The age-herald., 1901-02-27
RFPUBLICANISM UNDER
 THE NEW CONSTITUTION
BY ALBERT HALsTEAp.

necessary. Representative Otey's idea is that the House should vote by electrical buttons and. with the aid of the architect of the capitol, he has so perfected his de- vice as to make 1t seem practical. In speaking of his scheme, which has been suggested before but not in such practi- cal form, Representative Otey says:
 T have not asked yet to be heard by the committee on rules, because I had been unable before this month to place the matter before the architect of the capitol. By the connection of a device for adding automatically the roll call of the House can be registered and reported in three minutes. It is needless for me to say that such a resolution would ex- pedite the business of the House greatly. and it must be remembered that this would save not only the tediousness of voting but tellers and roll calls would be numbered among the things that were. Filibustering, which is still possible under our Reed rules. would be impossible"
 The acting architect of the capitol, Elliott Woods, says, among other things, of the suggestion:
 Your suggestions have been of great value in considering this question, and I now beg to set forth what l consider to be the simplest method of accomplish ing the purpose of the resolution In ordre that the device may be complete it should have three distinct features. First, the names of the members should be visible from every part of the hall, as well as their vote. Second, there should be a duplicate of the first device, placed in some convenient position, In front of the tally clerk. Third, the device should also accomplish an actual register on paper of the vote of the House, which can eventually become a record.
 "The principal device will consist Of a large board placed well above the Speaker and in full view of the members, the hoard being divided into spaces equivalent in number to the members of the House; the names of the members Tn olacR OH white porcelain glass. At the rlgnt or the name two small spaces for the reg istering, marked aye and nay The duplicate board will be miniature or the large one and placed under sheet of nlate glass in the lid of the tally clerks desk. At the right of the clerk, in suitable position. an automatic punch- ing machine into which sheet or paper bearing the names and spaces printed in duplicate of the large board Is placed. It is also desired that this punching ma chine shall have suitable mechanism whereby the totals of the vote will show at the end of the vote
 "A roll call is ordered. The tally clerk throws a switch, which completes one half of the total electrical circuit, said circuit including the three devices aoove mentioned At the same time the acton of the throwing in the switch llumin- ates the names of all members without registering a vote, being a separate cir cuit for this purpose. A member desiring to vote can do so by pushing the button on his desk This action completes the circuit of the three devices, so far as tnls individual desk Is concerned. If he voted ave red disk shows following his name on the large board, and red disk also shows following his name at the device in the tally sheet clerks desk and the automatic punching device punches space corresponding. If his vote Is nay he pushes the button nay and registers a green disk, both on the large and small devices, and the punching machine reg isters accordingly. If the member desires to record himself as present not vot- ing it is duly shown on the large and small boards by white signal and duly registered on the tally sheet"
 MT. Woods also says: You will readily understand that the desk devices will not prevent one from tampering with the buttons during the voting unless we guard them by placing them behind a small glass door furnished with lock and key. each key being different. This can readily be done and furnishes sure method of guarding the buttons on each desk" These buttons are to be three, as MT. Woods says, in another part of his letter one saying aye, one nay, and the third present not voting
 The scheme Is certainly original and has many advantages, but as it would stop flibustering and be an innovation that would compel members to keep more closely to their seats so as to be on hand, 1t is not likely to be adopted immediately. though it's adoption would be very imH portant in expediting the business of tho House.