Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-07

-,AsHINGToN. July S.-Into the more or less
w dignihed at times orderly and always SLOW
W procedure of the house of representatives Oh
the United States be injected an elee' u
modern mechanical efficiency. Quite literally Jump
ar n TO be applied to deliberations of the lower
house 1t will the form Of an electrical Votihs
device which will be capable of recording ana aous
the vote the members present in about thn'y-iOur
seconds.
The average time occupied in calling the roll as
done AZ presen by reading clerks is ABOUT
forty minutes, for of every member must De
read twice A congressman with a head for mathe-
matcs estimated that ffty-sx days were spent Gaining
the roll during the sessions of one congress IL seems
quite within the probabilities that this machine II
installed successful will the house about one
month out of every year. Senator Underwood believes
it would save S5O,OOo year III hsh'' hea' anu
telegraph service
As for the machine the invention of B. L.
Broboff, native of Russia, citizen Of the United
States and a resident of Milwaukee, Wis 1t has
already installed and successfully demonstrated
in the hall Wisconsin state legislature at Madl-
son wis and Mr. BroboR has also demonstrated it on
a small scale in Washington. Many members of con-
gress have already expressed themselves as favorable
to its installation Representative Howard Of Georgia
has introduced providing $125000 for the purpose
and Mr. Brobof appeared before the committee on
accounts and made convincing statement about the
working of his machine and the need for it. He
declares that it will speedily its cost in time,
light and it will last couple of centuries
literally never get of order. and that
ate it.
In the last analysis the of this machine in
speedng up the house will depend upon the members
1t can and add vote in thiry-four seconds.
but unless the voters there OF course. vote
might be with only member present. but the
question which remains unsettled is whether this
method will really facilitate the gathering of quorums.
Mr. Howard, who introduced the bill. and other
members who want to the machine installed, be-
lieve it will do certain time will have to be
set for the taking of the vote-say minutes-and
members who have not pressed their buttons for
yea nay and flashed red light a white
the recording board will then be
is the hope belief of those who the system
that speedy operation will compel stay
on the floor the house if they interested
BILL or they want to avoid making a
tnual absence from roll calls.
And that brings to the fore the biggest problem in
the present-day deliberations of the house Gradually
hut very perceptbly changing from deliberative
body where legislation is debated and formulated to
an aggregation of clerks and agents. who appoint COM
nttees to draft leaders tell them how they
shall vote, and spend their time attending
multitude of details for various individuals.
Formerly the house was a great deal smaller there
was no house office building the members had their
offices scattered all Washington. They nearly all
attended every session of congress.
Now the office building is right the street
from the capitol During the ordinary sessions or the
house a few of the leaders, and some Others will be
found upon the floor, earnestly arguing. vote is
desired Electrical bells that resound through
all the corridors house office building. The
gressmen whose begin with A. and c leap to
their feet and depart hall of legislation. The
KS and LIS however begin debating another letter.
while the P's and Qs and KS merely glance at their
watches will be at least half hour before their