Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-04-25

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 talli-rcproduction has pro-
crossed so rapidly that at the present
time VIC have the work of expert SEN
ographers whereby every public utter
ance is taken down and verified in such
q manner that the statesmen themselves
cannot in the future deny their words.
1t very frequently happens in debate,
when Il member of the house or of the
senate who has been long in service
makes IL 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-
gressonal 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.
At the beginning of the session of
congress on the first Monday in Decem-
her, 1888, stenographic reporters were
employed and given positions upon the
floor of the senate to make accurate re-
LII Al,
the two leading political parties. The
Union and the National Intelligencer
were the names OF the papers printed
in Washington, and these stenograph.c
reports were ordered by the senate to
be taken by stenographers at the cN-
pense of the papers publishing them.
il was not until 1873 that the publca-
ton of shorthand notes of the pro-
ceedngs of congress received authoriza-
ton by joint resolution.
In 1915 Dennis L. Murphy, late chief
stenographer of the senate. began work
as n shorthand reporter in the senate,
beng in the employ of the National In
telligcncer. lie also worked for the Con-
gressional Globe until the publication
of the Congressional Record was au-
thorzed by congress in 1878, and then
Mr.. Murphy was made chief stenograph-
err of the senate at Il salary of S25, 900
Yoar; and he held that position until
his death in this city, March 20, 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 small, fat
Col tos- -, IL -,
ling debates in the senate. At that
time young Murphy took down short
hand reports of the speeches of John
{. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Thomas ii.
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 stenographcr
IN this country; and during the past
Is or 20 years he has been regarded "a
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. lie !
was frequently engaged during con-
gressional vacations in making accu-
tate 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 stcnographer of the |
house of representatives and during has |
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 Mr.. Murphy has
gone beyond the stars.
The principal assistants of the late |
SteDographer Murphy were Theodore
+. Shuey and Edward V. Murphy, the |
younger brother of the famous short
hand writer. The senate, by q recent !
unanimous vote, elected Mr.. Shuey and |
Mr.. Murphy To take charge Of the stem
ogruphic work OF tie senate, and il will |
be carried on under their direction
after the manner and the methods so
long In vogue under the direction of the
late chief stenographer. They will
have as assistants Mr.. f. c. Monkey,
a young man OF superior stenographic
requirements, who gives his entire at
tention to the senate work and has hccn
employed there for IA years; Mr.. Henry
j. Gensler, who In addition 10 his
stenographlc work Al the senate Is and
has been for many yours private secre-
larry for Senator >. )onald Cameron.
Of Penrf uIa: Dan Y. Lloyd and "A. !
.