The evening times., 1895-11-30
NAY MAKE | CLEARANCE
Continued From First Page.

1
was intended in placing the but tons in that
position, but there is n prevailing impres
sion that there was an object and prr
pose In the location OF the buttons At any
rate IL is apparent that the electrical sys
tenn has not met with the approval Of sub
ordinates who seem inclined to disregard
Inc VIII OF the House In its declared resO-
luton, and 1t is quite likely that the
electrical system will cause considerable
comment early in the session and number
of changes will necessarily be made in
its construction
For number of years IL has been known
to his friends that Speaker Reed is opposed
| To The present seating arrangement of the
House "f Representatives He has IN .
number of occasions in private expressed
| the belief that the system in vogue in the
British House OF Commons might well be
adopted by the American House of Repre-
| sentatives.
| He does not think that it is necessary
| for the members to have desks in the House
of Representatives. wherein they may do
| clerical work. Particularly since the Huuse
adopted the priv3te secretary system two
years ago, providing for each member a
clerk at salary OF 500 a month during
| the sessions, it has seemed to Mr.. Reed
| that the retention uf the desks which occupy
SO much room in the House of Representa-
tivcs should not be regarded as necessary.
DESKS SHOULD BE REMOVED.
On the contrary, MIR. Reed believes, and
has expressed 'tha belief, that the desks
should be removed and their places taken
by plain benches, du which the Representa-
tives may be seated when desiring TO par
ticipate in debate OF listen I" discussr'n.
Meantime. tire islernbers, j ma ority of
whom do not participate in debate or pay
Il
flo"r OF the House. might better be in their
committee runms or cloak ruoms attending
to business or discussing affairs of state
in private.
Moreover, 1t has long been known that the
retention OF the dcs ks in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes. particularly in its crowde! con
dition. has brought on spirit OF club rela-
tionship and coniradeship. which has made
the hall OF the Hoise great, big conversa-
ton place. and that one OF the greatest du-
ties OF the Speaker has been the maintenance
Of order. -, a. .....,- -s
The idea OF Mr.. Reed has been, and is. that
If the desks were banishcd, the storytelling
members of the House of Representatives,
would spin their yarns in the committee
rooms or the cloak rooms, while the men
who desire 10 work could do so with the
aid of their stenogra piers IN the lobbies or
in their own apartments. instead of com
ing to the Capitol to occupy space and inter
fere with the discussions by visiting and
conversation during business hours.
II IA not yet known whether Mr.. Reed viii
exert the power OF his position to bring
about the banishnent Of the desks and the
Introduction of benches. 1t is well known
however. that he fayors the new system
and the abolition OF the old, and it is quite
likely his influence in that direction viii be
felt before the session of Congress is one
month old.
<l,.yo
supplementary Of the banishment of the
desks, that the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatiycs will be decreased in size, In order
that the actual area occupied by members
in debate and the public consideration of
pending bills may be greatly lessened.
Under existing conditions II requires as
much lung power as brain power to become
great in the House of Representatives, and
many a man of superior ability has been
practically suppressed by reason of the fact
that his lungs were not of sufficient capacity
to command the attention OF his colleagues
in the large hall OF the House of Representa-
tives.
REEDS RAsPING VOICE.
Some men have voices peculiarly quail
fled for penetration OF space. Tom Reeds
rasping baritone fills the House without
any apparent effort on his part. Iourke
Cochran, with big husky voice, could not
make himself heard in the House without
constant exertioD, and his efforts were so
paipa bic that Tom Reed referred sarcas-
ticaIiy TO 1.-The muscular oratory of the gen.
tlesnar from New York"
The peculiar treble of Mr.. Springer of
Illinois was very penetrating and he was
easily heard until three or four years ago, |
when, after spell of the grip, his voice be- |
came husky aud 1t was with great diff |
Guilty that lie could make himself heard.
The late William u. Kelly possessed |
voice of such heavy resonance that his !
words and syIlsbles rang and reyerbera ted |
throughout the hall of the House, and he |
was thus always abe to comma nd attention. |
The late Mr.. Taulbee, OF Kentucky. whom
Charlie KincGrd killed in tie Capitol, was
q pleasing speaker whose voice was easily |
heard in every part Of the House. He had
been q mountaincer preacher, but VIXEN
he came TO Washington he fell like the
beautiful snow" and finally met with
sudden death.
Probably ten or twelve men out of House
fSs6 can be heard with ease,
and without special effort on their own
part; but all Of tie others must labor to
attention. 1t is this fact which
will tend to secure changes In tie han with
,ut much opposition. The acou site proper
lies OF The big room are excellent, but it is
of space which counts against
10 many men, majority of when lack
ligness In any direction. Consequently
Tom Reeds plan is likely to receive favor
,le consideration, and the vast arena of
,ebate, the great forum OF generation.
will be reduced In size so that all men
nay have an equal opportunity to be
leard; If the time comes when Congressman
will condescend to listen 10 each other.
So