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Show SILLY LEGISLATION. A GOOD example of the foolishness of much of the legislation which is introduced into the State Legislature at each session is to be found in the bill fathered by Senator Chez of Ogden, by which he attempts to constitute con-stitute the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State, a board of censorship for moving pictures. Under Un-der the terms of this bill it would become be-come the duty of the State Superintendent Superin-tendent of Schools, in addition to his other duties, to examine and pass upon the fitness of all moving pictures imported im-ported into the state and released by the various exchanges for exhibition. The author of this bill evidently knows just about as much about the moving picture business as the average aver-age swine does ahout its great grand-sire. grand-sire. He possibly is not aware that from 75 to 100 reels of moving picture pic-ture film are imported into the state and used each week. If the Superintendent Superin-tendent of Public Instruction in addition ad-dition to performing the other duties of his office, had to witness the production pro-duction of these pictures upon the screen before they could be releused for use by the various theatres, he would do well to put in an advance order or-der for half a dozen extra pairs of eyes; for he would certainly need them. Of course, the bill goes on to provide pro-vide that the Governor may authorize author-ize the employment by the Superintendent Superin-tendent of one or more additional clerks in his office at a per diem not to exceed three dollars for each day actually employed; but would the Superintendent Su-perintendent of Public Instruction be warranted in approving motion picture pic-ture films for use over his signature on the recommendation of a three-dollar three-dollar clerk? We hardly think so. There i. without a question many moving picture films exhibited in the state which are not calculated to elevate ele-vate or improve the morals of the people, but it is serious question as to whether a state, under the provisions provis-ions of interstate law, can regulate the use, or pass upon the fitness of moving pictures within its borders, which are approved by the country at large. tan Without question the only practical and effectual way of regulating the moving picture subjects is through a national organization, or by national law. There is, of course, already a national board of censor for moving pictures, but by what authority they are appointed and governed, we are not prepared to say. It. has, however, come within our observation that the films receiving their approval are, almost al-most without exception, clean, moral and of a satisfactory character. If the Utah Legislature wishes to do something to improve the quality of the pictures exhibited within the state, why not pass a law requiring the approval of the national board of censors on all films admitted for exhibition ex-hibition in this state? This would be a more rational way of handling the matter than to saddle it upon the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, In-struction, who already has a fair share of work to perform. If there are objections ob-jections to this course, then the only alternative, as we see it, is the ap pointment of a state board of censor to pass upon the films released thru the various exchanges of this state. Hut this is only one example of the folly of legislators attempting to prescribe pre-scribe laws to regulate and govern things of which they are almost totally to-tally ignorant. That's why we favor, among other things, a rational, rea sonable public utilities commission, whose business it will be to investigate investi-gate the affairs of public utility corporations cor-porations and initiate or recommend such legislation as is reasonable and proper for their regulation. For instance: For men who have never had any actual experience in railroading to attempt to prescribe how many cars shall constitute a train, what speed it shall travel, how many men shall comprise its crew, etc., etc., appears to us as ridiculous in the extreme. In these days men in every line of human activity are required to be specialists. And men in order to legislate leg-islate intelligently on any particular question should be specialists or familiar fa-miliar with that subject. Two years ago the railroads were the target for a volley of amateur measures; this year the motion picture pic-ture houses seem to be the principal object of attack, a number of bills beside be-side the one above referred to having been prepared. Unless a legislator has some definite defi-nite and worthy object to attain, it is much better for him to remain still and help guard pernicious legislation from getting through, than to work over time to introduce bills, with no other apparent object than to get his name printed as their author. |