From The Frederick Times and .ndrcc0tc.


A YANKEE NOTION.
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few days since in the House Of Representa-
tives, Mr.. II. G. johnson presented paper de-
vising labor saving plan Of conducting the busi-
ness Of the House. The New York CONNER
cial Advertisers correspondent has the following
notice of it:


.Thc estimated expenses Of the House are
about $4,000 per day, and taking the sessions to
average five months in each year, the annual ex-
penses are at least $3o0,r0o. The ayes and
nays are ordered at least once an hour. on an
average This process consumes twenty minutes,
and costs cne-third Of the daily expenditures,
making an annual amount Of about one hundred
thousand dollars.


TO remedy this evil, the author rf This COM
munication proposes to extend from each mem
ber's seat small wire, just below the surface
of the floor, to point in front of the clerks ta-
Bile, at which they should all converge, in circle
eighteen inches in diamiter. From the end at
the members seat, he proposes to extend an
other small wire, to key on the top of the
desk, which could be readily touched with the
fingers. From the ends at the clerks table, he
would extend another wire upward, and con-
meet with a small sharp probe Of the size of a
common knitting needle. These probes are to
he arranged in rows to fit the names OF the mem
bers on the list or roll, and 10 De placed under
plate of wood or tin, with the same Bi!mbcr Of
small holes in it. Upon this plate is to be laid
the list, having the names so arranged as to cor
respond with the holes; and on the top of this
another plate is to be placed corresponding ex-
actly with the one underneath.


When tie question is pronounced, he would
request the ayes to ''touch their kcys!" where
upon the probe at the table would raise up half
an inch, and plainly punctnre the lis, precisely
where the clerk iiow makes his black mark, to
indicate that VOTE The frame containing the list
is then TO be moved sdeway about an inch, bring
ing the other ends of the names Immediately over
the rows of probes. Our ingenious contriver
would then request the nays to touch their
keys" which would make a similar puncture at
their places. The clerk has nothing To do but
call over the list in The usual way. 10 test the
accuracy Of the record. This would consume
about two minutes, and complete the whole pro-
cess.


The cost of carrying the plan into eliect ,woulu
be not more than twelve or fifteen h''iidreo uoi,
lars. The members were very much ahuseo
with the details, and particularly with the idea
of Mr.. Speaker crying ..Ayes, touch your Keys!
Nays, touch your keys!
Unluckily there was no name attached 10 the
noncr. and a rule of the House prohibits. the re-
|ccp,ion of any communication without real
SIGNATURE; so the communication was returned to
Mr.. Johnsons hands.