Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-02
ELECTRIC BELLS
The New System Of Calling Pages
Discussed.
MR.. HOWELL GIVES His EXPERIENCE
The Boys Will Not Be So Close
to the Statesmen.
DISADVANTAGES POINTED OUT

Mr. William Howell, private secretary to
Assistant Secretary McAdoo and formerly
a page in the House of Representatives,
does not admire the electric call system
just introduced into the House. In CONVEX
sation with a Star reporter on this SUBJ
ject today, he said:
For the sake of ell concerned, it. Is to be
regretted that the members of the House
have an electric call system in connec-
ton with the pages. When boy enters
the Capitol in such capacity he goes with
the express purpose of some day becoming
a great man himself or at least getting
knowledge of the laws of his country
and of the rules Of procedure, as well as
forming the acquaintance Of public men.
Now, If the boys are to be stationed
in the lobby of the hall, a rendezvous for
Congressman, who are fatigued and desire
a nap or a quiet talk with some colleague,
away from the noise and confusion of the
floor. they will rot have any of these adj
vantages, and the new system will occa-
sion manv aEnoyanceS to the members.
Many times during my career as page on
the fool l would be accosted by MEM
Der in some remote corner of the building,
distant from the legislative chamber, and
questioned as to the nature of the debate
or roll call. Always, because of my pres
ence on the floor, l was able to give
satisfactory reply. Under the new rules
boy cannot possibly keep himself in
formed Of the nature Of the proceedings
Of the House, nor fulfill in that one par
ticular what has always been required Of
his duties. Then, again. many members
desire one particular page to answer their
wants.
Some Inconvenience.
THE bell arrangement will very likely
bring possibly lad of but seven or eight
years, when a page in his teens having
ability and strength is required. AS is
often the case, in the earlier hours of the
day. the force may all be engaged, but with
the call the member is unaware of this.
Frequently opportunities arise aud 6isap-
pear in a moment to get consideration on
bills of a private nature. Who will be
within arms reach to run to the bill room
or carry the proposed law to the clerks
desk? Each chief page with his respective
closeted like a jury, ignorant of outside
proceedings. Often when such occasions
have arisen 1 have seen every page occu-
pied including the chief pages, and chanc-
ing to be IN myself have answered three
or four members at a time. The bell sys-
tenn never could accomplish this: First,
because 1t would be well nigh impossible
for one boy in the beginning to remember
three or four desk numbers: and, second,
the session will be almost, if not entirely,
gone before he famiiarizes himself with
the locality Of the 1856 seats.
Handicapped in Learning Names.
"Also, the boys, who will be new under
the next House on account of change of
administration therein, with the electric
system will be greatly handicapped in
learning the names of new members and
the states from which they come-a thing
that can only be acquired by being within
the Immediate vicinity Of the Speakers
iaS a
prohibits this. The annunciator, no mat
ter how costly or fine the mechanism. is
likely at the most critical moment to re-
fuse to respond, and the consequence will
be worry and discomfort for both member
and page. In all cases boy on the floor
can be of much more service to the men,
Der than in the lobby, beside advancing
clapping, during his leisure moments the
page had many ways of making few
extra pennies, either by soliciting auto
graph signatures or circulating speeches
and petitions pro and con on pending leg
islation.
A Short Life Predicted.
1.-The resolution introducing the new fea-
ture passed. like many other obnoxious
bills, in the eleventh hour, when members
were willing to vote yea anything re-
gardless of their convictions. for the sake
of similar favors No doubt many reforms
are essential, but the page service would
be much better were Congress to enact a
law excluding boys under fourteen years
from positions the page roll.
Besides, boys will be boys. and when
concentrated in the lobby a tussel or good
story told by one of them is apt to make
them all forget that an annunciator or
House of Representatives ever existed
The call not only deprives the little fell
lows Of the former close association with
statesmen, but places them on level with
an ordinary servant. Why Bot cap the
climax and uniform the boys, calling them
'buttons2'
I'm my opinion the electric system will
be short-lived, and the man who wanted
his ideas thus put in operation will sue
cumb to the folly of his mistake