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MOTIOX PICTURE COMMISSION. 47 this ]-eqiiest, made by tlie producers and importers of motion pictures in Enoland, to the home secretary and the home secretary told him that officially neither he nor his oftice could have anything to do with the censorship of motion pictures, but he would be glad to let it be- come knoAvn that he, in an unofficial and informal manner, and his office likewise, looked >vith favor upon the decisions of Mr. Redford. Mr. Bedford then conferred with the producers and importers and exhibitors and a modus operandi was agreed upon to this effect: No exhibitor in the British Kingdom will display upon his screen any picture Avhich does not bear the stamj) of approval of Mr. Bedford's board. Now, on rare occasions—Mr. Bedford is authority for this— a local magistrate will net accept his censorship, but, he said, rare as these instances were within two or three years ago, they have now almost disappeared. Mr. Thacher. Has that censorship done any injustice to the mov- ing-picture industr}' and to the public generally? Mr. Bush. In England i Mr. Thacher. Yes. Mr. Bush. No; not at all. On the contrary, Mr. Bedford pro- ceeds in this way: He himself only views pictures that have been seen by his assistants, where his assistants tlo not feel competent to give a definite decision. In such cases they turn to him and say, " We have doubt about this picture." Then he looks at the picture and if it looks to him that this picture ought to be suppressed or some alterations ought to be nuide he calls upon the producer or importer of the picture and talks the matter over with him and sug- gests to him, " Now, don't you think without spoiling the dramatic value of this picture you might eliminate this or that? " Mr. Thacher. Does that censorship embrace all of Great Britain? Mr. Bush, Yes, sir; all of Great Britain. Mr. Thacher. In other words, no film is exhibited in any moving- picture hall in Great Britain unless it bears the approval of this board ? Mr. Bush. Exactly; but there is no legal restraint. If you want to go to England to-day and exhibit your pictures, and you can get an exhibitor to show them for you, you arc not breaking any law. Mr. Powers. There is just one other thing I want to say in line with Judge Towner's suggestion: Would you mind collaborating the laws of the principal nations of the world that have these censorships, and submit them as a part of your remarks? Mr. Bush. I should be pleased to do so, within the limits of my ability. I would be very glad indeed to compile all the data in _my possession. I would be glad to do that if this committee desires me to do it. Mr. Powers. For one, I would like to have you do it. Mr. Towner. I want to ask you whether or not you are familiar with the somewhat long extended discussion that has taken place in Great Britain about the censorship of the plays there. You referred to that, I believe? Mr. Bush. Yes, sir. Mr. Towner. And you will recall that George Bernard Shaw and his assistants have been continually fighting against it for many years. Mr. Bush. Very true.