Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-30
FAST REPORTERS.
Speed Of Some Of the Con-
gressionaI Stenographers.
The Truth About Speed records "A
Windy Story from Chicago.
Olive Green for Our War Vessels Ccmmo-
dore Hichborn's Views.

recent peri 1ri,lAIs1c q: Isaac ; Dement, q
Chicago stem grapher IL writing IN short
hand and correctly transcribing i02 words
IN q minute has attracted the attention OF
the 1tiicla, reporters Of the senate anu
house Of representatives The fastest re-
porter IN congress probably is Fred ire
land. rho has speed record Of 24o wofos
u inmate for five consecutive minutes.
This test was made before board OF ex-
pCrts and the matter dictated to lrelanu
was an editorial selected at random from
an ordinary newspaper Ireland took the
dictation ard il,modiatcly put away MS
rotcs for half hour. and then read theih
without hesitation as if he,were reading
from a printed page. Some OF the other
congressional reporters would proDaply
make as good a record Il they were put TO
the test.
A Fast Piece OF Work.
John II. White, one of the Oldest and
most efficient of the house reporters, said
today that in his opinion the fastest piece
of reporting ever done in Washington was
done in the house during the Forty sixth
congress- Joseph Il Hawley, now senator
from Connecticut, was then representa-
tive He had charge of the sundry civil
appropriation bill and had yielded ali but
30 minutes of the time allowed for debate
After every one had spoken Mr. Hawley
took the floor to close the debate in 30
minutes He discussed the bill from be-
ginning TO end in q general way, and used
many figures in the course of his remarks.
He spoke very rapidly, and was continual
ly looking mt his watch to see how he was
using his time, and as the minutes passed
no eYotc factor md faSter and finished an
eloquent address in the time at his com
mand. The entire corps OF reporters TOOK
their turn at the speech, and when MI
Hawley's remarks were transcribed ana
handed to him for revision and correction
he did not make single change.
The speech was printed in The Record
the next morning, and Mr.. White had the
curiosity to count the words and determine
at what rate Mr.. Hawley had spoken. lie
found that the speech contained o,Soo
words, and that the reporters had taken IL
at the rate of 230 words minute. ms
Is considered remarkable piece OF work.
Mr.. White said that the average speed OF
talking in the house OF representatives is
about l75 words minute. MIR. johnson
OF Indiana, who Is the fastest talker on the
floor, speaks often at the rate OF go words
- A'i'ie'S' -'-i' N~NA'i' - - $1,000
~ speaks at the rate OF 22o words MN
ute, ana Mr.. DoillVer OF iowa, Wheh ne
warns up to his work, frequently reaches
this speed. Tie average speed for running
debate-that is DEBATE in which there Is Il
general participation with frequent inter
ruptions and cross Questions-is 220 words
minute.
some slow Takers.
- hn eln fol &c Mr..
of Texas, who does not exceed 100 words a
minute when he is speaking calmly. When
Mr.. Sayers is much interested or excited,
he frequently reaches IFS words Mr.. Gull
berson of Texas spoke at about the 100
rate, and Speaker Reed does not exceed
that speed. Mr.. White said that the speak
er was one Of the easiest men to take in
the house. He speaks clearly and distinct
ly and every word is clean cut and forciblc.
He does not become involved and uses no
cumbersome sentences. Mr. Reed is a lover
of good, honest English cas- she is spoke"
by tho Yankees Mr.. White said that tho
speaker always uses the right word in the
right place ana makes an even distribution
of time between his words. Heneyer rush
es or stumblcs over them. When his re-
marks are TRANSCRIBED and given to him
ioI tbtItttluu It lHNdildDiy IctGil1S tilt
copy without Woru' or even " comma,
changed
Inc statement recently mace ny hir. be
ment, the last Chlcago reporter, tha0 therc
are thousands OF reporters IN the ohltea
states VINO can make verbatim report ut
the rate OF ooo words a minute where TWO
speakers are TAKING is excepted 10 py MI.
Whlte, the mouse reporter
"A strictly verbatim reporto OF two speak
ers, both taking at once ut the rate OF 100
WORDS ior one minute, nc says, was nev-
or made by any stenographer, ana never
VIII DC MADE IL Is Impossible, no ADDED,
Tor any one to take two speakers at once
even when one Is speaking 100 words a
minute and the other only 100 words
ms could not be done TOR single inmate
by any one.
Mr.. White gays that any reporter who
can take an average OF goo or 225 words
minute ought to be satisfied with ms
work. lie says stenographers need not
worry because they cannot take men speak
ing at the rate of 800 words minute, be
cause when such speaker turns up he
VIII have no one to listen to him, and
there Will be no occasion for reporting his
remarks verbatim.
Paint For warships.