The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-04
.FOG-HORN VOICE
SOUGHT BY HOUSE
Periodical Test for Reading
Clerk Is On.
One CANDIDATE FALLS DOWN
Starts Well, But Vocal Stunts Are
Too Much for Members.

The House OF Representatives is on
the hunt for a strong-voieed handsome
body who could qualify as a cheer
leader at his college or bring an echo
from the farthest corner Of a Billy Sun
day tabernacle. In other words. the
House is conducting one Of its periodi-
cal tests to find a reading clerk
Within the past two days two dozen
candidates have been tried out. They
come all the way from Utah to Florida.
and are presented by this member and
that as possessing the prime requisites
to hold down the reading clerks job.
However. everybody with a loud voice
isn't qualified to be a reading clerk at
the House. A voice may be excellent
for bawling out the umpire and fall
down miserably when II comes to read
ing a tariff bill.
"FoE Horn BIIT' Back Home.
A candidate for the job came in from
one Of the nearby States the other day.
He had had experience in a State legis-
lature. and was touted as having a fog
horn voice Of much local renown.
Il want you fellows to listen to this
bird" said the member who introduced
MIN. Back in my State he's known as
Fog Horn Bill"
Bill started on well enough. but soon
his voice took a hurdle and was up
around high c. Members came in from
the cloakrooms and listened wondering
ly to the piercing sounds. Soon Bill
began to grow careless about his periods.
and the reading Of the pending bill
sounded something like a mournful
kxs q admit
stop at all for commas, and rounded the
end Of sentences on two wheels with the
vocal clutch thrown into high.
Bits Voice Performs stunts.
II was Inevitable that Bills voice
would break. He was a strong and
healthy man. and there was no excuse
for the falsetto notes. II did break.
In the passing of a word Bills voice
descended from high c to a deep
bass. something like the voice that II
used when one sings ASLEEP in the
Deep-Bee-wa-ha re-bee-wa-hare."
1t was too much for the House.
Members lay back in their seats and
chuckled. Some OF them laughed
outright. The gavei banged-but
Bill read on apparently oblivious OF
the hubbub. He knew that he had
been directed to read so many sections
and he did.
This is merely an illustration OF
the difficulties OF finding a reading
clerk. Some one with the voice OF the
proper pitch may be lacking in quick
ness: that is, he may become confused
when amendments rain upon the desk
and no mistakes are permissible. An
other may be vocally proficient. but
stumble over some of the unusual
words of legislation. Still another
may be apt and well educated and
possess a voice that will crack"
after ten minutes steady use.
Last Test Six Years Ago.
Altogether the House will try out
possibly more than a score of candi-
dates before the selection Is made.
1t has been six years since there was
a test OF reading clerks. As a rule
heretofore the reading candidates
have been heard in private by what
ever committee possessed the appoint
ing power, but this time the House Is
hearing them in the open. The
Democratic patronage committee or
the party caucus is slated to make the
selection.
The House has one hold-over read
ing clerk-Patrick T. HRltigan. Of this
city. He Is a seasoned and capable
House official. and probably will hold
on so long as the Democrats retain
control. Haltigan has a voice that
has never failed and was unanimous
ly retained by the party caucus.
Haltigan's reading mate may be
any one OF a score OF candidates who