Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-06-15

ing proposition for the introduction to
Congress Of a new mode Of taking the ayes
and noes, so as to save time and money.
Mr.. VIM Cost Johnson presented com.
municaton which had been laid on his desk
suggesting curious time.saving plan for
taking the ayes and noes, in tho divisions
Of the House. The writer, after a proper
alusion to Mr.. Johnson's laudable exer
tons in the cause Of retrencbment, proceeds
to say, that the estimated expenses of the
House are about $4,000 per day, and taxi
ing the sessions to average five months in
each year, the annual expenses are at leas,
100000. A reference 10 the recorded
proceedings, he adds, will show that the
ayes and nays are ordered at least once an
hour, or an average. This process con-
sumes twenty minutes, and cost one third
of the daily expenditure, making an annual
amount Of about one hundred thousand
dollars. To remedy this evil he submits
plan which will enable the clerk to record
the ayes and noes in two seconds!
He proposes to extend from each men,
ber's seat small wire, just below the
surface of the floor, to a point in front Of
the clerks table at which they should all
converge, in circle eighteen inches in
diameter. From the end at the members
seat, he proposes TO extend another small
wire. TO key on the top of the desk. which
could be readily touched with the fingers.
From the ends at the clerks table, he
would extend another small wire upward,
and connect with a small sharp probe OF
the size Of a common knitting pin. These
probes are to be arranged in rows, to fit the
names Of the members on the list or rol &,
and to be placed under plate of wood or
tin, with the same number of small holes in
it. Upon this plate is to be laid the list,
having the names so arranged as to cores.
pond with the holes; and on the top of this
another plate is to be placed, corresponding
exactly with the one underneath.
Now comes the magical part!
When The question is propounded, he
would request the ayes to ''touch their
keys!" whereupon the probe at the table
would rise up half an inch, and plainly
puncture the list, precisely where the clerk
now makes his black mark, TO indicate that
vote.
The frame containing the list is then to
be moved sldeway about an inch, bringing
the other ends of names Immediately over
the rows of probes. Our ingenious contri
YER would then request the nays to "touch
their keys" which would make similar
puncture at their places.
The clerk then has nothing to do but
call over the list in the usual way, to test
the accuracy of the record. This would
consume about two minutes, and complete
the whole process.
The cost of carrying the plan into effec,
would be not more than twelve or fifteen
hundred dollars; and it might, he thinks,
be adopted at the next session.
The members were very much amused
with The details, and particularly with the
idea of Mr.. Speaker crying "Ayes, touch
your keys! Nays, touch your keys!'
Unluckily there was no name attached to
the paper go we arc ignorant of the author
of this wonderful discovery, and what is
worse a rule of the House prohibits the
reception of any communication without
real signature; so the communication was
returned to Mr.. Johnson's hands.