The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-23
MEMBERS RUN AWAY
Leaders Are Concerned Over
Lack Of Interest.
OFFICE BUILDING ATTRACTS
Devices Which Keep Congressmen
Informed While Away from House
Are MuItipIyinE-A Small Glimpse
gnto the Future Reveals What
Statesmnnship May Come To.

Speaker Cannon and other leaders IN
the House are concerned over the grow
ing practice Of Representatives in run
ming away from the chamber during the
consideration OF important business. II
always has been difficult to keep mem
bers present during the daily sessions,
but absenteeism has become a positive
evil this year.
This is due 10 the fact that the House
now owns large Office building, put up
at a cost OF several millions Of dollars,
and containing fine quarters for every
member.
In the seclusion Of the Office building
the member who is not burdened with
any responsibility other than to cast his
vote when he is given the signal TO do
so. spends his time sending out seeds.
writing TO the folks back home. and IN
other ways planning for denomination
and reelection. The Office building is a
fair distance from the Capitol, and mem
bers are disinclined to take the walk ex-
ceDt in urgent circumstances.
Another Excuse Coming.
II the present plans are carried out.
another excuse for members who are
not disposed 10 attend the daily proceed
ings will be provided. What Representa-
tive Tawney. of Minnesota, calls plot
10 retard the business In the House is in
process Of being Matched.
When the Office building was completed.
members made complaint that they were
so far removed from the chamber that
they had no way Of finding out what was
going on except by means OF the tele-
phone This was unsatisfactory.
1t was then suggested that a ticker.
such as Is used in transmitting stock
quotations. should be installed in every
room OF the Office building. BY this
means members could be promptly ad-
vised OF the nature Of the business under
consideration. the speakers who held the
floor. and. in fact. be informed at all
times concerning the proceedings without
leaving their rooms
But the ticker scheme was discarded
for some reason or other. Then the House
officials discovered q device that is be-
lieved 10 I'll the bill. If put into use, this
device viii communicate over wires 10
the rooms in the office building every
sound and syllable uttered on the House
floor
Have Signal Service.
We are getting altogether too modern. -
said a House leader yesterday. I'VE seem
10 be adopting every facility with a view
to encouraging absenteeism. We started
out BY erecting an Office building. Now
we are testing new tangled IDEAS whereby
members shall keep track Of the House
proceedings without leaving their Offices.
Why not connect these wires with the
Washington homes Of congressman And
then probably in the process Of develop
ment, the time will come when measures
viii be adopted making Il unnecessary
for members TO come to Washington al
all
The first thing we know the E3use
will rejoice in the possession OF 'up-to-date
signal service. including a wireless out
fit From hts home in Honolulu, the Dele
gate from Hawaii by merely touching
a button. or sending a message by wire
less, Will be able 10 register his vote on
a given measure. In like manner he will
communicate his views on public Ques-
tions. Where is it all going to end
Darned II I know"