Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18

daily newspaper of Congress, known as the
the Congressional Record, and good, round
part of this goes into the pay of the stenog-
raphers. The House has its fixed reporters,
to whom it pays fixed salaries. The Senate
Jumps the job, and gives it to Dennis f.
Murphy, who engages to furnish accurate
reports of all that is done for S25, 900 year.
The session Of Congress lasts from three to
eight months, so you see that the pay is very
fair. Out Of this S25, 200, however, Mr..
Murphy has to hire his assistants, and he
has under him some of the most efficient re-
porters of the country. His own connection
with Congress is even longer than that of
McEihone, and he began to report here in
1S4S, and as boy he was engaged in report
ing the debates in the Senate in which Cal
houn, Webster and Tom Benton partici-
pated.
ABRAHAM LINCoLN's ASSASSINATION.
He reported the trial of Mrs. Surratt and
the others who were implicated in the assas-
sination of Lincoln, and he has more curious
"reminiscences packed away in his little head
than any other man inSW ashington. He be-
gan to report for the Senate when he was only
IA years old, and he has had full charge of
the Senate reports since 1869. He told me
one day that speaking in the United States
Senate was increasing in speed. webster"
said he, was very slow talker, and he did
not average over 100 words minute. He
dealt in rounded periods, and was not hard
man to report. Henry Clay rolled out about
150 words to the minute, and Calhoun start
ed slowly, but reused up as he went on, and
he frequently spoke as fast as Mr.. Clay.
Jefferson Davis was one of the fine speakers
of the past, abounding In classical allusions,
and one Of the fastest speakers have ever
known was Sargent of California, who once
spoke for two hours and averaged 200 words
per minute during the whole time.
"There was debate here some wears ago on
the District of Columbia bonds which lasted
about four hours and which by actual calcu-
lation averaged between 100 and 200 words
per minute. The average of speaking in
the Senate to-day is not, l think, over 150
words per minute. The late Senator Beck
was a very fast speaker and he frequently
wilted his shirt collar with the perspiration
of his earnestness. One of the most curious
speeches 1 ever heard was that of John Bell.
OF Tennessee, who roared out his sentiments
with all the eloquence and earnestness of a
revivallst preacher Notwithstanding that the |
President of the Senate, himself and were |
the only persons in the chamber. 1t was a |
night session and all the rest of the Seua-
tors had gone to the cloakrooms. Bell tore
the air and preached away as though sc. 600 |
people were listening to him. The perspira-
tion rolled down his face. he tore off his |
collar, and though the temperature was at |
20, he thrashed himself into a frenzy of ex-
citement. 1t was very funny"
OTHER SENATE SPEAKERS.
Blackburn, of Kentucky. is on. of the
fastest speakers of the Senate. He grows
excited and rolls out his words at the rate
of 200 per minute. Ingalls, talks more de-
and Sherman does not speak over
100 words per minute. Senator Hawley is
another fast speaker. He speaks 200 words
In 90 seconds and only the best of reporters
can follow him. Senator Plumb moves his
avs with the same speed that he does his
right arm In gestures, and he is another 300
word speaker The reporters do not like
him. Senator Morgan speaks very deliber-
ately and he is good for an hour any time
he takes the floor. Kenna is good talker
higgins, of Delaware, articuiates
every syllable, and Frank Hiscock. of New
York, spouts out his words like a school,
boy delivering an Grafton.
George +. Hoar talks at times yery fast.
but his speeches are usually deliberate.
has very free delivery and Joe
Brown, of Georgia, speaks as though his
tongue was run by machinery and could 20
no faster or no slower than tdoes. John C.
opooner at times reaches 200 words. Leland
Stamford talks slowly. Stewart, of Ne
vada, averages 175 words and George Vest
often rises to 200. Evarts gives out his 400
woro sentences at about 150 words per
minute. He is never in a hurry and his
mind is SO clear that his words comes regu-
larly. Blair talks for hours and at the same
even rate Of speed. Allison speaks in the
same suaye manner that he acts, and Zeb
ance, OF North Carolina, though he usually
ialks at the rate of two words to the second,
o1ten rises to three and frequently to four
words quay doesn't talk at all. With all
d these speakers Dennis F. Murphy is at
home and the fastest of them do not phase
him.
AN 1RISH-AMERICAN.
Dennis f. Murphy does not weigh more
han 125 pounds. He is a pleasant-faced.
'rown-w whlskered, slightly built man Of so
ears OF age. He was born in Cork. but he
las lost all his Irish brogue since he came
Iere, and he is an American in the fullest
ense. He revises all the manuscript before
goes to the printers, and he works repu- |
arly in the Senate. He has brother who
5 as good reporter as he is. and who is
ne of the few men who can read his notes
lis assistants are all high-priced men. and
II have been connected with the Senate for {