Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-08
CONGRESSIONAL SPEECHES.

The Demand for Tariff Literature-Sub-
jects that are POpular-Peculiariti
of Members Regarding their Speeches,
Etc.
Something like $40, 900, says the Wash
ington Star, is spent by members of Con-
gress each session for the printing of their
speeches. An unusual number of speeches
were made this session, and over 100000
copies have been printed. OF Morrison's
speech alone Ia, 900 have been distributed.
The taste for tariff literature has been
growing rapidly for four or five years, I'M
til this session it has become ravenous.
MOrrison's, Hewitts, Hurd's, Kelley's.
RusselPs, RandalPs and Kasson's
speeches have been distributed in all sec
tiOns of the country, the relative demand
being in the order Of the names above.
There was also big run upon the print
ing Office for the tariff speeches of Eaton,
Welburn and HiscOck. Next to the tariff
the general public enjoys anti-Chinese
and educational speeches, and whenever
one of these is made it is scattered to the
farthest bounds of the country. All these
subjects are consequently popular with the
members.
The most versatile speaker in the House
is 5. 5. Cox, and his speeches are in de-
mand, no matter what the-subject. He
makes more speeches than any other man
in the House, and upon more varied sub
jects, and is looked upon as the best post
ed upon general topics. He is spoken
of at the government printing office as re-
markedly neat and natty about his
speeches, and is noted for the care he takes
about the title pages.
The most Indifferent man is Eaton, of
Connecticut. He will not read the proofs,
but leaves everything to the printer Sena-
tor Edmunds is the same way, and so was
COnkling when in the Senate.
Most of the members are very careful
about correcting the proofs of their
speeches, and some change and revise I'M
til their speeches could scarcely be recog-
nized by one who heard them on the floor
of the House. The new members are
particularly whimsical and uneasy,
though some never get tower their nervous
ness, no matter how long they have served
in the House.
Some members are very neat in their
speeches. Cox and Hewitt, of New York,
come under this head, and another New
York man, Skinner, is said to furnish the
best copy that goes to the printing office
from the capitol.
Mr.. Morrison is one of the best-natured
men in the House concerning his
speeches, and is always very free to make
allowances for errors. Randall is also
gOod-natured in this respect. Hewitt, of
New York, is a thorough business man,
and is very prompt in settling with the
printer. It's customary to have speeches
printed by subscription, each member
paying for the number of copies of
certain speech he wants. Mr.. Hewitt
will not allow this with his speeches. He
pays out of his own pocket for every copy
printed, and gives them to those who
want them From his quick, nervous
manner. he has gotten the reputation of
"fussy." But that he is fussy is denied
by his printers. They say he is neat and
careful, but is always pleasant, and new
er in the least impatient. Mr.. Russell is
probably the only other man in the House
who will not allow any one to pay for his
speeches. He, like Hewitt, pays for all
printed, and gives to all who ask.