Evening star., 1935-07-07

OES 1oN. WIldl Is UIlG VI tile
country's best known ant
least read newspapers, boast
ing the richest endowment
the largest and most distinguished
editorial staff, circulation of only sc
per cent of its potential possibilities
and a subscription list of only one
thirtieth Of the circulation, is the
most expensive paper in the world to
print per page cost, carries no ad-
vertising, yet has weathered well over
six decades Of continuous existence?
Answer-The Congressional Record
backed by the United States Govern
ment. edited by 96 Senator's and 432
Representatives-"528 paid contribu-
tors"-with a daily free circulation
of $3.50 and a paid subscription list
of only 1887, published by the Gov
ernment Printing Office at a cost of
around s45 per page.
While Congress sleeps, its weighty
words. wit and public ponderings OF
the day before are embalmed in lead
and ink. printed, bound and delivered
to the Post Office, all by dawn of the
next morning. For more than CEN
tury this process has been going on,
through the days OF the Annals,
grand daddy of all debate reports, the
public prints The Debates and the
Globe, immediate progenitor of the
Record.
Seldom referred to in newspapers
or elsewhere is tire real Congressional
Record-the Journal. Each house is
sues one, daily, like the Record, but
it includes only the active. official
proceedings, brieted cid digested. 1t
Is q rather slim, business-like pub
lication, not at all like the fat, i'm
pressive bundle Of sneetS better known
to the public. None of the romance
and charm of the Record lie within
Its covers, however. and none at all
Of the reflections Of personalities. In
the Record is the story.
The various steps in the publishing
of this newspaper, daily during all
congressional sessions has changed
little materially since its earliest is
sues.
ON THE House side, as on the SEN
ate, there are six reporters Of de-
bates, each of whose abilities as
amanuensis are probably unsurpassed
for speed and accuracy Before a
term is over, it Is said that auv one
Of them will know every member of
his reportorial kingdom by face, voice
and turn of phrase. Certainly this
was true of the late Theodore F.
Shuey, who, before he died few years
back, had been the real dean of all
congressional reporters, having come
to the position in 1868, five years be-
fore the Record was officially estab-
lished. At present, Daniel B. Lloyd
more than so years on the Senate
side, and Ruel Small, almost 40 on the
House side, are the deans" of their
respective groups on the Hill. Either
can and does, without effort, take his
$50 words minllte from the fastest
speakers in debate. No speaker has
ever stumped one Of these shorthand
experts.
Charles H. ParEman, seated at the
Speakers rostrum in the House, is the
depository for speakers copy" before
II goes finally 20 the Government
Printing Office. After the reporter
has stood before the speaking men,
Der and taken down in shorthand his
stint In the relay-usually about Is
minutes of it consisting of a number
of words corresponding to a column
and half of type in the Record-he
adjourns to the reporters room in the
House wing of the Capitol and speaks
1t into dictaphone.
1t is Immediately taken off the
cylinders by one of his two assistant
expert typists, and from there re-
turned to Parkman. He distributes it
by messengers 10 the various House
members on the floor for their own
corrections. 1t circulates once more
to Parkman's desk, where G. P. o.
messengers pick ii up for the printing
office.
In the case Of Representative not
receiving his copy while in his seat,
or If he wishes to make other correc-
tions or amendments at home or in
his Office, Parkman is informed, and
makes note of these and other ir-
regularities on check sheets at his
desk. The G. P. o. is informed where
this final copy can be procured and
sends messengers after it-up to as
late as 2:30 in the morning, the final
deadline on all matter for the Record.
The rules of the Joint Committee say
midnight Is the deadline, but this rule
exists only on paper.
THE routine in the Senate varies
- only slightly from this. Here
James w. Murphy is co-ordinator of
all copy. he the typist has struck of
the take" (portion of speech con-
tanned on one cylinder) his reporter
has Just dictated, he returns it to the
original amanuensis for corrections.
This latter then deposits his portion
of copy on Murphy's desk In the
Senate reporters rooms.
If Senator desires to see his copy
then and make additions, corrections
or amendments, he must come to
Murphy or advise the latter he would
like a look at it. Ordinarily, the
Senators do not do this, trusting to
the further editing by Murphy, who
now checks over the typescript once
more for obvious grammatical errors,
etc. Special messengers from the.
@. P. o. begin coming in for thi4
copy about $50, for only half an hour