The Washington times., 1913-10-21
Many Are Absent Minded.


We have six men named Stevens or
comes to town and asks for Mr.. Stew
ems and he seems surprised that there
is any other man by that name except
my Congressman Still more difficult
to fill Is the request from the outside
for the Congressman who introduced
such and such bill yesterday. I think
his name is Blank
"A member occasionally picks up the
phone and says Give me my office.
Then ne remembers. or Is reminded,
that he hasn't told us who is talking.
The average Capitol operator, however.
is familiar with. the voices of many
members of both houses and recognizes
them Immediately.
Another trouble we have is the
Strengthening out Of callers for the va
side line we may get a call for the
Finance Committee when the Appropria-
tions Committee is wanted, or a seeker
Tor information may ask to talk to the
Foreign Affairs Committee when he
wants the Foreign Relations Committee.
However, we soon straighten out
these little tangles, ond there is no
compltint from us. When you consider
that we have about 500 stations now as
against fifty-one Immediately after the
Spanish wark, you may grasp an IDEA
of how the telephone service at the
Capitol has grown in recent years"
Mrs. Daley says that almost without
exception the member Of Congress Is
and that but few telephone ''grouches"
have been heard in all her experience.
On the other hand, the member Of Con-
gress and other everyday users Of the
Capitol telephones. including members
Of the newspaper profession. have nev-
er had a kick against the Capitol cen
trail"
The Capitol switchboard force. as re-
CARDS numbers, Is regulated according
to the pressure Of business. II legis-
tions are buzzing between the Capitol,
the departments and the outside world,
six or more may be seen putting in and
pulling out plugs with a dexterfty that
Is remarkable. II but few members are
in town and the calls are few the force
/ is smaller. when all-nfght sessions are
held the operators work over time with
out complaint and without extra pay.
A Divided Patronage. =
The regular Capitol operators are ap-
portioned between. the Senate and
House, SO far as patronage Is concerned.
Mrs. Daley, Mrs. E. b.. Linge. and
Misses Dix. Fort, and NJ. G. Thomas,
are accredited to the Senate. Mrs. Bet
tie Shinn and Mrs. s.. L. Thompkins
and Miss Nina Thomas are accredited
to the House. All. however. foregather
about the same board, regardless Of
whether they obtained an appointment
through Senator Of a Congressman.
In addition, there are three session
operators" who have managed to put in
considerable time since Congress formed
the habit of staying in session most OF
the time. The session operators, drafted
for the rush work when things are hum
ming in Washington, are Misses White
and Morgan. and Mrs. Vierbuchen.
At night the Capitol switchboard Is
Under the supervision of two male oper-
ators, who alternate, Just as do the girl
operators, according to q regular sched-
ule mapped out by Mrs. Daley. The
Capitol board, II must be remembered.
Is running twenty-four hours q day and
night. Messrs. Meeker and Van vorfiss
hold forth at night, and Mrs. Grace
Gardner frequently Is called upon to an
swer calls early in the evening before
the rush Is over.
Miss Gertrude Regan is down on the
lists as substitute, and IL subject to
call whenever legislators or the general
public become unusually talkative and
the wires begin to hum with such fre-
quency that the regular force Is up
Miss NJ. G. Thomas is right hand
hello to Mrs. Daley. chief operator.
Miss Thomas takes charge of the trou-
bic and Information desk when Mrs.
Daley is absent and fills in to the emf
nent satisfaction Of everybody.