Motion Picture Commission : hearings before the Committee on Education, House of Representatives, Sixty-third Congress, second session, on bills to establish a Federal Motion Picture Commission (1978)

224 MOTION PICTURE COMMISSION. Scenes ssLowinj;— Cabaret dancing in grill rooms 3 Indecent suggestion 1 Objectionable dance 2 Man's shabby clothing 1 Hand-to-h.ind battle with dirk knives 1 Disgusting portrayal of honeymoon days and disgusting n)0vements in dance 1 Immorality 3 Vulgar gestures 1 Ridicule of police and portrayal of graft 3 Human being bleeding after a criminal attack, detailed 1 Setting lire to buildings 1 Choking woman and officer 1 Criniinal assault with clubs and other weapons 4 Stealing and opening mail bag 1 Prize tight 1 I'oisoning of victims 2 Theft, robbery, and burglary pictures 11 Pictures devoted entirely to crime 3 Total 59 In closing, permit me to say that the bill preferred bj' those who advocate Federal censorship is not the bill eiven at the beginning of these hearings (H. R. 14805), but rather H^R. MSr-o. printed below. This bill as originally written prohibited the exportation as well as interstate transportation of unlicensed films, and I wish to go on record as favoring the restoration of that provision by inserting in section 10 of H. R. 14895, after the words " United States.'' when first used in that section, "or from the United States into any foreign land,'" in harmony with the new treaty by which civilized nations have agreed to prevent the shipment of innnoral pictures from one country to another. Ki-AisKi) SMiTH-HrcnK.s MoTioN-ruTrHK Commission Hlm.. II. K. 14^^J»^t. lie it ciKictcd Jill the Sfiidtc aiid tloiixc uf Rriircs<iifu-tii( s <,f ih< Viiital Sttitrs of Aiiicricd in Coiif/ic.ss (iNscmblvd, That a Federal Motion-Picture Connnission be, and the same is liereby. created, to be comiiosed of five i-onmiissiouers ap- jiointed by the President, one of wliom sliall be <lesignated ;is chairman. Tlie commission shall be a di\ision of tlie Purean of Education in the Dejiartment of the Interioi-. Skc. L'. That each conunissiont'r shall hold otiice for si.\ years, except that when the commission is first constituted two commissioners shall be api)ointed for two years, two for four years, and one for six years. Kacli commissioner shall thereafter he ai>iiointed for a full term of six years, except that any per- son appointed to fill n vacancy shall bo appointed only for the unexjiired term of the member wliom he sliall succeetl. The salary of the chairman shall be $4,000 a year and of each other commissioner $3,500 a year. Sec. 3. That the commission may ai»i)oint advisory commissioners to advise and assist in the examination and censoring of films, wlio shall hold otiice during the pleasure of the commission and sei've without compensation. No person shall be apjiointed an advisor.v commissioner who. directly or indirectly, lias any pecuniary interest in the exhibition of motion pictures, or in any film exchange or tirm or corporation engaged in manufacturing motion-picture films. Sec. 4. That the ct)mniission may ai)point deputy conuuissioners ;ind other assistants and fix the compensation of each. Actual an^l necessary traveling exjjenses shall be allowed to those who travel on the business of the connnission. The commission shall be provided with necessary otiice furniture, stationery, supi)lles, jiro.lecting machines, and ai>pliances necessary for inspection of films and for manufacture of film seals: I'vovidvd. hoivcvcr. Tliat the entire cost of the commission, including salaries and all other expenses, excejit the cost of manufacturing seals, which is otherwise provided for, shall not exceed $40,000 a year.