what is this?

Hello, I have a 1972 dart with a slant six and I am curious what this round vacuum canister with rod going into the floor of the intake does? It is disconnected as there is no vacuum line hooked up to it.....But when I pull on the rod in and out with the engine running at idle , the idle rpm goes up higher and lower.....does this have to do with the EGR system? where did the vacuum hose originally come from that went to it ? I have no ports open on the carb anywhere....