Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-05-19
SHORTHAND REPORTS.
Now Indispensable In the Trans.
action Of Public Business.
The Congressional Record Is Edited by
Expert Stenosraphcrs-NGorl Done
by tho Late Dennis f. Murphy
and His Successors.
ESPECIAL Washington Letter,

1t is not generally known. but it is a
fact, that every word uttered by SEN
ator or by member OF the house of
representatives, while those houses are
in session, is Transcribed by rapid stem
ographers and reproduced in public
print On the following morning in "a
daily publication at the governments
printing office, called the "Congression-
al Record"
During the first half century of the
history of this republic the debates
were reported only by reporters who
wrote abbreviated longhand, for re-
production in a publication called the
Congressional Globe" About 90
years ago, however, the art of stcnoe-
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
lngs in the senate and the house; and
the work of talk-rcproduction has p1 O.
gressed so rapidly that at the present
time we have the work of expert sen
ographers Whereby every public utter
ance is taken down and verified in such
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 a speech upon some important
topic, that the senators or representa-
tives in the opposition send to the Con-
gressional library for copies of the Cons
gressional Record, and read from that
publication extracts from speeches
which have been made in the past, ard
sometimes these permanent records
prove to be very embarrassing to states
men who would like to be on both sides
Of the political fence aud make pre-
tense Of great progress in statesman
ship.
Az the beginning of the session of
congress on the first Monday in Decem-
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-
ticn of shorthand notes of the pro-
ceedings of congress received authorize
ton by joint resolution.
In 1918 Dennis +. Murphy, late chief
stenographer of the senate, began work
as a shorthand reporter in the senate,
being in the employ of the National In
teiligencer: lie also worked for the Con-
gressiona Glabe until the publication
OF the Congressional Record was au-
thorized by congress in 1873, and then
MIR. Murphy was made chief stenograph-
er OF the senate at a salary of S25 900
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 small, fat
boy taking notes in shorthand of stir
ring debates i'll the senate. At that
time young Murphy took down short
hand reports of the speeches Of John
G: Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Thomas II,
Benton and ether 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
10 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