Motion Picture News (Jan-Feb 1922)

498 Motion Picture News Lusk Denies Anti-Censor Bribe Offer Sponsor of State Censorship Repudiates Charge of Rev. Miller ; Stormy Scene in Senate Albany, Jan. 4 (Special). — Motion picture censorship was injected in the New York State Senate within twenty minutes after the annual session had opened today. And it was injected in a startling way by Senator James J. Walker of New York City, who asked that Rev. O. R. Miller, of this city, editor of the Reform Bulletin, be excluded from the legislative chambers, and then asked Senator Clayton R. Lusk if the allegations made in the Bulletin to the effect that he had been offered a large sum of money by motion picture interests in the hopes of changing his attitude on censorship were true. Coming like a bolt out of a clear sky, the whole thing proved a startling feature of the opening day of the legislature. There had not been the slightest intimation that motion picture matters would receive the slightest attention for some time to come. No sooner had the session started than Senator Walker, carrying with him a copy of the Reform Bulletin, started off by saying that Rev. Mr. Miller stood discredited in the Senate records, and was marked today as a liar and a bad sport. In fact, said Senator Walker, he had gone entirely out of his mind. With a copy of the Bulletin before him. Senator Walker then read : “ The underworld elements of the state are making frantic efforts to drive Clayton R. Lusk out of public life. He introduced a moving picture censorship bill and pushed it through the Senate, notwithstanding all the tremendous influence and money of the movie men against it. Senator Lusk has been bitterly opposed by all An Appreciation “ I am in receipt of the ‘ Motion Picture News Booking Guide’ and let me say here it is a long-needed want of the exhibitor, and none can afford to be without It. “ More power to Motion Picture News for providing the exhibitor with an essential article that will mean dollars in his pocket.” H. Browning, Manager, Grand Theatre, Middletown, Conn. the wet newspapers and the movie men. The movie men were unable to buy him, although they apparently bought everything else in sight. Undoubtedlv Senator Lusk could have sold out to the movie men for $100,000, or more, not to have pushed this movie censorship bill through the Senate. He knew this as well as any one, but he was not for sale.” Turning to Senator Lusk, Mr. Walker wanted to know if there was any truth to the statement which Rev. O. R. Miller had editorially made. He said that if there was, that the New York State Senate should know the name of the man or the producers who offered the bribe. To this Senator Lusk replied: “ No one ever offered me anything to influence my vote on censorship. I was never offered anything to conduct to myself in any way other than what I did. I do not know whether I could have got $100,000, or any other amount, for conducting myself other than as I did.” Senator Walker made a motion that the sergeant-at-arms remove Rev. O. R. Miller from the room. It ^vas Anally decided after much heated debate not to put the motion at this particular time. Today is the first time that there has ever been even the slightest intimation that motion picture interests had through money attempted to influence legislation at Albany. It is possible that Rev. Mr. Miller, who has long been against the motion picture industry in one form or another, may be summoned before the Lieutenant-Governor, presiding officer of the Senate, and asked to explain in no indeflnite way just what prompted the editorial assertions that slurred the industry.— C. L. GRANT. Films Valued at $100,000 Stolen from Vault Motion-picture Alms valued at $100,ooo, with a booking value estimated at $5,000,000, were stolen from the vault of the Metro Pictures Corporation branch office in Seattle late Wednesday night, December 28. The list of stolen Alms includes a complete copy of “ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse ” and a complete copy of “ The Conquering Power.” The latter Aim has not been shown in the Northwest except in the city of Portland. The robbery is believed to have been committed by members of the international gang of Aim thieves who recently operated in an extensive way in various parts of the country. The robbery was discovered by A. Bloom, assistant manager of the Metro corporation in Seattle, when he opened the office Thursday morning. The glass in the front door had been smashed and by reaching through the opening the cracksmen had turned the lock on the inside. An examination of the vaults showed that the combination had been worked by an expert. The safe was not damaged in any way. After careful investigation on the part of private detectives and Seattle police, it was announced no clue to the identity of the thieves had been discovered. “ Inclosed please find my check for $2.50 to pay for one year’s subscription to your NEWS and a copy of your Booking Guide. My subscription does not expire until next April and this pays me up to April, 1923. Just a good word for your magazine. I was a green-horn about pictures when I went into this game last May, and I have found your magazine almost invaluable to me. I hardly see how I could get along without it. Very truly yours, H. E. BENNETT. Rex Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind. Urges Exhibitors Keep Daily Record of Admis sions Whether Taxable or Not IN a letter to Motion Picture News this week, Edward O. Fahner of the Columbia Printing Co., Chicago, asks that wider publicity be given the changes in the new Revenue Act affecting theatre admissions and suggests to exhibitors “ that they continue to keep, as in the past, a very accurate daily record of al l admissions sold and issued as required by Article 61 of these Regulations, whether such admissions require a tax or not.” Mr. Fahner points out especially that Section 802 has been re-enacted without changes and that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue has not yet issued any rulings which would change the requirements of Regulation 43 Relating to the Tax on Admissions. The following notice from the Office of the Collector of Internal Revenue, First District of Illinois, is submitted through the courtesy of Mr. Fahner: “ Section 800 (a) of the Revenue Act of 1921, effective January 1st, 1922, provides for a tax of one cent on each ten cents or fraction thereof on admissions, and eliminates the tax on free admissions, and also provides THAT NO TAN SHALL BE APPLIED ON ADMISSIONS TO ANY PLACE THE AMOUNT PAID FOR WHICH IS TEN CENTS OR LESS. ‘‘Section 800 (b) of the Revenue Act of 1921, effective January 1st, , 1922, adds to exempt organizations any post of the American Legion or women’s auxiliary units thereof, entertainments given exclusively for the benefit of persons in the Military or Naval forces of the United States, and for the benefit of persons who have served in such forces and are in need; any city, town, village, or other municipality maintaining a co-operative or community motion picture theatre. Also exempts exhibits, entertainments, or other pay features conducted by agricultural associations, if the proceeds are used exclusively for the improvement, maintenance, and operation of the fair. “ Section 802 of the Revenue Act of 1918, pertaining to the collection and payment of tax on admissions and dues, is re-enacted by the Revenue Act of 1921 without change. „ „ “JOHN C. CANNON, “ Collector.”