The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-12-08
BuSineSSIike Methods Of the
House Of Representatives.
ITS WORK RAPIDLY DONE
Government Bills Of Greatest Import
ance Brought Forward, Debated and
Passed or Rejected in Less
Week.

Modern Japan in founding her inst-
tutions has had the advantage Of be-
ing able to use as models the best
throughout the civilized world, says
the Portland Oregonian. Those who
have seen the parliament at Tokyo at
work say that it is the most business
like institution In the world, and there
Is little talk in proportion 10 the wosk
accomplished.
The work goes forward very rapid
". Even a government bill Of the
greatest Importance Is brought for
ward. debated and passed Or rejected
In less than a week Speethmaking on
the part of the members Ii discourag-
ed -Four or five new acts OF all sorts
are an average week 5 work. This Is
because It Is rule that when the
government or a private member wish
es to introduce a new bin 1t is not al
lowed TO be presented to the honse at
the outset 1t must first be submitted
to committee, which in private
makes thorough examination OF it
and digests all the arguments for and
against it which are likely to be used
Ia the contest Then the committee
sends the bill along to the house with
lengthy report upon it. and in nine
cases out Of ten the parliament is guild
ed by the report upon it and decides
upon the measure with very little dis
cussion.
Though they are elected BY constitu-
eneies In just the same manner as in
the United States, each member Is paid
at the rate Of more than $50 a week
for his services. The actual salary
paid them is 81, 600 a session. but a ses-
sion lasts only twelve weeks. There
are 3T6 members 10 the house, and
when a man is elected be gets num-
Der for the purpose Of Identification
and IN usually referred to by IL no
matter where be may be. This number
Ia painted In big figures on hinged
nap, which Ia attached to bis desk In
| the parliament chamber. When he Is
seated he raises the flap on Its hinge
as a sign that he is ready for work for
the day. When he leaves the sitting be
lays the number fiat again. The dap
also serves another purpose. During
a debate, when the member wishes 10
show bis approval or disapproval Of
what is being said or to attract atten-
ton TO his claim to be allowed to speak.
he rattles this flap and By long prac-
| tice has become so skillfuI that he can
make more noise this way than any
| other. When he wishes to make a
speech be further emphasizes bis de-
sire BY shouting out his number, and IL
the president wishes to recognize him
he repeats the number
In the center OF the chamber is a high
tribune, and when member wishes to
speak be takes his stand there In view
OF the whole house. The president sits
| just behind him and rings bell when
ever there is any breach Of order The
chamber Is semicircular IN form. and
the members sit together at little
groups Of desks, three or four togeth-
er. all around.
Every word spoken In the house Of
representatives in Tokyo from the day
Of its opening has been taken down and
carefully preserved. This Is the only
parliament in the world which has a
complete verbatim report Of all its pro-
ceedings, Shortly before It's establish
ment a party Of students invented a
system Of shorthand which was capable
OF graphing with the difficulties Of the
japanese language. and after practice
they found they could keep pace with
the fastest speaker When the new
parliament was formed some Of these
etenographers were engaged. with the
result that the parliament records are
complete