Evening star., 1938-02-13
SENATE TO PROBE
PAID MOVIE SHOWS
IN SCHOOLS HERE.
King Extends Criticism of
D. c. Courts to Include
Police Branch.
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
SOURCES INVESTIGATED
Inquiry Into Number of Munici.
pal Employees Also Possible,
Chairman Says.

Complaints regarding the terms and
conditions under which paid motion
picture shows are said to be held for
pupils in some Of the public schools
will be inquired into this week by the
Senate subcommittee handling the
1889 District appropriation bill, Chair
man Thomas, Democrat of Oklahoma
announced last night.
At the same time Chairman King
OF the Senate District Committee, also
member of the Appropriations Sub
committee, extended to Police Court
his recent criticism of the amount of
work done by District Court judges
and announced he is investigating the
schedules of both courts.
Senator Thomas also made known
he has asked District officials to sum
up sources of unemployment relief the
District may have other than the
100000 direct relief item in the pend
ing bill, such as w. P. A., the Civilian
Conservation Corps and the social Sc
curity program.
The subcommittee chairman gave
mtimation also of a possible inquiry
to determine whether the municipal
government has too many employees.
These various developments came
Unexpectedly yesterday after the sub
committee had finished hearing de-
partment heads Friday. The sub
committee will resume at 10 am. to-
morrow, when spokesmen for civic
organizations who have requested
hearings will be heard.
Public school officials will be called
Wednesday, Senator Thomas said, for
questioning on the motion picture
show complaints that have reached
the subcommittee chairman.
Senator Thomas said the informa-
tion presented to him is to the effect
that in about six schools the film
shows are held during the school
term, and that the proceeds are
handled as private fund and used for
various private purposes. He was told,
he said, that in some instances gifts
have been bought for presentation to
individuals. The Oklahoma Senator
said another complaint made to him
was that some Of the pictures shown
are below the standards observed in
commercial moving picture theaters.
The Senator emphasized that he
- has only the complaints thus far, and
that his purpose in calling the school
ofhcials Wednesday is to find out
what basis there Is for the reports
reaching him.
Not Opposed to Shows.
He will not object to the holding of
motion picture performances, nor to
charging admission, the Senator said
He added, however, that if his in
formation is borne out he will pro-
pose an amendment to the supply
bill, to provide that no school build
Ing could be used for that purpose
unless all of the proceeds 20 into the
Treasury.
With regard to unemployment relief,
the chairman said he had gained the
impression the city would have only
the $9OO,0 900 in the House bill, but has
had his attention drawn to the added
effect Of various other allotments on
the general problem of caring for
those unable to support themselves.
His action in asking District officials
to present composite statement of
these other sources of aid does not
mean that he will be against increas-
ing the 100000 figure, he said, but
merely that he wants a more COM
plete picture of the situation.
Senator King was not certain he
would make his inquiry concerning the
progress OF, court work in connection
with the appropriation hearings, but
said he would look into it in the near
future. He expressed opposition to
appointment of more Police Court
judges. declaring he is not satisfied
with the amount of work the court
now performs.
In Judiciary Subcommittee hear
Ing Friday the Utah Senator criticized
the length of the summer recess in the
United States District Court, and said
he would favor appointment of one.
but not three, additional justices for
that court.
With regard to the size of the Dis
trict government organization, sena-
tor Thomas said he has been informed
the city has $4,000 employees, and sup-
gested an inquiry may be made At
some future time to find out how this
numoer compares with other cities.