The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-06-11
Drpnnruc nrptrrc HOW AND by WHOM IT Is DONE IN
hEfUniHb UEbAlES--- CONGRESS-

az unusually strenuous TIME lhiS year
in chronicling the proceedings Of the
national Legislature. II IS not neces-
sary to seek far for the reason. This
Is presidential year, and the oppor
tunity is seized by many legislators
las 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
surfelt Of debate literally favored
with politics, while constant reader >
finds the Congressional Record bur
dened with innumerable speeches in
which national issues are discussed to
the neglect of the measures ostensi'
bly, under consideration
All this means hard work and plen-
ty Of 1t for the expert stenographers
who comprise the corps of official re
porters Of the Senate and House OF
Representatives Not only is the de-
bate under such circumstances par
ticularly lively and many Of the
speeches particularly lengthy, but the
orators are exceptionally concerned
as to the form in which their remarks
will appear in print Dozens Of these
speeches in Congress will later be
sent broadcast as campaign ammuni-
ton. Naturally the authors are soil.
citous as to how their efforts will APP
pear in cold type and make revisions
and corrections almost without end.
However, the Official reporters are
well equipped to keep tab on the say
ings Of the nations lawmakers. A sys-
tenn has gradually been developed
which makes It possible to present a
complete detailed record of all that
has transpired at q 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 a
gradual evolution. The plan of re-
porting verbatim the proceedings OF
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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
/ It revoutionized tho labor Of tran
I scribing the reporters notes, and more
recently another advance almost as
I 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 transcrlbe
them on typewriters, but the majority
of the experts dictate to monographs
the cylinders of which are. at once
taken by typewriters and a transcript
made.
It is claimed that the phonograpt
method is the most economical Of
time and 1t also offers superior ad
yantages against error If, a type
writer has reason to believe that he
has made an error in transcribing from
a photograph he has only to turn
back the cylinder and again listen t.
the remarks regarding which he is II
doubt. but If there is a suspicion O.
error in stenographic notes there is
of course. no way for the typewrite'
operator TO determine the matter with
out consulting the official reporter
| who gave the dictation. While on th'
subject OF the economy Of time in thi
work It may be noted that the highes
! attainment in this line 10 possible
where men can read one another
shorthand notes, but this is a rare &C
compllshment. However, some OF tn
Murphys. q family conspicuously iden
tiaed with the whole history Of Con
eressional reporting--had this gift
and It was at one time possible 70
one member OF the family to renal
practically continuously on duty In tn
Senate chamber, merely turning owe
his notes for transcrlbing to bis orotl
ar who acted as HE assistant.
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