The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-01-11

Which keeps Full Verbatim Re-
Dort Of Its Proceedings.
Modern Japan in founding her insti-
tutions has had the advantage Of be-
ing able to use as models the best
throughout the civilized world, says
the Portland O%regonian. Those who
have seen the parliament at Tokyo at
work say that it is the most business
like institution in the world, and there
"a little talk in proportion to the work
accomplished.
The work goes forward very rapid
". Ever a government bill Of the
greatest Importance is brought for
ward, debated and passed or rejected
In less than a week. Speechmaking on
the part Of the members is discourage
Ell. -Four or five new acts of all sorts
are an average weeks work. This is
because it Is a rule that when the
government or Il private member wish
es to introduce Il new bill it is not al
lowed to be presented to the house at
the outset. 1t must first be submitted
to Il committee, which in private
makes Il thorough examination Of it
and digests all the arguments for and
against it which are likely to be used
In the contest. Then the committee
sends the bin along to the house with
q lengthy report upon il. and in nine
cases out OF ten the parliament is guild
ed Dy the report upon 1t and decides
upon the measure with very little dis
cussiOn.
Though they are elected by constitu-
enc1es 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 $ 1000 q session. but Il SEES
sion lasts only twelve weeks. There
are 3G members in the house. and
when Il mar is elected he gets Il num-
Der for the purpose Of Identification
and is usually referred to 10y it, no
matter where lie may be. This number
Is painted in big figures on IL hinged
flap, which is attached to his desk in
the parliament chamber. When he is
seated lie raises the flap on its hinge
as Il sign that he is ready for work for
the day. When he leaves the sitting he
lays the number fiat again. The flap
also serves another purpose. During
a debate, when the member wishes to
show his approval or disapproval of
ton to his claim to be allowed to speak,
he rattles this Zap and by long prac
| tice has become SO skillful that lie a
make more noise this way than any
other. When he wishes to make Il
speech he further emphasizes his de-
sire by shouting out his number, and If
the president wishes to recognize him
he repeats the number.
In the center Of the chamber is Il high
tribune, and when Il member wishes to
speak he takes his stand there in view
Of the whole house. The president sits
just behind him and rings Il bell when
ever there is any breach of order. The
chamber is Scmicirculnr in form. and
the members sit together at little
groups OF desks. three or fOur toyeth-
err. all around.
Every word spoken in the house of
representatives in Tokyo from the day
of it's 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 its establish
ment Il party Of students invented q
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
stenographcrS We're engaged. with the
result that the parliament records arc