[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H11565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        L. CLURE MORTON UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate 
consideration in the House of the Senate bill (S. 1931) to provide that 
the United States Post Office and Courthouse building located at 9 East 
Broad Street, Cookeville, TN, shall be known and designated as the ``L. 
Clure Morton United States Post Office and Courthouse.''
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I yield to 
the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] to explain the bill.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. GILCHREST. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
   Mr. Speaker, S. 1931 is a bill which would designate the United 
States Post Office and Courthouse in Cookeville, TN as the L. Clure 
Morton United States Post Office and Courthouse.
  Judge Morton was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President 
Richard M. Nixon, on July 15, 1977.
  He was elevated to Chief Judge and took Senior status on July 31, 
1984. As a District Judge, Judge Morton was known as exacting but fair, 
delivering decisions based upon the letter of the law rather than 
strong public sentiment.
  In 1971, Judge Morton rendered a decision ordering the massive 
crosstown busing of students in Nashville in order to desegregate 
the public school system. Among Judge Morton's other notable decisions 
were those that led to sweeping reforms in Tennessee's prison, welfare 
and mental health systems.

  Judge Morton retired from the bench this past August. He has been a 
dutiful public servant for over 25 years; this bill is a fitting 
tribute to an accomplished jurist.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the distinguished 
ranking member on our committee.
  (Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OBERSTAR. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation to 
designate the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Cookeville, TN in 
honor of Judge Morton.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1931 would designate the U.S. Post Office and 
Courthouse in Cookeville. TN in honor of Judge L. Clure Morton. This 
bill has full bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.
  Judge L. Clure Morton graduated from the University of Tennessee Law 
School and practiced law in the private sector for 33 years. His 
judicial career began in 1970 when he was appointed to the Federal 
bench as District Court Judge in Nashville. In 1977 he was elevated to 
Senior Judge, and in 1984 Judge Morton took senior status.
  Judge Morton has decided to retire after 26 years of exemplary public 
service. He will be fondly remembered as a man of fairness, insight, 
and scholarly reasoning.
  It is fitting and proper to honor the outstanding career and civic 
contributions of Judge L. Clure Morton by designating the Federal 
buildings in Cookeville, TN as the ``L. Clure Morton Post Office and 
Courthouse.''
  I support S. 1931 and urge its passage.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, Judge Morton has served the citizens of 
Tennessee for 26 years, beginning his career in 1970 with an 
appointment to the Federal bench.
  Judge Morton is known for his fairness, judicial innovation and 
courtroom demeanor. He has tackled such controversial issues as school 
integration, welfare, mental health, and prison reform. He is honored 
and respected by not only the Tennessee community at large but also his 
judicial peers and colleagues. This designation is a fitting tribute to 
Judge L. Clure Morton. I support the legislation and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Thornberry). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 1931

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF L. CLURE MORTON UNITED STATES POST 
                   OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE.

       The United States Post Office and Courthouse building 
     located at 9 East Broad Street, Cookeville, Tennessee, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``L. Clure Morton United 
     States Post Office and Courthouse''.

     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 and Courthouse building referred to in section 1 
     shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``L. Clure Morton 
     United States Post Office and Courthouse''.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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