The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-07-26
"PORK BARREL"
How The Phrase Originated
In Congress

washington, july ZZ - arthur w.
Dunn, for years in charge of/the leg
islative work at the National Capitol
for the Associated Press, now repre-
senting the Lewis publications in this
city reminiscently discussed the or
igin of the phrase pork barrel" as
has been applied to omnibus appro.
priation bills.
tom Clunie 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
omnibus 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 a large number of claims
are punched in order to get the legis-
lation through. At all events, omni-
bus bills are becoming more and
more fashionable, and the last con-
gress saw omnibus light house bills,
omnibus Indian bills, omnibus bridge
bills and omnibus public land bills
passed Years ago, / am told, river
and harbor improvements were ap-
propriated for on the piece-meal plan,
each project standing by itself. Then
there was the omnibus river and har-
Dor bill in which all meritorius
projects were cared for.
"But to return to Ton Clunie, and
the expression pork barrel That
was a wonderful session, taking 1t al
together, and one of the interesting
features was the public building leg
islation. Two days were set apart
for the consideration of public build
ing 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 Pub.
lie Buildings and Grounds and had
everything cooked up to take care of
the Pine Tree state ahead of all 9TH
ers. Men who had been fortunate
enough to have their bills reported
called them up one after another and,
although the economists fought them
from time to time, dozen or more
states were cared for the first day.
The second day there was great
scramble for place, and men watched
the proceedings with care to see II
their bills wculd be reached.
Late in the afternoon, about half
past five, or thereabouts, with doz-
en- bills still on the calendar, the ex-
element 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 reacn.
ed, but high above the din and up.
roar was heard the voice of Tom
Clunie.
"Clunie was a Democrat, repre-
senting San Francisco district and
was one of the best fellows imagina
BILE. Everybody liked him. Jovial
smiling, with a good word or joke
for everybody, he was beyond doubt
one of the most popular men in the
House.
"'IIold on! Hold on therer shouted
Tom, and his voice rang out so loud
that everybody stopped. Don't ad
journ till | get my piece of pork!'"
"EIe went on with some other ex
planation, but it was drowned II
laughter. 1t won. The House refused
to adjourn, and the appropriation fol
a public building in Tom Clunies
district in San Francisco was passed
Ever since that time everything
that means an appropriation for 6
congressmans district has been lab
elled pork and congressman have
been abused because they were pork
barrel statesmen. 1t is natural fol
senators and congressman to look aft
er their states. II they did not theii
states would be neglected and what
Is more, men could not remain in con
gress unless they procured a share Of
the appropriations for necessary i'm
provements in their districts"
---s4-
! pEl VII r MANI lNIIiDEn