Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 31, 1923 1539 N. Y. Lawmakers Cut Commission's Budget N. Y, Legislators Decree Against Unnecessary Secretaries and Other Items THERE isn't going to be any secretary to the laborer at the New York State Motion Picture Commission. And there isn't going to be any assistant secretary to a secretary. Nor will there be another deputy commissioner receiving $4,000 a year. Not that the commission specifically stated that the laborer was to receive a secretary, but with the request for money to meet the expenses of the commimssion, and, incidentally, this or that secretary, it is no wonder that those who made up the annual budget to meet the expenses of running New York State, including the Motion Picture Commission, wondered where under the sun all the secretaries were to be employed, and if by chance one was not to be allotted to the laborer. The Budget Committee examined the requests of the Motion Picture Commission with an eye to practical requirements and rejected such applications for additional assistance as it felt could be dispensed with without materially detracting from the effectiveness of the Board's allotted tasks as prescribed by law. Despite the arguments advanced by some observers that the Commission would shortly be disbanding under provisions of the Walker repeal measure, already adopted by the Senate and awaiting action by the Assembly, the Budget Committee pursued its examination of the Commission's requests for additional help with the same thoroughness and dispatch as would be expected if no point had been raised as to the certainty of the Commission's continuance as a bureau of the State's governmental, machinery. Provisions for increased reviewing service were allowed by the Budget Committee, but the requests for additional secretarial help were ruled out. For instance, when the Commission presented its request for the year's appropriation it carried this item: " We ask for another deputy at a salary of $4,000 to have charge of the inspection of theatres and prosecutions for violations of the law. This is an important and essential part of the work, and there is no one who can do this at the present time." The Budget Committee failed to recognize the " importance " or essential features and drew its pencil through the request. And then there is another explanation which reads as follows: " Mrs. Hosmer needs a much more competent person, and we have asked that the salary be increased to $2,500. It is necessary." And then there is another request, relative to an assistant secretary. This reads as follows : Federal Agencies Would Improve Industry IT is learned that more than one Government agency is interested in the action the Federal Trade Commission has taken against the so-called moving picture trust. It is said that the Department of Commerce, displeased at the type of films that have been sent to some foreign countries by some American agencies and also disapproving highly of some of the domestic practices of some producers and distributors, is backing the Federal Trade Commission. Exhibitors' Herald Files Suit Against Rembusch THE Exhibitors' Herald of Chicago has filed suit in the Marion County Circuit Court, Illinois, against Frank Rembusch for the sum of one hundred eighty dollars for advertising. Mr. Rembusch maintains that the debt incurred is not one collectible from him but from the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America. The following explanation is advanced for this stand: The advertising in dispute was part of the expense incurred during the organizing of exhibitors on a national scale just before the founding of the M. P. T. O. of A. in Cleveland in June of 1920. Rembusch was then president of the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors of America and was also chairman of the Committee of Seventeen, who had the national promotion work among exhibitors in hand. The Cleveland Convention, which resulted in bringing together the various exhibitor factions, including the I. M. P. E. of A., gave rise to the present M. P. T. O. of A. The Cleveland Convention, it is explained, adopted a resolution providing that all expenses of the Committee of Seventeen be paid by the M. P. T. O. of A. An expense bill later presented by Mr. Rembusch to the M. P. T. O. of A. was rejected, it is stated. The question at issue in the Exhibitors' Herald suit is whether or not Rembusch as president of the I. M. P. E. of A. is responsible for the debts of that organization. " We are endeavoring to secure an assistant secretary from the civil service list." The actual amounts that have been allowed the Commission for the year beginning July 1, should it be in existence at that time, follow, and give a very comprehensive idea of what censorship is costing New York State at the present time: Commissioners, three at $7,500 $22,500 Deputies, two at $4,000 8,000 Deputy 3,500 Financial Deputy 3,500 Secretaries to Commissioners, two at $2,500 5,000 Secretary to Commissioner 1,800 Stenographers, two at $1,500 3,000 Stenographer 1.320 Reviewers, two at $2,500 5,000 Reviewers, two at $1,800 3,600 Reviewers, four at $1,600 6,400 Laborer 1.200 Fuel, light, power and water 100 Printing and advertising 1,750 Supplies 12,000 Traveling expenses 17,500 Communication 1,625 Fixed charges 25 Rent 7,500 Repairs 250 Projecting films 7,500 The few requests allowed by the Budget Commmittee indicate, however, that there will be additional reviewers named by the Commission in the near future. Two of these are to receive $2,500, one to be located in Buffalo and one in New York, while two, receiving $1,800 apiece, will be so stationed that one will cover New York City and the other up-State, while four others, receiving $1,600 each, will probably travel over the State. Lawmakers Hear Plea to Amend State Tax One leading motion picture house at Bridgeport, Conn., has been compelled to close and another has been sold at a loss of $12,000 to the owner, members of the Finance Committee of the Connecticut Legislature were last week informed at a largely attended hearing at Hartford on the proposed bill to repeal the State amusement tax. More than 30 exhibitors of motion pictures from all parts of the State attended, urging repeal of the law on the ground that the theatre industry is already overtaxed and that in some instances the levies amount to as much as 30 per cent of the gross receipts. Proposed repeal of the amusement tax was opposed by State Tax Commissioner William H. Blodgett, County Commissioners Frank E. Ballard and Charles P. Hart of Bridgeport, and by commissioners of every other county in the State. Tax Commissioner Blodgett informed the committee that the amusement or admissions tax is economically sound, that the State needs the revenue and that there is no program providing for new revenue or any other means of providing a substitute for the revenue obtained by taxing admissions. He said that the repeal of the tax would mean a loss to the State of approximately $250,000 a year, and a loss of the same amount in the aggregate to the several counties, which now get half the tax money collected in their respective territory. He emphasized the fact that motion picture exhibitors throughout Connecticut are now paying 14 distinct and different kinds of taxes and licenses. Buffalo or N. Y. to Get Annual Convention Either Buffalo or New York City will be selected as the place of the next annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre owners of New York State, which will be held on May 8, 9, and 10. While the date of the convention was fixed by the board of directors meeting in executive session at the Hotel Ten Eyck at Albany, Wednesday afternoon, four hours of discussion failed to bring the members to a selection of the city in which the convention will be held. The board of directors has empowered President Charles L. O'Reilly to meet with two committees, one representing each of the cities bidding for the convention, within the next week. Following this meeting, President O'Reilly will announce his selection. N. Y. Deal Under Way for Allen Assets A further step was taken in the sale of the assets of Allen Theatres, Limited, Toronto, affecting 36 theatres in Canada, when G. T. Clarkson, trustee and liquidator of the circuit, visited New York on March 16 in order to negotiate with prospective purchasers there.