Block v. City of Chicago

87 N.E. 1011, 239 Ill. 251

• Court: Illinois Supreme Court
• Decided: February 19, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Cartwright

delivered the opinion of the court:

The plaintiffs in error, Jake Block, Nathan Wolf, J. H. Ferris, B. Munstock, S. VanRonkel and A. VonRonkel, filed their bill of complaint in the superior court of Cook county against the defendant in error, city of Chicago, alleging that they were engaged in the business of operating five and ten-cent theaters in the city of Chicago, where moving pictures were displayed, and praying the court to enjoin the defendant in error from enforcing an ordinance entitled “An ordinance prohibiting the exhibition of obscene and immoral pictures and regulating the exhibition of pictures of the classes and kinds commonly shown in mutoscopes, kinetoscopes, cinemetographs and penny arcades,” passed November 4, 1907, and in force November 19, 1907, and to restrain the further prosecution of a suit brought by defendant in error against said Jake Block in the municipal court of Chicago for a violation of said ordinance, and the bringing of any proceedings against any of the complainants for any alleged violation of the provisions of the said ordinance. The court sustained the demurrer of the defendant to the bill, and the complainants having elected to stand by their bill, it was dismissed - for want of equity, at their costs. The ground upon which the injunction was asked for' was, that the ordinance deprived the complainants of their rights under the constitution and was therefore void, and for that reason the record has been brought directly to this court for review by writ of error.

The ordinance requires those engaged in the business of exhibiting moving pictures to secure a permit for the exhibition of such pictures, and provides that the chief of police shall not issue a permit for the exhibition of any obscene or immoral picture or series of pictures, but that he shall issue a permit, without fee or charge, for all pictures which are not obscene or immoral. The ordinance declares that it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to show or exhibit in a public place, or in a place where the public is admitted, any picture or series of pictures of the classes or kinds commonly shown in mutoscopes, kinetoscopes, cinemetographs, and such pictures or series of pictures as are commonly shown or exhibited in so-called penny arcades, and in all other automatic or moving picture devices, without first having secured a permit therefor from the chief of police. It recjuires the applicant for a permit to show to the chief of police the plates, films, rolls or other like apparatus by or from which the picture or series of pictures is,shown or produced or the picture or series of pictures as shown or exhibited. The chief of police must either grant or deny the permit within three days after such inspection, and if the picture or series of pictures is immoral or obscene he must' refuse the permit, but otherwise it is his duty to grant it without a fee or tax of any kind. If the chief of police refuses to grant a permit the applicant may appeal to the mayor, whose decision shall be final. When a permit is once granted the picture or series of pictures may be shown by any othér exhibiter, provided’ the written permit is’ delivered to him and a written notice of the transfer or lease is mailed to the chief of police, and any number of transfers or leases of the same picture or series of pictures may be made under those conditions. The permit must be posted at or near the entrance to the place of exhibition, and anyone violating the terms of the ordinance is subject to a fine, not less than $50 nor more than $100, for each offense.

The material facts alleged in the bill and taken to be true for the purposes of the demurrer are as follows: The complainants are engaged in the business of operating five and ten-cent theatres, where moving pictures are displayed by means of moving picture machines known as mutoscopes, lcinetoscopes and cinemetographs, and have paid a license fee for the business. The pictures are displayed upon canvas and are taken from plays and dramas which the bill says are moral and in no way obscene. Among the pictures are pictures taken from the plays known as the “James Boys” and the “Night Riders,” displaying experiences connected with the history of this country. There had been, and at the time of the display of the pictures by complainants there were, certain plays and dramas being performed in certain playhouses in the city of Chicago of which the pictures were reproductions of parts.- The films which are used in exhibiting pictures are not owned by the exhibiters but are rented from concerns which make a business of renting films to complainants and others at a certain rental per week, and if the films must first be exhibited to the chief of police and a permit obtained it will be necessary to rent the films for a greater length of time and for a larger expense than otherwise. The chief of police refused to grant a permit for the display of the pictures of the “James Boys” and “Night Riders,” and others used by the complainants, about two hundred or three hundred in all, without having any hearing in a court of law where the complainants might defend their. rights and property interests. The defendant brought an action in the municipal court against the complainant Jalee Block for a penalty for exhibiting the pictures known as “James Boys” without a permit, and threatened to bring other proceedings against Jake Block and the other complainants. There are about two hundred persons engaged in the same business in Chicago in addition to the complainants, all of whom are similarly situated, and the chief of police threatens to enforce the ordinance against all of them. At the same time permits to complainants were refused for the pictures named, some of the pictures prohibited were being shown in the city in stereopticon views and stationary pictures. The bill alleges that the ordinance is void because it discriminates against the exhibiters of moving pictures, delegates discretionary and judicial powers to the chief of police, takes the property of complainants without due process of law, and is unreasonable and oppressive.

The purpose of the ordinance is to secure decency and morality in the moving picture business, and that purpose falls within the police power.. It is designed as a precautionary measure to prevent exhibitions criminal in their nature and forbidden by the laws. Even the possession of an indecent picture is a crime under section 223 of the Criminal Code, and the offender may be confined in the county jail not more than six months or be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1000 for each offense. The ordinance applies to five and ten-cent theatres such as the complainants operate, and which, on account of the low price of admission, are frequented and patronized, b)'- a large number of children, as well as by those of limited means who do not attend the productions of plays and dramas given in the regular theatres. The audiences include those classes whose age, education and situation in life specially entitle them to protection against the evil influence of obscene and immoral representations. The welfare of society demands tjiat every effort of municipal authorities to afford such protection shall be sustained, unless it is clear that some constitutional right is interfered with. The defendant by its charter has been invested with very extensive powers to enable it to accomplish the purpose of this ordinance. By clause 41 of article 5 it is authorized to license, tax,, regulate, suppress and prohibit exhibitions, shows and amusements. Clause 45 gives power to prohibit the sale or exhibition of obscene or immoral publications, prints, pictures or illustrations, and clause 58 authorizes the defendant to regulate places of amusement. The legislature have thereby given to the defendant power to use every legitimate means for prohibiting and preventing the exhibition of obscene or immoral pictures, but it is argued that in doing so they have interfered with constitutional rights by requiring a permit for moving pictures while none is required for stereopticon or other stationary pictures. No fee, tax or other burden is laid upon the exhibiter of moving pictures, and the permit must be issued if the picture or series of pietures is not immoral or obscene.

Counsel argue the question as though exhibitors of stereopticon or other stationary pictures are authorized by the ordinance to exhibit immoral or obscene pictures while the complainants are prohibited from doing so. That is a false notion, and is of the same character as the argument advanced in City of Chicago v. Brownell, 146 Ill. 64. It was there claimed that the ordinance prohibiting book making and pool selling except within the enclosures of fair and race track associations during the actual time of the meetings of said associations or within twenty-four hours before any such meetings was void, as authorizing book making or pool selling in the excepted places at the times mentioned. The court said that the ordinance did nothing of the kind, but simply made no provision for the punishment of those who might do the specified acts within the enclosures at certain times. Attention was called to the radical and fundamental distinction between a failure to provide punishment for an act and the sanction of it, and it is clear that the ordinance in this case does not authorize or sanction the exhibition of obscene or immoral pictures in stereopticon or other stationary pictures, which the statute of the State has made criminal. If this ordinance did not exist, neither the complainants nor other exhibiters of pictures would have any right to exhibit obscene pictures, either moving or stationary. If the pictures for which the chief of police refused permits were immoral or obscene, it is no ground of objection to the ordinance that other persons were violating the law by other means or that the ordinance does not provide for the punishment of such other persons.

Another supposed discrimination is based on the allegation that some of the same scenes displayed by moving pictures are shown in theatres where the scenes are enacted upon the stage and there is no requirement that the show shall be given before the chief of police and a permit obtained. Clause 45 of article 5 of the city charter, which empowers the defendant to prohibit the exhibition of ob- • scene or immoral pictures, has no reference to theatres. Their business is not the exhibition of pictures. It cannot therefore be said that the exercise of the power conferred by clause 45 is unreasonable because it does not include the theatre. Where an ordinance is passed in pursuance of an express power to pass an ordinance of that character, it can not be set aside by the courts because they may deem it unreasonable. (City of Peoria v. Calhoun, 29 Ill. 317; Dillon on Mun. Corp. sec. 262.) Unless the legislature had no power to confer upon the city the authority contained in clause 45 without including theatres, for the reason that the power delegated would be in conflict with the constitution, 6the objection now under consideration could not be sustained. The constitution contains a prohibition against local and special laws in certain classes enumerated in section 22 of article 4, but there is no other prohibition which can be enforced by the courts. In all other classes of cases the question whether a general law can be made applicable or whether a special one shall be passed is for the legislature. (Knopf v. People, 185 Ill. 20.) Under the constitution the legislature cannot pass any special law incorporating a city or amending its charter, but clause 45 is general and applies to every city incorporated under the act, and the prohibition of the constitution does not apply to ordinances that may be adopted by a city within the powers conferred upon it. (People v. Cooper, 83 Ill. 585.) It is true that an ordinance which deprives a party of a right guaranteed by the constitution is null and void, but the complainants were bound to point out such a provision to authorize the court to restrain the city from the enforcement of the ordinance. To say that an ordinance is special and applies only to a certain business or to persons engaged in a certain line of business does not condemn .it.

The ordinance, however, is not special and contains no discrimination against persons of the same class or engaged in the same business. It applies alike to all persons engaged in the moving picture business, which the bill itself shows to be a separate and well established branch of the amusement business. There is good ground for regulations concerning that business, which is different from the business of exhibiting pictures by stereopticons or other similar methods. As to the stereopticon and other similar pictures, there is no allegation in the bill that any business of that kind is carried on, and so far as appears it may be a mere incident of lectures, church entertainments or amateur performances ; but if it is a business, the places where it is conducted may be inspected to ascertain whether there is any violation of law, while in the case of moving pictures, rented and passed from one exhibiter to another about the city and constantly changing, it would require the constant attendance of a great force of policemen at the various exhibitions in the two hundred places mentioned in the bill. There is also a radical difference between the burden imposed by the exhibition of films and pictures to be exhibited in the moving picture show and a requirement that a large number of actors shall go through a dramatic performance before the chief of police. The one is but a trifling inconvenience, while the other would verge upon the ridiculous and entail great and unnecessary expense. To hold that a city, in executing the power conferred upon it to suppress and prohibit thing's which are hurtful to the morals of the people, must pursue the course insisted upon by counsel would be to practically prevent the execution of the power at all. The ordinance embraces all persons similarly situated and contains no discrimination as between them. (City of Chicago v. Bowman Dairy Co. 234 Ill. 294; Hawthorn v. People, 109 id. 302.) In Gundling v. City of Chicago, 176 Ill. 340, the fact that young persons of weak and immature minds are more liable to use tobacco in the form of cigarettes than in any other form was considered sufficient to authorize the city to single out, regulate- and license the sale of tobacco in that form without including any other form of tobacco. There, is at least equal reason for singling out and regulating the five and ten-cent theatres, attended in great numbers by children, without including other theatres and other forms of public entertainment.

It is also argued that the ordinance is void because it delegates legislative and judicial powers to the chief of police by giving him the power to determine whether a picture or series of pictures is immoral or obscene, and not giving to the applicant for a permit a day in court for the determination of the question whether the picture or series of pictures is immoral or obscene. It is true that a legislative body cannot divest itself of its proper function to determine what the law shall be, but it may authorize others to do those things which it might properly but cannot understandingly or advantageously do. That rule was stated as long ago as the case of People v. Reynolds, 5 Gilm. 1, where it was said that without that power legislation wmild become oppressive and yet imbecile, and that local laws, almost universally, call into action to a greater or less extent the agency and discretion either of the people or individuals to accomplish in detail what is authorized or required in general terms. Government could not be carried on if nothing could be left to the judgment and discretion of administrative officers, and the doctrine of that case has been steadily adhered to ever since. Discretion may be reserved to the officer charged with the duty of issuing dram-shop licenses to determine the number to be granted and the location; (People v. Cregier, 138 Ill. 401;) and a reasonable discretion may be exercised by such officer, whether it is reserved to him by the ordinance or not. (Harrison v. People, 222 Ill. 150.) An act giving discretion to an inspector as to the number, location, material and construction of fire escapes is not unconstitutional, as delegating legislative or judicial power. (Arms v. Ayer, 192 Ill. 601.) Neither is an ordinance in violation of the constitution which gives to the commissioner of public works authority to approve a device to prevent the spilling of oil on the streets. (Spiegler v. City of Chicago, 216 Ill. 114.) It has never been questioned that power may be delegated to officers to determine facts, such as whether animals are diseased so as to exclude them from importation; whether meat or food is found upon an inspection to be unhealthy or diseased; whether an assemblage amounts to a riot to be dispersed. There are numerous facts of that kind which must be left to administrative officers, and the ordinance is not invalid because the chief of police must determine the question of fact whether a picture or series of pictures is immoral or obscene.

But it is said that, conceding the power of the legislative body to authorize an administrative officer to determine the question, the ordinance fixes no standard by which it is to be determined. Manifestly it would be impossible to specify in an ordinance every picture or particular variety of picture which would be considered immoral or obscene, and no definition could be formulated which would afford a better standard than the words of the ordinance. It is doubtless true, as said by counsel, that there are people who differ upon the subject, as to what is immoral or obscene. There are the shameless and unclean, to whom nothing is defilement and from whose point of view no picture would be considered immoral or obscene. Perhaps others could be found, with no laxity of morals, who pay homage to art and would not regard anything as indelicate or indecent which had artistic merit, and would look upon .any person entertaining different sentiments as of inferior intelligence, without proper training on the subject and blinded with bigotry. Both classes are exceptional, and the average person of healthy and wholesome mind knows well enough what the words “immoral” and “obscene” mean and can intelligently apply the test to any picture presented to him. There is as great diversity of opinion as to what constitutes good moral character, but it is beyond question that an officer authorized to grant a license to keep a dram-shop may determine whether the applicant has a good moral character, and there has been no ground for complaint that the power has been wrongfully or oppressively exercised against applicants. It is presumed that the chief of police, or the mayor, in case of an appeal to him, will perform his duty with reasonable intelligence and in accordance with the generally accepted meaning of the words. If there should be an abuse of power on the part of either the chief of police or the mayor, the ordinance does not prevent an application to a court to compel either officer to perform his duty and issue a permit for a picture which is not immoral or obscene.

It is further argued that the ordinance deprives complainants of their property without due process of law. Defendant has a right to prohibit the exhibition of immoral or obscene pictures, and the complainants would not be deprived of any right if they are prevented from exhibiting pictures of that class. If the ordinance is enforced according to its terms they will not be deprived of any property or right or the use of any property which they have a legal right to use. The only thing alleged in the bill having any relation to the question is the fact that the complainants will have to pay rent for the films or pictures during the time necessary for inspection by the chief of police. There would be no greater delay than is necessary in any case where a permit must be obtained for any purpose, and if the defendant may require the permit there is no lack of due process of law. The ordinance being general in its terms and applying to all persons engaged in the moving picture business, the complainants are not subject to any unlawful burden.

There is a further argument that some sort of a hearing is required in court to determine the fact whether a picture proposed to be exhibited, or one that has been exhibited, is immoral or obscene. We know of no decision sustaining such a doctrine and counsel do not appear to have found any. As we have already seen, there is no lawful objection to the determination of the question by the chief of police.

There is a general averment in the bill that the complainants are engaged in exhibiting moving pictures which are not immoral or obscene, but there is no averment that the pictures specifically mentioned, which are the “James Boys” and the “Night Riders,” or the others for which permits were refused, were not immoral or obscene. It is true that pictures representing the career of the “James Boys” illustrate experiences connected with the history of the country, but it does not follow that they are not immoral. Pictures which attempt to exhibit that career necessarily portray exhibitions of crime, and pictures of the “Night Riders” can represent nothing but malicious mischief, arson and murder. They are both immoral and their exhibition would necessarily be attended with evil effects upon youthful spectators. If the other pictures for which permits were refused were of similar character the chief of police is to be commended for the refusal.

No wrong was done or threatened to the complainants and the bill stated no ground for equitable interference. The court did right in sustaining the demurrer and dismissing the bill.

The decree is affirmed.

, Decree affirmed.