[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 21 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1158-H1159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SCIPIO A. JONES POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 433) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the 
``Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 433

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

     SECTION 1. SCIPIO A. JONES POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Scipio A. Jones Post 
     Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other

[[Page H1159]]

     record of the United States to the facility referred to in 
     subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the 
consideration of H.R. 433, legislation naming a postal facility in 
Little Rock, Arkansas, after Scipio Africanus Jones.
  Mr. Jones was an African American lawyer, judge, professor and 
humanitarian. Born in 1863 as a slave, he is most noted for his work to 
appeal the conviction and death sentence of 12 black sharecroppers for 
their involvement in the Elaine Race Riot. The Elaine Race Riot is one 
of the bloodiest racial conflicts in American history. Mr. Jones' work 
brought the case to the United States Supreme Court, and as a result 
found mob driven trials violated the due process clause of the 14th 
amendment.
  Mr. Jones also made history when he personally purchased $50,000 
worth of Liberty Bonds, which helped support the Allied war efforts in 
the First World War. Soon thereafter, President Woodrow Wilson 
appointed him to the Liberty Bond National Advisory Board.
  Later in his life, he continued to advocate against racial 
discrimination. He fought for black voting rights and worked with 
Thurgood Marshall in a case ensuring fair pay for African American 
teachers. His contribution impacted society's treatment towards blacks 
in a powerful way, and for this we all should be proud and remember him 
dearly.
  I urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month. 
It is the time when we take time to honor the commitments and struggles 
of African Americans and try to understand their struggles. It is only 
fitting that during this month we honor a man whose perseverance and 
dedication to his community and fellow African Americans broke through 
and broke down historic barriers.
  On August 3, 1863, Scipio Africanus Jones was born in Smith Township, 
Arkansas. His mother had been a slave. Scipio Jones attended black 
schools in the area and then moved to Little Rock to attend preparatory 
courses at Philander Smith College. From there he earned his Bachelor's 
Degree from North Little Rock's Bethel University, now known as Shorter 
College.
  But his interest in education did not stop there. He recognized the 
continuing struggle African Americans face in achieving equal rights, 
and knew he could contribute through Arkansas' legal system.
  Mr. Jones offered to work unpaid as a janitor at the offices of the 
local U.S. district judge. There he began to read law books and became 
an apprentice in law under Circuit Judge Robert Lea. He was accepted 
into the American Bar Association in 1889. From there, he was admitted 
to practice in the circuit court of Pulaski County in Little Rock.
  In 1900, he was admitted to the State Supreme Court, then the United 
States District Court, the United States Supreme Court, and the United 
States Court of Appeals.

                              {time}  1430

  He was a strong member of his community and joined several local 
fraternal organizations. He even turned down offers to serve as the 
ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, as well as the Recorder of Deeds 
in the District of Columbia so he could support the Little Rock area.
  He was treasurer of the National Negro Bar Association, the National 
Attorney General of the Mosaic Templars of America, a member of the 
International Order of Twelve, and a member of the Knights and 
Daughters of Tabor.
  Through his work in these fraternal organizations, he became known as 
the ``Gibraltar of Negro fraternal beneficiary societies.''
  Mr. Jones is famous for his defense in the trial of the Elaine 
Twelve. In 1919 a group of black sharecroppers met in Elaine, Arkansas, 
to discuss creating their own unit and whether to bring a class action 
lawsuit against their landlords for not paying them appropriate shares 
for their homegrown crops.
  When a local sheriff and railroad detective, both white, showed up to 
the meeting, a fight arose. It quickly spread through the town and 
lasted for 3 days. It grew so intense that 600 Federal troops came to 
the area to quiet the fighting.
  In the end, 99 black men were arrested. Twelve of the men received a 
trial that lasted only 20 minutes and sentenced them to death. With 
Scipio's efforts he pushed their case to the Supreme Court of the 
United States, which successfully gave all 12 men a new trial.
  Beyond his legal work, Mr. Jones was a passionate businessman. He was 
the founder and owner of People's Ice and Fuel Company. He also founded 
Arkansas's Negro Business League.
  Judge Scipio Jones fought hard his whole life for the rights of his 
fellow African Americans. He knew a better way of life could be had for 
his community members. He was a prominent leader, lawyer, educator, 
businessman, and politician. It is so appropriate that we honor a man 
of such determination, pride and integrity during Black History Month 
with the naming of this post office.
  Frankly, I am in awe of this gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 433.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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