Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-07-21
ORIGIN OF FAMOUS
PORK BARREL IS
EXPLAINED
CIunie, Former Congressman
From California First TO Call
Appropriation For His Dis
trct a Piece of Pork,
Morning journal Bureau,
6I3 MunscN Building,
Washington D. G., July 10.

w "iAAA' NNNf 80" $50 t''N
Arthur w, Dunn, for years in charge
Of the legislative work at the national
capitol for the Associated Press, now
representing the Lewis publications in
This city. remlniscently discussed the
origin OF the phrase pork barrel as
has been applied to omnibus appropri-
aticn bills.
Tom Clunie was responsible for
the expression pork barrel " said
Mr. Dunn. 1T was in the fifty-first
congress. the femous Reed congress.
thai II happened. In those days they
did not have omnibus lublic 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 tho
omnibus claims bill, that measure in
which 4 large number OF claims are
punched in order to get the legisla-
ton through. At al events omnibus
bills are becoming more and more
fashionable, and the last congress saw
OMNIBUS llElA lF'hFt RllA7f a ~
Indian bills. omnibus bridge bills and
omnibus public land bills passed,
Years ago. / am told. river and harbor
improvements were appropriated for
on the piece-meal plan, each project
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 Clunie, n
the expression pork barrel. That was
"a wonderful session. taking it alto
gether. 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. It is doubtful whether Tom
Reed would have allowed that time
IL 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 9th
ers. Men who had been fortunate
enough to have their bills reported,
called. them up one after another and,
although the eeonomists ,4uglht hon
from time 20 TING, a dozen or more
states We're cared for the first day,
The second daV there was a great
scramble for place. and men watched
the proceedings with care to see If
their bills would be reached.
Late IN the afternoon, about half
past five, or thereabouts, with Q dozen
bnls stiIl 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.
"Ciunic was ~ democrat, represent
ing a san Francisco district and was
one Of the beet fellows imaginable.
Everybody 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 shout
cd Tom. and his voice rang out 50
loud that everybody stopped. Dom
adjourn till / get my piece of pork
"tie went on with some other eN.
PLANTATION. but it was drowned II
laughter. II won. Tho house refused
to adjourn. and the appropriation fol
~ public building in Tom Clunie's dis
trict Ia san Francisco. WAS passed.
Ever since that time everythinl
that mean an appropriation for Z
ccngressman's district has been label
led pork. and congressman have
hecn abused because they were 'porl
hUpw.fH atA..-...a IL a. natural Inl
senators and coneressmen to look ar
ter their states. If they did not thei
states would be neglected and what il
more, men could not remain in con
gress unless they procured a a @
the appropriations for necessary i'm
provements in their districts.
Il have in mind the case of Oregon
ana Washington. oregon was admit
ted as q state in 1859. and Washington
became a state 30 years afterwards.
IS rather remarkable that Washington
with al its wonderful am
wealth. should have been So lon.
gaining "A sufficient population t.
become q state. although separated
from Oregon only by the Columbi
river. The situation when Washing
ton was admitted showed that with
cut representation a state or terri
tory cannot get what is coming to
in the way Of appropriations. orego
had always been well cared for 4
river and harbor bills. | think the ap
Preparations amounted To somethlh
between 100000 and ~S6.0o0.oO0
year. For Washington there wa
scarcely anything. Tho W~ashlngt"
delegation found when il came here D
the fall OF 1859 that IL could not gf
anything for its rivers and harhor
because 40 surveys had been made.
territorial delegate didn't have an
influence because he did not v
vote. More than that. Washinsto
had no representation ia the senate
and two senators Gun for a might
Tot in the makeup Of a river hai
hors bill. Since that time Nashine
ton has got into the game Her mar
hurs and rivers have been surNeNe
and appropriations made for tmpfoN
ing them To- meet the demands q
commerce. In other words. Washinl
TON has got into the pork BARRE
Does anyone ihink 60 D. d~isreputabie
l. It not right hat the hariors q
ruEet sound and M rivers Of N"-i
ington should be- improved The
mil A. -LLAn.M#AHN Tod