Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-02-21

about him, thus creating considerable
confusion which interfc-es with the
work of the house debate reporters,
and with the speaker, who finds it
difficult to keep track of things in
the confusion and crowding.
Andrew G.. Welch, who was a senior
member of the corps of official report
ers of debates Of the house of repre-
sentatives, died day or two ago after
an illness of only five days Mr.. WEIGH
was sixty-six years old and for more
than quarter of a century he had
been reporting the debates in the
house of representatives.
There are seven or eight men who
take stenographic reports of the con-
greSsional proceedings and they are
all experts, as they must be, for their
work is not only exacting but it has
to stand the scrutiny, when in print,
OF every member of the house of rep
resentatives. The latter are quick to
detect errors and never let mistake
pass uncorrected provided it can be
construed as changing in the least the
meaning of what was said.
When Reporters Have Trouble.
These reporters of debates have
trouble of their own when a new con-
gress assemblies. When the first SEES
sion begins these men must go on the
floor and be able to put down in their
books instantly the name of any man
who interjects question or a remark
while another member is speaking
There will be over a hundred new
members to appear on the first day of
the session and let It be supposed
that an old member is making a
speech Suddenly a man in far cor
ner, an absolute stranger to the hall,
arises to ask a question. 1t is pos
siblo that the reporter of debates
he must get into his note hook some
thing which will enable him to iden-
tify the interrupter so that he can
write his name in when the time for
transcribing the notes comes.
Identification of the new member by
means OF stenographic notes is made
in one way, most natural way, but
one which has its interest. For In
stance, it is nothing unusual to find in
a stenographic note book containing
the proceedings of the early days of
new congress an entry like this:
"Lank, red-whiskered chap, northeast
corner, interrupts" 1t is perhaps
needless to say when the COMPRESSION
al Record appears the next day the
lank, administered chap appears as
Representative Smith or Representa-
tive Jones or Representative some
body else, whatever his name is. At
any rate, he appears in the Record in
proper form and his beard or his lack
of beard or his laid head or the fact
that he has a scar on his face Is not
in evidence.
Argument Against Extra Session.
1t virtually can be taken far
granted that President Taft Will
not let his mind definitely be known
upon the subject Of an extra ses
sion of congress until he finds olt
whether either one of his two favorite
legislative recommendation is to be
given the force of the law-the tariff
commission, and reciprocity with
Canada.
While the matter is in doubt there
are several hundreds OF employees Of
the house and senate who are on the
anxious seat. If the p1 esident caa-
venes congress in extra session IN
March nearly all the capitol employees
who have received positions by direct
Republican appointment" will be sep
arated from the service and Demh-
Gratis will take their places. II there
is no extra session these employees
will hold office practically without do
ing any work at all until next DeceTl-
Der, when the regular session begins
and they will be ousted in due course
and their places taken by Democrats.
1t is usual for clerks appointed be-
cause they happen 10 be members OF
a certain political party to hold office
for two years; that is, from the begin
ming of one congress until the time
that the next congress gets together.
If there is an extra session the Demo
cratic employees will begin their
work in March and in all human prob
ability will hold over until two years
from next December, thereby giving
them two and one-half years pay and
cutting the Republican clerks and
messengers out of their emoluments
for the months lying between March
and December.
1t may seem little bit curious, but
1t is a fact that President Taft has
been urged not to call an extra ses-
sion On the ground that he will de-
prive a number of house employees
of pay which they fully expected to re-
ceive
Signal Corps Sent tc Border
Orders were issued from the war
department a day or two ago sending
one hundred memb ers of the signal
corps of the army from middle west
ern posts to the Mexican border where
their services may be needed ia con-
nection with the troops OF other arms
of the service in preserving neutral
ity.
The signal corps Of the army is a
very small body and yet 1t does an
enormous amount OF work. It has
just completed grest military tele-
graph system in ALASKA, In addition to
LAYING a cable from Seattle, Wash, to
the chief seaport OF the great north
west territory. This cable and land
telegraph line several thousands OF
miles In length was laid entirely by
L.. h If q