Note 226 — Chapter XXIII · TAXATION AND PUBLIC FINANCE

It was the custom to take such individual measures as were approved by the various committees and put them all together into what was called an “omnibus bill”, providing for many millions of dollars to be spent upon the erection of new post-offices, the dredging of harbors, and so on. In these bills every congressman expected to get something for his district, whether there was need or not. Such grants of money were commonly known as “pork barrel” appropriations. One way of keeping congressmen in Washington until the very last day of the session was to hold back these appropriations until just before adjournment. Every senator and representative would then stay at his post lest by some mishap his particular item might be dropped out.