Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-30

Id b d.
THE LATE DENNIS F. MURPHY.
congressional Globe" About 90
years ago, however, the art of stenog-
raphy had been so developed by Isaac
and Benn Pitman that it became
possible for correct stenographic re-
ports to be taken of all of the proceed
ings in the senate and the house; and
the work of misrepresentation has pro-
gressed SO rapidly that at the present
time we have the work of expert stem
ographers whereby every public utter
ance is taken down and verified in such
a manner that the statesmen themselves
cannot in the future deny their words.
1t very frequently happens in debate,
when member of the house or of the
senate who has been long in service
makes speech upon some important
topic, that the senators or representa-
tives in the opposition send to the Con-
gressional library for copies of the Con-
gressional Record, and read from that
publication extracts from speeches
which have been made in the past, and
sometimes these permanent records
prove to be very embarrassing to states
men who would like to be on both sides
of the political fence and make pre-
tense of great progress in statesman
ship. t...,... o.. -.... ...@T
At the beginning of the session of
congress on the first Monday in Deem
Der, 1913, stenographic reporters were
employed and given positions upon the
floor of the senate to make accurate re-
ports of the debates for the organs of
the two leading political parties. The
Union and the National Intelligencer
were the names of the papers printed
in Washington, and these stenographic
reports were ordered by the senate to
be taken by stenographers at the ex-
pense Of the papers publishing them.
1t was not until 1873 that the publica-
ton of shorthand notes of the pro-
ceedings of congress received authorize
ton by joint resolution.
In 1S4S Dennis F. Murphy, late chief
stenographer of the senate, began work
as a shorthand reporter in the senate,
being in the employ of the National In
telligencer. lie also worked for the Con-
gressional Globe until the publication
of the Congressional Record was au-
thorized by congress in 1873, and then
Mr.. Murphy was made chief stenograph-
er of the senate ut salary of S25, 900 a
year; and he held that position until
his death in this city, March 26, 1896.
When Mr.. Murphy began his work in
the senate he was only Ii years old,
and great deal of attention was ex-
cited by the Spectacle of a small, fat
boy taking notes in shorthand of stir.
ling debates in the senate. At that
time young Murphy took down short
hand reports of the speeches of John
C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Thomas H.
Benton and other statesmen of that
great class. From the beginning to
the end of his career as stenographer
of the senate he was regarded as the
most reliable and accurate stenographer
IN this country; and during the past
Is or 20 years he has been regarded as
the foremost stenographer Of the world.
AS the stenographer of the electoral
commission, during the winter of
1867, Mr.. Murphy gained world
wide reputation for the rapidity and
accuracy of his stenographic work. He
was frequently engaged during con-
,gressional vacations in making accu-
rate reports of law cases in various
large cities; and his services were in
such demand that he could not comply
with one-tenth of the invitations which
were sent to him for work in important
cases. James j. McElhone was for
many years chief stenographer of the
house of representatives and during his
lifetime he was regarded as the peer of
Mr. Murphy, the chief stenographer of
the senate. Mr.. McElhone died about
five years ago, and now MIR. Murphy has
gone beyond the stars.
The principal assistants of the late
;Stenographer Murphy were Theodore
F. Shuey and Edward v. Murphy, the
younger brother Of the famous short
hand writer. The senate, by n recent
unanimous vote, elected Mr.. Shuey and
Mr.. Murphy to take charge of the stem
ographic work of the senate, and it will
be carried on under their direction
after the manner and the methods so
long in vogue under the detection of tho
late chief stenographer. They will
have as assistants Mr.. E. C. Monkey,
a young man OF superior stenographic
requirements, who gives his entire at
tention to the senate work and has been
employed there for IA years; Mr.. Henry
j. Gensler, who in addition to his
stenographic work at the senate is and
has been for many years private secre-
tary for Senator j. Donald Cameron,
of Pennsylvania; Dan p. Lloyd and N.