[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H119-H120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HORATIO KING POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 970) 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''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 970

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

     SECTION 1. HORATIO KING POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 39 Tremont Street, Paris Hill, Maine, 
     shall be known as the ``Horatio King Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the Horatio King Post Office Building.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Horn) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 970, introduced by the distinguished Senator from Maine, Susan 
Collins, designates the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 39 Tremont Street in Paris Hill, Maine, as the ``Horatio 
King Post Office Building.''
  Mr. Speaker, Horatio King was a former Postmaster General of the 
United States and a native of Paris, Maine. Mr. King's long career with 
the postal service began in 1839. In 1850, he became affiliated with 
the foreign mail service and was instrumental in its development. In 
1854, Mr. King was appointed First Assistant Postmaster General. And in 
1861, he was appointed the 22nd Postmaster General of the United States 
by President Buchanan. In 1863, President Lincoln appointed Mr. King, a 
Democrat who was loyal to the Union, to the commission responsible for 
implementing the Emancipation Proclamation in Washington, D.C.
  In addition to his public service, Mr. King lectured and hosted 
literary events at his Washington home and published numerous magazine 
articles. Today, his birthplace is preserved as the King's Hill Inn in 
Paris, Maine.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of S. 970.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased to join with the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) in 
consideration of S. 970, legislation naming a postal facility in Paris 
Hill, Maine, after Horatio King. S. 970 was introduced by Senator Susan 
Collins on May 25, 2001.
  The Honorable Horatio King, a former newspaper publisher and postal 
employee, began his career with the postal service in 1839. In 1854, he 
was appointed assistant Postmaster General, a post he held until 
becoming Postmaster General in 1861. Two years later, President Lincoln 
named Mr. King to a commission charged with carrying out the 
Emancipation Proclamation in the District of Columbia.
  A man of letters, Horatio King was noted for hosting intimate 
literary evenings in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. Speaker, today the birthplace of Horatio King is well preserved 
as the King's Hill Inn. It is indeed most appropriate that Congress 
recognize Horatio King's contributions to our country and the postal 
service by naming a postal facility in the town of his birth. I urge 
the swift passage of this bill and note that the gentleman from Maine 
(Mr. Baldacci) wishes to support our efforts by submitting a statement 
in the Congressional Record which I will read:

       Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of S. 970, 
     legislation to designate the Paris Hill, Maine, post office 
     as the Horatio King Post Office Building. This bill is a 
     fitting tribute to a former Postmaster General and advocate 
     of national unity during one of our Nation's most trying 
     times.
       Horatio King was born on his family farm in Paris Hill, 
     Maine, in 1811. His family had fought for freedom against the 
     British. Horatio had a deep sense of commitment to his 
     community, first serving as the editor and owner of a local 
     paper in Paris, Maine.
       In 1839, Horatio King began his career in the United States 
     Postal Service. In 1861, President Buchanan named him 
     Postmaster General of the United States.
       Mr. King maintained a deep interest in politics throughout 
     his life. He was a contemporary and close friend of Hannibal 
     Hamlin, who served as President Lincoln's Vice President in 
     his first administration.
       Horatio himself became an ardent advocate of national 
     unity. Although a Democrat, he supported Abraham Lincoln 
     because of the candidate's conviction that the Republic must 
     be saved. Mr. King continued at his post under President 
     Lincoln for a short period of time. Although he could not 
     serve in a military capacity during the Civil War, his son 
     did join the Army and received a Medal of Honor for his 
     service.
       Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 970 as an 
     appropriate tribute to Horatio King for his many dedicated 
     years of service to the United States Postal Service and for 
     the patriotism he exhibited throughout his adult life.

  I note again, Mr. Speaker, that this is the statement of the 
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci).
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of S. 970, 
legislation to designate the Paris Hill, Maine, Post Office as the 
Horatio King Post Office Building. This bill is a fitting tribute to a 
former Postmaster General and advocate of national unity during one of 
our nation's most trying times.
  Horatio King was born on his family farm in Paris Hill, Maine in 
1811. His family had fought for freedom against the British. Horatio 
had a deep sense of commitment to his community, first serving as the 
editor and owner of a local paper in Paris, Maine.
  In 1839, Horatio King began his career in the United States Postal 
Service. In 1861, President Buchanan named him Postmaster General of 
the United States.
  Mr. King maintained a deep interest in politics throughout his life. 
He was a contemporary and close friend of Hannibal Hamlin, who served 
as President Lincoln's Vice President in his first administration.
  Horatio himself became an ardent advocate of national unity. Although 
a Democrat, he supported Abraham Lincoln because of the candidate's 
conviction that the Republic must be saved. Mr. King continued at his 
post under President Lincoln for a short period of time. Although he 
could not serve in a military capacity during the Civil War, his son 
did join the army, and received a Medal of Honor for his service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 970 as an appropriate 
tribute to Horatio King for his many dedicated years of service to the 
Untied States Postal Service and for the patriotism he exhibited 
throughout his adult life.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of S. 970.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.

[[Page H120]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 970.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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