Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16

modest and unobtrusive members remain
ed unknown to their nearest neighbors to
the very end. The doorkeepers whose duty
1t was to admit only members or delegates
to the floor Of the House during sessions,
and the tally clerks who kept record of the
yea and nay responses, didn't know more
than so per cent of the whole membership,
and the dcorkeepers were frequently known
to refuse admission to full-fedged members
who should have been well known, and
the next moment to allow outsiders to pass
in, If their general appearance seemed to
indicate that they might be Congressman.
1t IS said that only the Speakers clerk,
one Of the chief pages and one reading
clerk knew by sight all the members of
the last Congress. Newspaper correspond
ents in the gallery above were often put to
their wits end to identify unknown men,
hers who happened to blossom forth
expectedly in important speeches and the
pleasure of visitors in the other galleries
was constantly diminished from ignorance
as to the identity of orators in debate
Hereafter all these difficulties will in great
measure be obviated by reference to the
photograph albums, hung in convenient
places and accessible at all times for ex-
animation and study.
Electric Call Bells.
Another radical innovation in the House
will be made in the method of summoning
page boys to the desks Of Representatives.
Hitherto. ever since Congress has been in
existence, the members have called up the
pages by lightly clapping their hands to-
gether-a method open to criticism and
often the cause of much inconvenience.
When a considerable number of members
clapped their hands at the same time the
ordinary confusion Of the House chamber
was increased ten-fold and oftentimes an
eloquent orator on the floor could not make
himself heard above the din.
Many blushing new member too while
delivering his maiden speech, has mistaken
the fusillade Of hand clapping for applause
and has suffered deep chagrin on discover.
ing that 1t wasn't There are thirty-three
pages In the House service, and these
young gentlemen in an exciting session Of
ten become mingled in the crowd of war
ring statesmen clamoring round the Speak
er's desk, getting in their way and adding
to the general disorder. All these annoy
ances will now be obViated. Electric wires
have been strung from each members desk
to an indicator and call board in the Cloak
rooms. similar to those in hotel offices, and
each desk will be supplied with push but
ton for starting the current, so that all a
statesman may have to do when he wants
a page will be to press the button and tho
page will appear. This new system will
place the boys In less conspicuous posi-
ton In the House, as they will be expected
to remain In the cloak rooms out of sight
ton. The republican and democratic sides
will have separate indicators.
To Vote by Electricity.
A similar plan has been proposed. though
it may not be adopted to facilitate voting
and eliminate the long and tedious oral yea
and nay roll call. This plan contemplates
running electric wires from the members
desks to large indicator located in front
of the Speaker. where 1t can be seen read
lily, that when the yeas and nays are or
dered vote may be taken all at once by
means of pressing the buttons In this way
members could show whether they are pair
ed and whether they vote yea and nay, all
in few seconds. whereas 1t now takes
from thirty to forty-lve minutes to finish
a roll call. If the new electric system for
summoning the pages works well it will
be the forerunner of further uses of cleo
tricity in the conduct of both houses.
Another Invaluable innovation will be a
separate and special telephone directly con-
Meeting the House and Senate for speed
and certainty in communication between
the two bodies. Heretofore the only tele-
phonic communication available was had
through the central exchange down in the
city. Representative wishing to talk
with Senator at the other end of the
huge Capitol building had first to ring up
the central office and then take his chances
in getting switched on the Senate WIRE