Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

382 Motion Picture .V e ?v s Senate Debates High Film Tariff ARGUMENTS for and against a high protective tariff on motion picture importations were presented before the Senate Finance Committee at Washington on Tuesday, December 27. The hearing was held in connection with the proposed increased duties in the Fordney tariff bill. Saul Rogers representing the Fox Film Corporation and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry declared that the American film industry does not stand in need of protection from foreign competition and that a high film import duty in this country would result in retaliatory action by other countries to which American pictures are being sent. Paul Turner, representing the Actors’ Equity Association, and John Emerson, an independent producer, asked that the proposed duty be increased to fifty per cent. They declared that big American producers are planning to transfer many of their studios to Europe to take advantage of lower production costs. Mr. Turner asserted that the cost of production in Germany is ten per cent of that in America. Responding to an inquiry from the Senators concerning reported excessive salaries of certain picture stars, Mr. Emerson declared these reports exaggerated. Saul Rogers has issued an explanation of the attitude of the National Association in regard to the proposed tariff on imported film. The present specific duty is leveled in accordance with the act of 1913, paragraph 380, which fixes the duty of two cents per linear foot on all photographic film negative exposed, but not developed; three cents per linear foot on film exposed and developed, and one cent per foot on all positive photographic film. Mr. Rogers gives the following seven reasons why the tariff should remain unchanged: First — in event of the imposition of the contemplated thirty per cent, ad valorem duty, retaliatory duties will be imposed by foreign countries, which will jeopardize the foreign market, which is now 80 per cent, controlled by American manufacturers. Second — that if the new tariff is passed the American manufacturer will be compelled to go abroad and produce on a large scale in order to be afforded an entry in the European market on a basis equal to that of European manufacturers and competitors. Third — that if the new tariff is adopted the American consumer will ultimately be compelled to pay higher prices if the present standard of production is to be maintained. Fourth — that by reason of the foregoing, if such a tariff be imposed, a number of actors, directors, artisans and laborers will be forced out of employment. Fifth — that the tariff is unnecessary either for protection of the American industry, or for yielding any appreciable revenue. Sixth — that the industry requires no protection because it dominates the whole market and practically 80 per cent, of the foreign market. Seventh — foreign productions have made no inroads in the American market, and have not as yet become a real competitor and the comparative small number of foreign productions that have been imported or will be imported in the near future, yield an insignificant small revenue. Pre-Release Review of “School Days” (( CHOOL DAYS,” a seven reel ^ version of Gus Edwards’ peren. ^ nially famous sketch of the same name, was given its premiere showing at the Allen theatre, Cleveland, this week, under the personal direction of S. Barrett McCormick. “ School Days” is a masterpiece. You have to take your hat off to the Warner Brothers and Harry Raph who produced it; to William Nigh who directed it; to Wesley Barry, who, as Specks Brown, outshines all of his preceding characterizations, and to S. Barrett McCormick, who offered it as a Chistmas present to the Allen theatre patrons. “ School Days ” can easily be classed among the ten best pictures of the year. It has all the ingredients that make it a big success. There’s universal appeal in a school room; there’s sympathy for an orphan who isn’t getting a square deal; there’s plenty of comedy both in and out of school; there’s love and loyalty and understanding, and then there’s excitement, too, when the country lad is almost, but not quite, fleeced by the city crooks. The contrast between the city bred children and the country bred boy is finely pictured. The outdoor scenes are all beautiful. Everyone of them stir up the universal call of nature. The city scenes are contrastingly elaborate. Wesley Barry and his dog head the cast of “ School Days.” — Elsie Loeb. Mother of Tom Hamlin Dies in Minneapolis Mrs. Saloma Hamlin, mother of Tom Hamlin, editor of the Motion Picture Journal, died at her home in Minneapolis on December 27th, at the age of seventy-five. Mr. Hamlin left New York im-' mediately for Minneapolis. MOTION PICTURE NEWS William A. Johnston, Pros. & Editor E. Kendall Gillett, Treasurer George D. Gould, Managing Editor Fred. J. Beecroft, Adv. Mgr. Published on Friday every week by MOTION PICTURE NEWS, Inc., 7 20 Seventh Ave., New York, N. Y ’Phone 9S60 Bryant Chicago Representative. L. H. Mason, 910 S. Michigan Ave. ; ’Phone Harrison 7667. Los Angeles Representative, .T. C. .lessen. Suite 205. BakerDetwiller Building, 412 West Sixth St. ; 'Phone Pico 7S0. Subscription $3 a year, postpaid, in United States, Mexico, Hawaii, Porto Rico and Philippine Islands. Canada, $5. Foreign. $S. N. B.— No agent is authorized to take subscriptions for Motion Picture News at less than these rates. Have the agent who takes your subscription show his credentials and coupon book. Western Union registered cable address is “ Picknews,” New York. Copyright, 1922, by Motion Picture Neics, Inc. Motion picture celebrities who participated in the formation of the Independent Screen Artists’ Guild at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, December 15 th Left to right, seated: Col. Wm. N. Selig, Buster Keaton, Thomas H. Ince, Jackie Coogan, Charles Chaplin, Allen Holubar, Sol Lesser, Maurice Tourneur Standing: Lou Anger, J. Parker Read, Jr., James Young, Jack Coogan, Richard Walton Tully, Carter De Haven, H. O. Davis, J. D. Williams, J. L. Frothingham, Rudolph Cameron, Jos. M. Schenck, Louis B. Mayer, Marshall Neilan, Ben Schulberg, R. A. Walsh, Hobart Henley