[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H13961-H13962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 JUDGE ISAAC C. PARKER FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1804) to designate the United States Post Office-Courthouse 
located at South 6th and Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR, as the ``Judge 
Isaac C. Parker Federal Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1804

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States Post Office-Courthouse located at South 
     6th and Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2 REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     Post Office-Courthouse referred to in section 1 shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Judge Isaac C. Parker 
     Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] 
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1804, a bill to 
designate the United States Post Office--Courthouse located in Fort 
Smith, AR, as the ``Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building.'' Judge 
Parker is a legendary figure in Arkansas, and his fame extends to the 
surrounding States as well. He was a soldier, a lawyer, a member of 
Congress, and a judge. In 1875 after his retirement from Congress, 
President Ulysses Grant appointed him Chief Justice of the Utah 
Territory. However, at the President's request, he resigned to accept 
appointment to the United States Court for the Western District of 
Arkansas. The Western District Court had fallen into disrepute due to 
the actions of Judge Parker's predecessor, Judge William Story. Under 
the threat of impeachment, Judge Story had departed. The jurisdiction 
of the court covered the western half of Arkansas and what is now the 
entire State of Oklahoma. Judge Parker dedicated himself to 
reestablishing the court as a power in the land. During his service the 
court disposed of a grand total of 13,500 cases, of which 12,000 were 
criminal. Of the 12,000 criminal charges, 8,600 resulted in criminal 
convictions, either by jury trials or guilty pleas. Judge Parker is 
best known for his reputation and nickname as the ``hanging judge.'' 
Reportedly, he sentenced more men to the gallows than any other jurist 
in United States history. This reputation is particularly interesting 
in light of reports that he did not believe in capital punishment. But 
he did believe in the law, and is quoted as saying ``I've never hanged 
a man, it is the law that has done it.'' Judge Parker died in November 
1896. Perhaps nothing illustrates more vividly the legacy of Judge 
Parker than the request of the citizens of Fort Smith, almost 100 years 
later, to name the Federal building in their city in his honor. I 
strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the distinguished ranking member.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Traficant], the ranking member on the subcommittee, and the chairman, 
the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], for bringing forth this 
bill.
  This is certainly a case of a tribute long delayed and an honor 
bestowed in a manner that certainly is appropriate. When a man is so 
great that the people of a community a century later ask that he be 
memorialized in a particular way, then certainly the Congress ought to 
respond to that appeal as we are doing today by naming the Federal 
building at Fort Smith, AR, in honor of Judge Parker, whose great 
career, whose remarkable career has been spelled out by Chairman 
Gilchrest.
  I urge support of the legislation.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. Hutchinson].
  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, let me first say I appreciate your 
assistance in bringing this bill to the floor today. I would also like 
to thank Chairman Shuster, as well as ranking member Oberstar and 
subcommittee ranking member Traficant for their assistance.
  This bill, H.R. 1804, would name the Federal building in Fort Smith, 
AR, after Judge Isaac Parker. Judge Parker is a great figure in 
Arkansas and the surrounding States. He was a soldier, a Congressman, a 
lawyer, and a judge.
  In 1875 after his retirement from the U.S. Congress, President Grant 
appointed Isaac Parker as chief justice of the Utah Territory. However, 
at the request of the President, Parker resigned to accept appointment 
as judge of the United States Court for the Western District of 
Arkansas.
  The court had fallen into disrepute because of the actions of 
Parker's predecessor. The President asked Parker to ``stay a year or 
two in Fort Smith and get things straightened out.''--Ended up staying 
21 years.
  When he assumed office Judge Parker dedicated himself to the 
reestablishment of the court as a power in the land. The court calendar 
tells the story. It was a court of no vacations except for Sundays and 
Christmas. During his service the court disposed of a grand total of 
13,500 cases, of which 12,000 were criminal. Of the 12,000 criminal 
charges 8,600 resulted in convictions.
  However, Judge Parker is best known for his reputation as the 
``hanging judge.'' He unquestionably sentenced more men to the gallows 
than any other jurist in United States history. His nickname is 
particularly interesting in light of reports that Parker himself did 
not believe in capital punishment. But he did believe in the laws, and 
is quoted as having said, ``I've never hanged a man. It is the law that 
has done it.''
  Off the bench, Judge Parker was known as a humorous and friendly man, 
devoted to his family and respected by all as a man of incorruptible 
integrity. He was active in local affairs and served for several years 
as president of the Fort Smith School Board.
  The year or two that President Grant requested him to stay stretched 
out to 21, until his death in 1896. He had accomplished the goal of the 
President, as well as his own, to restore respect to the court and the 
law of the land, and to safeguard the citizens of his jurisdiction.
  Judge Parker is buried in the national cemetery in Fort Smith near 
the court that he had so faithfully served for over two decades.
  Perhaps nothing illustrates the legacy of Judge Parker more than the 
request of the citizens of Fort Smith, almost 100 years later, to name 
the Federal building in his honor. This is a remarkable and fitting 
tribute.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to another Arkansan, Mr. Larry Degen. The city of Fort Smith is 
currently planning events to mark the 100th anniversary of Judge 
Parker's death. The naming of the city's Federal building is one of the 
main initiatives that is being planned in connection with this 
anniversary.
  Larry Degen was a very active leader in planning this celebration. In 
particular, he was one of the first people who contacted me requesting 
legislation to name the Federal building in honor of Judge Parker.
  Larry continued to call and write me, encouraging Congress to move 
forward with this legislation in time for the anniversary. His last 
call was on October 27th. Tragically, Larry died on October 31st at the 
very young age of 47. A businessman, church member, community activist, 
father, and grandfather, Larry Degen represents the true spirit of the 
people of Fort Smith. I am sure Judge Parker would've been honored to 
know that a man of Larry's caliber worked on the legislation that 
honors his name.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this measure. 

[[Page H 13962]]

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying: When Judge Parker got through 
with those cold-blooded killers, there was no recidivism.
  We have talked and we have heard the phrase coined so many times in 
referring to judges throughout America as the hanging judges. Ladies 
and gentlemen, that is, this was, the hanging judge, and I believe that 
he was revered not only by his colleagues but also by the frontier 
community which he served.
  I think that he blazed a trail to let everybody respect the law, and 
sometimes you have got to get people's attention, and I think we have 
got the Nation's attention now to the contributions made by Judge 
Parker.
  I support this bill and ask all Members to unanimously support the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like again to echo the sentiments of the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] that we recognize a man such as 
Judge Parker who did blaze a trail in the early years of this country 
to establish justice and law.
  I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Arkansas [Mr. 
Hutchinson], for being extremely relentless and persistent, 
consistently, to get this bill pushed through the House. I thank him 
for all of his efforts. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Everett). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1804.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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