The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-09
MISCELLANY.
Uncle Sans Paper.

with the exception OF twelve cOneu.
lsr clerks, the only life positions in the
civil service of the government are
held by the reporters OF the House and
Senate, says the Commercial Advertiser.
These men get the same pay as men,
bers of Congress, and they earn it.
There is no other kind of stenographic
work that requires 30 much skill and
intelligence, and the labor is 80 hard
that, according to common saying,
every long tariff debate kills one of
these experts. At the came time, the
places they occupy are of sufficient
honor and emolument TO be regarded
as extremely desirable, and during
about half of the TIME. g., when Con-
gress is not in session-they are not
Obliged to do anything at all. From
the fourth day of next March to the
following December, unless there
should be an extra session, they will
draw their salaries while enjoying the
luxury of absolute idleness.
Five men attend to the stenograph-
ing business on the floor of the House.
They get So 600 annually each and are
called officially reporters of debates
Their names are Brown, White, De-
vine, WEIGH and Irland. Brown is the
oldest in years and in length of service,
and he is considered there as "dean" OF
the corps. However, this is matter
purely honorable, the reporters taking
charge of the "copy" by turns, week
and week about. There used to be a
chief stenographer, named McElhone,
who had general supervision of the
work. He received $1,000 per annum,
but he died three years ago, and the Of
fee and extra pay were abolished.
Two large and well-lighted rooms in
the basement of the capitol are pro-
vided for the exclusive use of the re-
his own desk, amanuensis, graphophone
and typewriter. He must pay the
amanuensis out of his salary and is
obliged also TO hire the graphophone
but for the latter expense he is REIN.
bursed. 1t is here that all the work OF
preparing the House "copy,' for the
"Congressional Record" is done. AT
ter member has made a speech on 8
subject which he considers important
he drops in and looks over the type
written copy which has been made
from the shorthand notes. He alters
it as much as he likes, and some times
very materially, though there Is sor
of understanding to the effect that he
has no right to change the sense
Abuses of this privilege gave rise to 8
number of sharp disputes during the
last session of Congress.
KEEPING THE REPORTERS BUSY.
Even keen witted person in the
House gallery is puzzled to imagine
how the reporters on the floor KEEP
track of all that is said. To follow 8
speech may not be difficult, but it il
quite different matter when in live
ly debate members are speaking from
different parts of the chamber, inter
rupting each other and talking two OF
three at once. Now and then there is
regular oratorial scrimmage, 80 that
the effect to an unframed observer is
that of veritable babel. But in this
business, as in anything else, facility
is obtained by practice. 1t is rarely
that word is missed by the reporter
who does not sit at his table at such
times, but travels about the floor, plac
ing himself in the very midst of the
disputants and often standing at the
elbow of speaker, notebook and foun.
tain pen in hand. Members are srway:
willing to get up and give him seat il
there is none vacant nearby.
OF course, the greatest activity and
alertness are required The reporter
learns to recognize members by theil
voices. In tumult, if he fails to iden
tify speaker, he credits the words tC
"member"; but this is rare. AT the
opening of new Congress there is
trouble in learning the names anC
faces of new members, of whom there
are likely to be hundreds. Fortunate
ly, however, freshly elected represen
tatives are not much addicted to talk
ing; they wait while in silence to ge
their bearings. Meanwhile the repor'
ter finds out who they are and tixei
them on the tables of his brain. Ii il
easy enough in an emergency to pu
down a brief description of man
such as "red whiskers and bald head,
and to find out afterwards who he is
AS for rapid takers $50 words minute
is fast for Congressman. The rec
ord in the present Congress is held b,
Johnson of Indiana, who speaks at tn,
rate of 2l6 words a minute with the ut
most clearness of delivery and enuncia
ton. Berry of Kentucky and Mcclure
of California are very fast takers
Two of the five reporters of debate
are always present on the floor whel
the House is in session. One of then
is waiting while the other works. Tn
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