall stamp a certificate of their approval on all films. reels or views permitted by them to be exhibited in the state.
 For the Inspection and certified tion producers or exhibitors shall pay to the board of censors $1 for each thou sand feet of film so inspected and s1 for each duplicate thereof. payable in advance.
 Members of employees of the board may enter any place where films, reels or views are exhibited and are authorized to prevent the exhibiti,n of unauthorized pictures.
 Posters or other advei Using matter containing anything of an immoral na. ture or in violation of the provisions of this act are forbidden.
 Persons, firms or corporations desir- ing or intending to sell. lease. rent or exhibit films, reels or views in Ala bama must submit with their application a description of such film, reel or view with an affidavit or statement that the duplicate is an exact copy of the orig inal and that all eliminations, changes and rejectons requested by the board have been or will be made.
 Provision is made for appeal from the decisions of the board to court of com mon pleas (circuit courD of the proper county, and pending the decision of the court such film, reel or view shall no, be shown.
 The penalty for a violation of any of the provisions of this act is. upon con. viction thereof, a fine of not less thar s25 nor more than $50 for the first of fense, and for subsequent convictions not less than $50 nor more than 500.
 Failure to display the certificate oi approval subjects the offender to fine