Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-28
aliseellaneous &sadius.
"LEGISLATIVE RECORD"
TO BE CONTINUED.

A New Scheme That Is Interesting Leg
isIators.
From the Columbia Record.
There is some talk among legislators
of getting up a daily record of the pro-
ceedings of the two houses, something
after the order of The Congressional
Record. The only obstacle in the way
is the cost of such publication, and
that is wall hard to be surmounted
at the very outset. If, however, it
doesn't cost too much, it is likely that
some member will introduce a bill to
establish a daily "Legislative Record"
which shall contain the proceedings in
full of the session. This will require
the service of stenographers to begin
with, and many other items of expense
loom up before the projectors of the
scheme. But they are investigating
the cost and hope to be able to see a
way to establish "The Record"
The desire of such publication
arises from the fact that members do
not think the proceedings are reported
enough in detail by the newspaper re-
porters. For instance, a gentleman
introduces some bill which he con-
siders of vast importance to the state.
Perhaps others do not exactly agree
with him on this line; but the gentle
men proceeds to try to convince them
by making an eloquent and impassion-
ed speech in favor of his measure.
He may talk for five minutes or for
fifteen, yet the unappreciatiVe report
ers, setting on their rostrum, dismiss
the whole thing somewhat thusly !:
"Mr. Blank spoke at length in defense
of his measure"
Now, it often happens that Mr..
Blank doesn't care a continental, per-
sonally, about whether the subject
matter of his bill is law or not. But
it gives him a chance to talk to the
grand stand-that is his constituents,
and be "orated" accordingly. If he is
new in the business he imagines every
word will be printed in tomorrow's
paper, and that his constituents will
see what a great statesman he is. He
drops dead almost when he beholds
all his eloquence, flight of imagery
and deep concern for the welfare of
the "dear people" boiled down to a
common, everyday statement that "Mr.
B. alse spoke in favor of the BILL"
The newspapers admittedly tell all
that is going on in legislation, and
some people outside of the sacred halls
are so unappreciative that they kick
about so much space being devoted to
routine legislative matters. They
would rather read about prize fight,
a railroad wreck or suicide, some
thing like that.
But legislators, as rule, have long
believed that they were not given a
proper showing in reports of their
speeches, and this, probably, is at the
bottom of the idea of having "Rec-
ord" They contend that reporters are
more or less biased by the policy of
their papers and give one man better
showing than others.
But with "Record" they all would
stand on an equal footing. Their
speeches would be reported verbatim
and copies would be distributed among
admiring constituents and thus pave
the way for re-election-that is if the
constituents read the "Record." In
many instances, no doubt, it would be
brighter, breezier and more readable
than its esteemed contemporary, the
Congressional Record, for some of the
members have homely way of ex-
pressing themselves which, while out
of the ordinary, is really right to the
point. -,
But, really, such "Record" would
be valuable as historical documents in
after years, but the lack of necessary
cash will doubtless keep back its ap.
pearance for several years to come.