The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-02-11
LAWS TO GOVERN
MOVIE BUSINESS
Creation of State Bureau OF In
spection TO Be Essence OF
Proposed Measure:
MAY PLAN FOR CENSORSHIP
Organizations Interested In Bill Which
Would Empower Governor to
Appoint State Board of
Three Members.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. are under way
for the introduction In the Indiana
legislature of a bill which is TO be
backed by the Legislative Council OF
Indiana Women, providing for the
creation of state bureau of inspec-
ton of motion pictures.
The legislative council Is not sup
porting the motion picture censorship
bill which is drawn up and expected
10 be introduced this week.
The women are working along lines
Of Endorsement, rather than censor
ship. and probably will use as a model
the Nebraska bill, now in the state
legislature there for creating bu-
reau of inspectors. They have been
studying also the activities of the Chi
cago city council along this line. Rev.
W. S. Fleming of Chicago, member
of the censorship commission appoint
ed by Alderman Otto Kerner, is eX-
pected 70 be here next week with two
other men TO assist in drawing up a
bill.
Mrs. S. c. StimsOn, chairman Of the
steering committee Of the legislative
council, has started with the assist
ance of n corps of women a survey of
indianapolis motion picture houses.
Mrs. StimsOn is receiving sugges-
tions for an Indiana law in response
TO a letter sent TO members of the
legislative council, in which she en-
al Of iCff n
laws. Most of the suggestions are for
a law which I'm substance will be
legalization of the powers of the pres
ent board Of indOrserS of phOtOplays,
rather than for a censorship law.
The Marion County W. c. I. L. eX-
pressed itself as absolutely opposed
TO Sunday motion pictures.
That the moving picture censorship
question will again he discussed by
both branches of the general assem-
bly, became assured when it was an
nOunced that representatives of the
Indiana Civic Union and other Organi-
cations would bring about the intro
ductiOn of bill providing for the es-
adjustment of q state board of CEN
sorship.
The bill provides for the appoint
ment by the governor of commits
sion of three members Salaries of
the commissioners are fixed at $4,000
annually for the chairman, and $1,000
for the other two members. 1t is pro
vided that the commissioners shall
hold office for four years, except in
the first three years of the life OF the
commission.
The commission would be empOw-
cred to employ advisory commission
ers as it saw At, who would serve
without salary. 1t Is specified that
the expense of the commission shall
not exceed $4,000 annually.
The commission would have power
to order all films sent into the state
to be sent to ii for examination. Pro
vision for the licensing of the film is
made. after the film has been eX-
amlned and passed on by the commits
sion. The commission would refuse
to license films which contained Job
scene, indecent, immoral or inhuman"
scenes. or pictures of bull fights or
prize fights. The commission also
would have the power TO require
changes in films. Provision is made
for the passing. without examination,
of pictures pOrtraying current events
or scientific films not intended for gen
eral public showing.
The right of appeal from rulings of
the commission TO the Circuit or SUI
perior couSts of any county is pro-
vided
The bill provides that a license fee
of 50 shall be paid for each 1000 feet
of film examined. and that 81 shall
be paid by the producer for each copy
/ of each film examined.
Penalties not TO exceed $500 and
costs or one year in prison are fixed
I by the bill. Ii is also provided that
/ the fees for examination and licenS-
/ ing may be reduced in case they ex-
coed the cost of operating the censor
ship system.
Senators FurnaS and HOgStOn intro
duced a bill TO create a board of cen
sorship for moving pictures. The bill
is different from any that has beer
discussed or proposed by civic Organi
cations. 1t provides for paying the
lieutenant governor $500 as secre
tary of the board and makes the state
treasurer and superintendent of pub
lie instruction the other members o.
the board, 10 serve without pay. 1
provides for fee of 81 for inspecting
reels of not more than 1000 feet anC
s. for longer reels.
Unlimited Number Of Deputies
Senator Oscar Rats of Paoli, wh'
intrndncad n hill i'm the Senafe Mhicl