New-York tribune., 1910-06-10
COVERING" PARLIAMENT
Example of London Times's"
NeWSgathering Machinery.


London Daily Mair' by its parliamentary
correspondent
silent little band Of something under
twenty journalists on The Times" staff is
assiduously engaged year in, year out. in
making repUtatons-or, incidentally, blast
ing them And this result is brought about
IN the production OF a continuous human
narrative OF the nations moods and emo
uons, narrative which displays to the
outside observer the liberal thought Of our
conservatives, the conservatism Of our
Liberals. and, in a word, reflects our ma
tional character
The Times as becomes its position and
its achievements, occupies {. unique position
in the gallery of the House Of Commons
The authorities of the House. with every
desire to be courteous and helpf1n to the
press have, owing to the very limited
space, to impose severe restrictions as 10
the number OF those admitted to the gal
lery. There are in the front row of the
gallery only twenty-nine separate seats, or
boxes, as they are called. and the ex-
elusive position Of one Of these seats is an
almost priceless newspaper possession. A
narrow. undivided seat runs around the
gallery behind the boxes, and this is crowd
ed with the extra journalists, sketch writ
ers, and artists who are within the narrow
circle of those who have the entree to the
gallery bur not the right TO a separate seat.
It should be said here that there are scores
Of papers ar the present moment seeking
vainly the privilege Of bare admission to
the gallery. The exclusive possession.
therefore. Of one Of these tweuty-nine boxes
is great thing for a newspaper. The
49,
ately above the Speakers chair. and in an
excellent position.
For the rressnlen in general. who num-
Der between one hundred and fifty to two
hundred, several large writing rooms are
provided so that descriptions may be writ
ten or Shorthand notes transcribed away
from the gallery itself The Times" alone
has its own room. Pass from the top Of
the gallery stairs along the passe geway
which leads 70 the gallery seats. and YOU
viii see opening on your left q small room
IN which sits q clerk entering 1lp the times
OF arrival and departure Of the messengers
who travel with manuscript to ana from
The Times Office. BY his side is q tele-
graph instrument which comn1unica tes df-
rect with the editorial rooms Of The
Times and over which short messages Of
urgency may be sent without delay. Pass
through this anteroon1- the use Of which is
shared by two other corps. TO q door on the
further side, and you win enter 4 depart
ment which Is in the sole possession Of
The Times journalists Some of them.
seated on opposite sides OF the table which
runs the length Of the room. are busiy
writing; one IS turning up & flle of The
Times on a side desk TO verify q reference
which has been made by 2 Minister in de-
bate: another is examining a written list OF
names ana times on the notice board TO
ascertain exactly when he is expected 70
take his place IN the House.
The Times staff in Parliament con
slsts OF thirteen reporters. two summary
writer's and chief The latter supervises
all the arrangements, fs responsible for the
finished daily report, be il three columns or
thirty. and by his judgment as TO the length
the work Of presenting 70 the country a
picture OF Parliament which shall be pro
portiouate in all its parts.
When both houses are sitting on the
same day The Times corps is divided. six
men being in one house, seven in the other.
When only one house IS sitting all Of them
70 each afternoon Il ne Times staff IS
gathered in its own room in the House Of
Commons. On the notice board Is posted
up z list of the names Of the reporters and
to take their places in the reporting box
in the gallery. That list depends on a rota
varying automatically week by week At
seven minutes 70 o'clock when the doors
Of the gallery are opened to the press the
three members OF The Times staff take
their places in their three special seats,
the words Of the proceedings in shorthand,
the summary writer whose duty L Is 10
write lucid. but abbreviated account Of
the speeches in 4 running narrative. and
the chief who sits with them watching I'll
that is going on and regulstiug whenever
he thinks il necessary, the work Of the re-
porter ID till 2 o'clock in the evening
each reporter STAYS exactly fifteen minutes
in the box taking shorthand notes OF the
proceedings.
In busy times the reporter will then have
at least al hour ana 2 half 20 ;ranScTioe
his tifteen minutes notes before being
again called upon 70 take his place N the
gallery. In important periods Of debate
every word will have 10 be aiken down.
and that means that the reporters quarter
OF an hour OF notes viii result in three
quarters of d column Of The Times -
Leading Statesmen Ike the Prime Minister
and the leader Of the Opposition are al
ways reported verbatim, and other front
bench politicians. and occasionally private
members also. are reported verbatim the
extent 10 which their UtteranceS are re
produced depending not merely upon their
personal itporl sri1tIs o1g Uni ms .ai
with the subject under discussion, and the
worth OF their words.
Here It is that the judgment Of The
Tines staff tells. The chief sitting with
his summary writer and his reporter, VIII
occa siona1ly give 2 hint y 10 the -nclu-
sion or omission Of speech or part CT 2
OF his seat in the gallery necessarily
strikes q note which gives a tone TO the
whole
much. however. depends on the reporters
themselves They cannot be expected to
nosssss expert knowledge OF al the sub
fects rnilitary naval, financial, foreign
and technical. that come before the House,
bI1+ thew have what Is nearly as gocd-ex-
periarce Of the House itself. IN many
Eases q very long experience indeed; and
this generally enables them 10 estimate both
sraeches and subjects al their real value
a member may think his speech 4 very
clever one The reporter may differ Il IS
the decision of the reporter which tells. II
y,-iI1 be. easily seen how the judgment OF
.sT-fe Times" men in the gallery has made
and Is making parliamentary regulations
Prom o'clock in the evening the time
occupied by each reporter in the box -
Ieesened because Il is necessary at that late
i1our that the copy should reach The
Tt7uss'' office more quickly and in smaller
bstrhes. From to $50 the reporters work
iJe 'tfar7-uinute turns From go to 1880 n
minute turns, and from
1tS.9A onward in turEs Of five minutes.
small ,onsignments OF copy are thus con-
e+a1fiv on the wav 10 The Times office,
one lot being dispatched before the one pre-
oaJfny if has reached Printing House
s5-fzre II the House sits beyond y three
roa11 are selected to stay on. II necessary. .
tJ,ro,,ebout the night. IN order 70 keep
an Abbreviated report IN progress Tor The