Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1902 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Very few realize the importance of the congressional reporters’ duties. The visitor in the gallery hears the brilliant speeches of the country's great men, “enjoys” the ensuing debates—which he does not understand—and never gives a thought to the men whose quick ears and swift hands must catch and write every word. The telegraphers are always in evidence, but where are these reporters'? Very often there is not a man to be seen at their table. But if one is at all observing, he will quickly find these “artists.” There at the side of a Congressman who has just begun to speak stands a man busily writing, and in a distant corner where a member has been recognized by the chair another stenographer will quickly find an empty seat. The House has eight, the Senate five expert stenographers. Two uaust always be present. After the first has written about 1,000 words the second will relieve him, to be followed by the third. In the basement the reporter dictates his notes to a graphophone, from which they are taken on a typewriter by an assistant. During calm debates the reporters are often found seated at their table near the Speaker's desk. One of the stenographers in the House has been on duty for thirty years and another has “caught words” for twenty-five years. It is trying and exacting work these men have to perform for $5,000 a year. During the great tariff debate uo less than three lost their lives owing to the constant strain. The appropriations to be made by Congress at the present session do not threaten to exceed the appropriations of the last session, but, on the contrary, probably will fail a few millions short. The appropriations made at the last session of Congress amounted to $730,009,01 X>, and did not include tbe river and harbor bill. A river and harbor bill carrying direct, appropriation of $29,000,000 will be passed this session. The total appropriations of this session, including that bill, .will probably be $750,000,000. Thus if tbe river and harbor bill had been passed at the last session the total would have been $759,000,000, preventing therefore the contrast with the probable appropriations of this session favorable to the present Congress. The appropriations for 1898 made at last session of the Fiftyfourth Congress amounted to $485.01X1,(XX), that being the last fiscal year before the beginning of the Spanish-Ameri-can war. The following year, which covered the substantial expenses for prosecuting that war, the appropriations amounted to $893,000,000. In 1898, the army bill carried nearly $23,000,900, xyhile for the coming fiscal year the bill will probably carry $92,000,000. The naval bill for the year 1898 appropriated $33,000,000, and the naval bill of this season will carry probably $78,000,000. The United States Senate represents in its membership almost every phase of professional and industrial activity. Of the 88 Senators, 26 served, in the House of Representatives. Fifteen Senators have served a* Governors of States. Senator Warren served during two terms as Governor of the Territory of Wyoming, and his second term ended with the admission of the territory as a State. He was then elected first Governor of the State. Fifteen senators have a record of service in the Confederate army and one was in the Confederate navy. Nine Senators were in the Union Army. Senator Pettus, of Alabama, and Bate, of Tennessee, were in the .Mexican war. An interesting event in Washington society will take place when Miss Ethel Sigsbee, daughter of Captain Dwight Sigsbee, will wed Robert Small, son of Rev. Samuel Small, the well-known evangelist. Miss Sigsbee is one of the belles of the national capital and has been quite popular and prominent in society since her debut a few years ago. Captaiii and Mrs. Sigsbse keep a very hospitable house in Washington, the daughter sharing in the social duties of the mother. Captain Sigsbee will ever be remembered as the commander of the ill-fated Maine, the blowing up of which iu Havana harbor lent a powerful impetus to the war with Spain. In Washington they are telling of one Congressman who, until his arrival in the national capital, had never stopped at a big hotel. The other evening, just before retiring, he wanted a drink of water, but found that there was none in his room. Under one of two small buttons in the wall he saw tbe words: “Push twice for water." He pushed twice ns directed, and when the bellboy arrived with the water he found the bucolic statesman holding an empty glass under the button. Gov. Odell o f New York has recently declined an offer made to him by capitalists to manage their affair*. He is not the only statesman whose services nre in demand. Only the other day Senator Hanna, according to report, refused an offer of SIOO,OOO a year to become president of a business concern, and Secretary Cortelyou has repeatedly declined flattering offers. The Fifty-seventh Congress ha* dona a vast amount of talking, and it* member* evidently are proud of what they said. The puldic printing office ha* received orders for 300,000,000 copies of speeches. This is to be inflicted on the American rending public at public expense. The Congressmen are still talking, nnd the printing office Is running night nnd day. One of the most noticeable developments in the Postoffice Department is the increasing use of postal cards. Th* number circulated through the mail* la increasing every month and to supply th* demand the United States postal printing office up in Rumford Falla, Me., is l>e ! .ng run night and dny. It Is now turning out 3,000,(XX) postal cards daily and still the demand increase*. New York, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburg, Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Troy use more postal card* than other cities.