Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-05-22

an unusually strenuous time this year
m chronicling the proceedings OF the
rational Legislature. 1t is not neces.
carr to seek far for the reason. This
i presidential year, and the oDpor.
unity is seized by many legislators
AS similar occasions have been al
Intervals OF four years in the past-to
make political hay while the sun
shInes. Therefore the country has a
su-feit of debate literally favored
18th politics, while constant reader,
ards. the Congressional Record bur-
dened with innumerable speeches in
xhich national issues are discussed 20
the neglect of the measures ostensi-
NV under consideration.
All this means hard work and plen-
~ of Il for the expert stenographers
rho comprise the corps OF Official re-
porters- CT the Senate and House OF
representatives. Not only is the de-
nate under such circumstances par
seulariy lively and many of the
s.eeches particularly lengthy, but the
orators are exceptionally concerned
a. 10 the forn In which their remarks
will appear in print. Dozens of these
soeeches in Congress will later be
sent broadcast as campaign anmuni-
ton. Naturally the authors are soil
eltous as TO how their efforts will APP
near In cold type and make revisions
and corrections almost without end.
However. the Official reporters are
well equipped to keep tab on the say
ipes OF the nations lawmakers. A sys-
tenn has gradually been developed
which makes It possible to present a
eomplete detailed record of all that
has transpired at a daily session OF
either House OF Congress in an al
most incredibly short space OF time
after the body has adjourned. This Is
accomplished by having the official
reporters work in relays and by the
Introduction OF the most up to date
mechanical equipment, not the least
notable feature of which is found in
the business monographs into which
most OF the reporters now talk"
their notes instead of debating them
to stenographers or personally trans
cribing them.
The present day working system
and equipment of the official report
ers. like this body OF shorthand ex-
perts itself, has been brought to the
stage Of perfection as the result Of
gradual evolution. The plan of re-
porting verbatim the proceedings OF
the Senate and House Of Representa-
tiyes has been in vogue since 1S4S:
and In the three score years that
have interviewed since this important
feature Of Congressional routine was
inaugurated there have been many
changes OF method. At the outset the
Official reporters took their notes in
shorthand and then at their leisure
laboriously transcribed the record in
longhand
When the typewriter was invented
II revolutionized the labor of tran
scribing the reporters notes. and more
recently another advance almost as
notable has been made by the intro
duction Of the business photograph
Some OF the veterans of the corps of
Official reporters still prefer to die
tate their notes to assistants, who take
them geographically and transcribe
them on typewriters, but the majority
Of the experts dictate to monographs.
the cylinders of which are at once
taken by typewriters and transcript
made.
II is claimed that the photograph
method is the most economical OF
time and II also offers superior adj
vantages against error. IL a type
writer has reason TO believe that he
has made an error in transcribing from
monograph he has only to turn
back the cylinder and again listen to
the remarks regarding which he is in
doubt but IL there is suspicion OF
error In stenographic notes there is,
OF course. no way for Che typewriter
operator 10 determine the matter with.
out consulting the official reporter
VINO gave the dictation. While on the
subject OF the economy of time in this
work II may be noted that the highest
attainment in. this line is possible
where men can read one another's
shorthand notessbut this is a rare ac-
complishmelt. However. some of the
hurphys, family conspicuously iden-
uned with the whole history of Con-
uessional reporting-had this gift,
ana It was at one time possible for
one member OF the family to remain
practically continuously on duty in the
senate chamber, merely turning over
us notes for transcribing to his broth
". who acted as his assistant.
lnere are six Official reporters in
NE service of the Senate and an equal
number engaged in the House of Rep
eseniauves, whereas in but few of |
'ne largest business houses in the
'ountry could there be found a more
pnpiete equipment of monographs |
'aan Is now Installed at the Capitol. |
AZ interesting feature of the array |
y tools Of the trade" to be found az |
xAoquarters Of the Congressional re-
eriers is the shaving machine. The
'.lo.'on Of this apparatus is to reju-
,sua'e the phonograph records so that
~es can be used again and again.
s',s1 q record has served its purpose
90 me chronicle 1t held has been put
Vpewritten form the cylinder is
a IN the shaving machine. and
oelcate wax surface is shaved
w until It is ready to again re-
ord dictation