Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
Ever Corgressmsn Tire Of Gen
erai Discussion for Purpose Of
Padding House Record
BIG EXPENSE TO The NATION
Limitation Of Talk Would Save
Thousands Of Dollars in
Ink and Paper,
B. JONATHAN WINFIELD

WASHINGTON. SEPT Z7.-If ons
wandera into the gallery ~ the House
q Represeu-at.ves and see snowy
Ia red stasesruau making an smyas-
STONED speech no e.E n bic ag. teaE 4rs
. fesE pagea and a. dozen spectator
tr the zall-T.es and ~ one csln know
tne ways - Etatesrnausl one might
think .t funny one might Comment
that 10 appeared "a biz foolish and
N gnt ask why they did IT,
Wen. there's q reasgE.
When such a proceeding Is going or
there lG n progress NEst u known a.
general debate General debate does
not mean that some folks are deDat-
ing something Quite O. the contrary,
10 means that certain represent atlFes
of the dear pee uI' are getting their
remarks. partisan OT otherwise. ~ the
Congress 1nal Record for distribution
ID their home districts and for tine f8-
fgre enlightenment and wisdom n
their Constituent.
Whenever measure u Importance
comes up 41 The House for cousideTs-
ton the Hrst thing "a the program .H
general debate" This varies accord -
lnR % The Importance % Tho bill under
consideration In the case u the tar
~ bill there were MY hours OF 20 q
general debate and about the same
amount when the currency bin was
brought into the House from the
Committee On Banking ana CurTency
Can Discuss Anything.
Under the rules u the House. a
member who has been yielded time
in general debate has the right 20 dis
cuss anything under -hS sun. He may
talk about the crops % Kansas, or the
~ ~ f.a.F.H.
new treaty with Siam 0r sDrne other
equally interesting subject
General debate Us unintnreFtiuR as
a rule, a. experience has shown. to
the rank and ME Of the House
But 20 the comparatively few mem
berH who want 10 get their speeches
ia The Record this general debate
business ia most serious PROPOSE
ton They iii around the chamber
resticssly awaiting the time when the
chairman 81 "a committee. or some
other member ~ charge NJ q Bill
rises ln mis- place and Says gracefully.
4 now yield 30 minutes 10 the gen
tieman from 80 and 70. Mr. - and
So"
Country Sees DseeDtion.
And the essence Of tine s-riOusneas
with which thee members take gen
eral debate lies as f0.iowE Time was
when a member Of the House didn't
need 20 deliver q speech In order 20
assure his remarks "a certain amount
~ desirable publicity He could Hsk
permission Of the House 20 extend
his remarks in the Record Not on 8
that but he could insert 10 the speech
such words az these. Applause. q
much applause" long ana continued
Applause" laughter fThiH latter
would follow, Of course some with
cikm or alleged wltticlsmJ
But alas the country got on" 20
the deception and members them
selves participated iu the action 20
bring an end 10 this state Of af-
fairs Now " n member cares 10 tK-
tend his remarks 100 the Record. he
may Do 20 minus the applause" The
long and continued applause" and
all the other old devices for making
the speech seem g. have been actually
delivered
so acute has become the situation
that members now are deFir1ua ~
making these speeches no matter how
few persons are present 70 hear
them. Now and then a. little ap-
plause DO heard from the few mem
bers present and the official stenog-
~ pher notes the fact
Not only that but frequently the
speaker. in his desire 70 convince the
folks at home that be actually has
made the speech, arrangeE that other
members shall interrupt him for q
question or suggestion or some
thing else. The question may be per
tinent OF 30 may not bee The effect is
iust the same The speech Is delv-
cred just the same. and on 70 are the
earmarks Of actually having been
spoken.