The new South-news., 1908-05-23

m unusually strenuous time this year
n chronicling the proceedings OF 'he
NATIONAL Legislature. II Is not neces-
cary 10 geek far for the reason. This
presidential year. and the oppor-
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
surfeit Of debate literally favored
with politics. while constant reader,
inds the Congressional Record bur
iened with innumerable speeches in
which national issues are discussed 10
The neglect OF the measures ostensi-
bly, under consideration.
~ this means hard work and plen-
y of IL for the expert stenographers
who comprise the corps OF omcial re-
rorters 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. bu, the
orators are exceptionally concerned
IS 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 ap-
pear In cold type and make reyisions
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-
TEN has gradually been developed
which makes ii possible to present a
complete 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.
Tho present day working system
and equipment of the Official report
ers. like this body OF shorthand ex.
stage of perfection as the result OF a
gradual evolution. The plan OF re
porting verbatim the proceedings Oi
| the Senate and House of Representa-
tives has been In vogue since lS4S
and in the three score years that
have intervened 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
Iaboriously transcribed the record In
longhand.
When the typewriter was invented
II reXoiutionszed the labor OF tran
scribine the reporters notes, and NOR.
recently another advance almost As
notable has been made by the intro
| iuction of the business phonograph
Some of the veterans OF the corps OF
offcial reporters still prefer to die
tate their notes to assistants, who take
them stenographically and transcribe
them on typewriters. but the majorit,
Of the experts dictate to monographs
the cylinders of which are at once
taken by typewriters and transcrip'
made.
Ii Is claimed that the phonograpf
method Is the most economical o.
time and it also offers superior ad
vantages against error If type
writer has reason to believe that h.
has made an error in transcribing frou
a photograph he has only to turI
back the cylinder and again listen t.
the remarks regarding which he is il
doubt, but II there Is a suspicion O
error in stenographic notes theye is
of course. no way for the typewrite
operator to determine the matter with
out consulting the official reporte,
who gave the dicta,ion. While on tn
subject Of tbs economy of time in hi
work 1t may be noted that the highes
attainment In this line is possibl
where men can read one another
shorthand notes. hut this is rare az
complishment. However some OF tn
Murphys. family conspicuously ider
tified with the whole history of Cor
gressional reporting-had this gif,
and it was at one time possible TO
one member OF the family to renal
practically continuously on duty in tn
Senate chamber. merely turning ore
his notes for transcribing to his brotl
er. who acted as his assistant.
Although the system OF ofic;al r,
! porting is identical in the Senate an
House OF Representatives the remul
Grafton OF the reporter is on diHe
ent basis in the two houses Of Col
gress. In the House the shorthand G.
perts are paid on the salary plan. TIL
six ofictal reporters. Messrs. A.
Welch. Fred Ireland. Reuel Sinai
Allister Cochrane. George {. I-affert
and Samuel H. Gray, each receive
compensation at the rate Of $4,000 ps
year and there are four oflcial stem