Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-07-20
Origin Of the Famous
Phrase in Congress.
How JovaI Tom CIunie Held
Up National House.
His Characterization Ever After
Applied to Omnibus Bills.

washington, July 19.-"Pork barrels
Is phrase so long applied to certain
congressional appropriation bills that
IL would seem to reach as far back in
10 antiquity as log rolling:" yet the
phrase Is not SO ancient, even if the
practice is. Arthur w. Dunn for years
the congressional reporter of the Asso-
GATED Press and now representing the
Lewis publications in this city, tells the
story of the origin of this phrase as it
Is now applied to omnibus appropria-
ton bills
Tom Clunie was responsible for the
expression pork barrels" SAYS MIR.
Dunn. 1T was in the Fifty First Con-
gress. the famous Reed Congress. that
it happened. In those days they did
not have omnibus public buildings bills
nor omnibus claims bills. Dave Mer-
Ger of Nebraska invented the omnibus
public buildings bill when he was
CHAIRMAN of the committee on public
buildings and grounds ] do not re-
member who was sponsor for the omn-
bus claims bill. that measure in which
large number of claims are punched
ill order to bet the legislatio through.
At all events. omnibus bills are be-
coming more and more fashionable and
the last Congress saw omnibus light
house bills. omnibus Indian bills, Omni-
bus bridge bills and omnibus public
land bills passed. Years ago. I am
told. river and harbor improvements
were appropriated for on the piecemeal
plan. each project standing by itself.
Then there was the omnibus river and
barbor bill. ir which all mertorous
projects We're cared for.
But to return to Tom Clunie. and
the expression pork barrel That was
a wonderful session. taking it altogeth-
er. and one of the interesting features
was the public building legislation.
Two days We're set apart for the con-
sidefation of public buildings bill, 1t is
doubtful whether Tom Reed would
have allowed that time if Seth Milliken
of Maine had not been chairman of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds and had everything cooked up
to take care of the Pine Tree State
ahead of all others. Men who had been
fortunate enough to have their bills re-
ported called them up one after anoth-
er and. although the economists fought
them from time to time. a dozen or
dav. The second day there was d
great scramble for place. and men
watched tho proceedings with care to
see if their bills would be reached.
Late in the afternoon, about halt
past five, or thereabouts. with dozen
bills still on the calendar, The excite
ment became intense. Finally. one OF
the economists on the Republican side
moved to adjourn. Instantly there was
a great Clamor among those whose bills
had not been reached. but high above
the din and uproar was heard the voice
of Tom Clunie.
'Cllnie was a Democrat. represent
ing San Francisco district and was
one of The best fellows imaginable.
Everybody liked him. Jovial. smiling.
with good word or a joke for every
body, he was beyond doubt one of the
most popular men in the House.
"'Ho1d on, Hold on there" shouted
Tom. and his voice rang out $" loud
that everybody stopped. Don't adjourn
till get my piece of pork.
"He went on with some other eXpla-
nation. but it was drowned in laughter.
It won. The House refused to adjourn
and the appropriation for public
building in Tom Clunie's district in san
Francisco was passed.
Ever since that time everything that
means any appropriation for con-
CHEESEMAN'S district has been labelled
pork and congressman have been
abused because they were pork barrel
statesmen 1t is natural for senators
and congressman to look after their
states. If they did not their states
would be neglected and what is more.
men could not remain in Congress un~
less thev procured share of the ap-
propriations for necessary improve
ments in their districts