The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-14

because they cannot make it appear that they
| are representatives of reputable daily newspa-
pers, and are correspondents or editors of stand
ing in the profession.
As each correspondent or editor enters the
press gallery of the House or Senate, on the day
of the opening of Congress, he is presented with
blank application, in which he is made to state
that he desires to have card of admission to
the press gallery of the House or Senate, as the
case may be, as correspondent for the - news
paper, printed - times a week at -. in the
State of -, during the first or second session,
as the case may be, of the - Congress; that he
is not engaged in the prosecution of any claim
pending before Congress or the departments,
and will not become so engaged while allowed
admission to the gallery and is not in any sense,
the agent or representative of any person or cor
poration having legislation before Congress, and
will not become either while retaining his place
in the gallery; also, that his name is not borne
on the roll of an executive department. He also
agrees to conform with the rules governing the
gallery of the House of Representatives or Sem
ate These rules are very strictly enforced.
The same kind of application made in the
House must be made in the Senate. The appli-
cations must be satisfactory to the standing
commmittee of correspondents, who shall see
that the occupation of the galleries is confined to
bona f1de correspondents of reputable standing
in their business, and who represent daily news
papers, and not exceeding one seat is assigned to
any one paper Clerks in the executive depart
ment of the government, or persons engaged in
any other occupation, whose chief support is de-
rived from newspaper correspondence, are not en-
titled to admission, and members of the families
of correspondents are not entitled to admission
These applications for admission to the galleries
are not only subjected to the closest scrutiny by
the committee of correspondents but are sub
jected to the approval of the Speaker of the
House and the chairman of the Senate commit.
tee on rules and admission IS at all times under
the control of the standing committee of cor
respondents. Visiting journalists, representing
reputable daily newspapers, who are allowed
temporary admission to the galleries, are re-
quired to conform to the restrictions of the
rules.
A few days after the reassembline of Congress.
and when all the applications for admission to
the press galleries have been received. there is a
meeting OF the committee of correspondents.
who are among the oldest and most experienced
men In the profession, and who are known to
have good ability and judgement for the work
assigned to them, and the applications are passed
upon. report is made to the Speaker of the
House and the chairman of the Senate
committee rules, and they issue
to the persons entitled to admission
cards good for the current session. There is
probably greater number of sham correspond
ents and alleged newspaper representatives of all
grades in Washington than in any other two
cities in the United States About one-haf the
clerks in the departments alleged newspaper
correspondents. They write letters to unknown
papers, and they try all manner of schemes to
gain admission to the press galleries of Congress,
whore seats in time of great rush to the Capitol
are very desirable and valuable. But out of this
great number of would be correspondents and
newspaper representatives only about 100 are
found worthy of recognition by the leaders in
the profession / believe there are only two
ladies admitted to the press galleries at this time
They write telegraph matter for reputable daily
newspapers. There is in this city an organiza-
ton of female contributors to the press, and for
many years they have tried to get into the press
galleries of Congress, but without avail.
A few years ago the leading journals of the
country were represented here by men above the
middle age, but the bulk Of them now have rep
resentatives who are young men-twothirds of
them under thirty five years of age. Energy
and enterprise seem to be recognized above ex-
perience and age. While the number Of news
paper representatives in Washington have been
on the steady increase the number admitted to
the press galleries of Congress has increased
very little.