100 years ago in Spokane: Movie theater owners promise to avoid “immoral pictures”

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s movie theater owners held a meeting with city commissioner F.K. McBroom in an attempt to head off a threatened moving picture censorship ordinance.

The owners agreed to become “sort of a vigilance committee, to keep the screens free from immoral pictures.” They said they would comply in every way with the decisions of the National Board of Censorship.

The proposed new city ordinance was described as “drastic” and provided heavy fines. McBroom agreed to withdraw the proposed ordinance on the promise that the owners would “keep the film entertainment of the city above reproach.”

From the mountain beat: Forest ranger Albert Baker reported snowdrifts 50 feet deep in some of the canyons of the Blue Mountains.

He said the winter was rough on the horses that were wintering in the Blues. About 100 horses either starved to death or were killed by snowslides.

Baker said he personally shot 31 coyotes, eight bobcats, two lynx and one bear over the winter.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1877: Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden had won the popular vote.