[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. Snowe):
  S. 970. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 39 Tremont Street, Paris Hill, Maine, as the Horatio 
King Post Office Building; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation to 
honor one of the great contributors to our national postal system, 
Horatio King, by naming after him the Paris Hill Post Office in Paris, 
ME, the town of his birth. My colleague from Maine, Senator Snowe, 
joins me in this effort.
  Horatio King had a long career serving the public as a newspaper 
publisher and postal employee, eventually working his way through the 
ranks to become Postmaster General under President Buchanan. All told, 
he served under three Presidents.
  His career with the Postal Service began in 1839, when he was 
appointed by then Postmaster General Kendall to a postal position that 
required him to leave Maine and reside in Washington, DC. In 1850, he 
became affiliated with the foreign mail service and was instrumental in 
developing this aspect of our postal system. His efforts were 
recognized in 1854 when he was appointed first assistant Postmaster 
General, a post he would hold until becoming Postmaster General in 
1861, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War.
  Horatio King did not end his service, however, after reaching this 
pinnacle. In 1863, President Lincoln recognized his steadfast devotion 
to the Union and, although King was of the opposite political party, 
named him to a commission charged with carrying out the Emancipation 
Proclamation in the District of Columbia.
  King was also a man of letters, and was well known for his literary 
evenings which did much to elevate the culture in Washington at a time 
when it was a much smaller and less diverse town than the one of today. 
He would frequently publish newspaper and magazine articles and 
lectures, and even published a book of travel sketches upon returning 
from a tour of Europe.
  Today, the birthplace of Horatio King remains well preserved and 
cared for by my constituents, Janice and Glenn Davis, as the lovely 
King's Hill Inn.
  Horatio King served Maine well by serving America well. It is 
appropriate that Congress recognize his contributions by naming the 
Post Office in the town of his birth for him and, along with Senator 
Snowe, I am delighted to have the opportunity to introduce legislation 
to accomplish this.
                                 ______