The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-29
How the Phrase "POTk BuueI
Originated Full Of Interest
palladium Specially

palladium Specially
Washington. July 2o.-Arthur W. |
Dunn. for years in charge of the legis- |
lative work at the national capital for /
the Associated Press, now represent
ing the Lewis publications in this city
reminiscently discussed the origin OF
the phrase pork barreF' as has been
applied to omnibus appropriation
bills.
Tom Cluni was responsible for the
expression pork BARREL" said Mr.
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
Mercer of Nebraska, invented the ON
nibus public buildings bill when he
was chairman Of the committee ON
public buildings and grounds. do
not remember who was sponsor for
the omnibus claims bill, that measure
in which large number Of claims are
punched in order to get the legisla-
ton through. At all events. omnibus
bills are becoming more and more
fashionable and the last congress saw
omnibus light house bills. omnibus
Indian bills. omnibus bridge bills and
omnibus public land bills passed.
Years ago, I am told. river and har-
Dor improvements were appropriated
for on the piecemeal plan. each pro-
ject standing by itself. Then there
was the omnibus river and harbor bill
in which all meritorious projects were
cared for.
But to return to Tom Cluni, and
the expression pork barrel That was
a wonderful session. taking it alto
gether. and one Of the interesting fea-
lures was the public building legisla-
ton. Two days were set apart for
the consideration of public building
bills. 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 every
thing cooked up to take care OF the
Pine Tree state ahead Of all others.
Men who had been fortunate enough
1
| them up one after another and al
though the economists fought them
from time to time, dozen or more
states were cared for the first day.
The second day there was a great
scramble for place, and men watched
the proceedings with care to see il
their bills would be reached.
| Late in the afternoon, about half
past five or Whereabouts, 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.
"Clunie was a democrat, represent
ing a San Francisco district and one
of the best fellows imaginable. Ev-
erybody liked him. Jovial. smiling
with a good word or a joke for every
body, he was beyond doubt one of the
most popular men in the house.
"'Hold on! Hold on there" shouted
Tom, and his voice rang out SO loud
that everybody stopped. Don't ad
journ until get my piece of pork""
HE went on with some other ex
PLANTATION but it was drowned in the
laughter. It won. The house refused
to adjourn, and tho appropriation FOL
, a public building in Tom Clunie's dis
trict in San Francisco was passed.
Ever since that time everything
that means an appropriation for
congressman's district has been label
ed pork and congressman have beer
abused because they were pork barrel
statesmen. It is natural for senators
and congressman to look after theil
states II they did not their states
would be neglected and what is more
men could not remain In congress un
less they procured a share Of the ap
propriations for necessary improve
ments in their districts.
81 have in mind the case of Oregon
and Washington. Oregon was admit
. ted as a state in 1859, and Washington
became q state some 80 years after
wards. It is rather remarkable thai
Washington with all its wonderful re
sources and wealth, should have beer
so long gaining q suficient population