E864 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 7, 1997 CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT congratulate the people of the Republic of conversation, Sumner asked the President if LEE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE China, President Lee, foreign Minister Chang he knew who was the largest slaveholder in REPUBLIC OF CHINA and Ambassador Hu on a very successful the United States. President Lincoln must year. I know my colleagues join me in wishing have been jolted when Sumner answered, ``It HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY them continued success in the future. is you, Mr. President.'' OF NEW YORK f At that time, the Federal Government con- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES trolled the District of Columbia, where more HONORING RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL than 3,000 slaves were held in bondage. Wednesday, May 7, 1997 CHAPEL Shortly thereafter, Congress passed legislation Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to to free the slaves in the District of Columbia, congratulate the Republic of China and its HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL and President Lincoln signed the D.C. Eman- President, Lee Teng-Hui, on the anniversary OF NEW YORK cipation Proclamation. The first of our Nation's of Taiwan's first Presidential election. In 1996 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES slaves had been set free. President Lee became the first freely-elected This week, many great people came to- President in the history of China. President Wednesday, May 7, 1997 gether in the District of Columbia to celebrate Lee, who received over 54 percent of the pop- Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to this momentous event. Among them was a ular vote, has proven that strong leadership speak in honor of the Riverside Memorial wonderful woman named Loretta Carter does not come from strong-arming the people. Chapel which is celebrating its 100th anniver- Hanes, who along with her son, Peter, helped Over the past year, his administration has sary. It can be said that the Riverside Chapel revive the annual program commemorating the continued to build on the same cornerstones has been a mirror of the Jewish community of D.C. Emancipation Proclamation. I must also our own country was founded on: freedom of New York City which it has served so faithfully thank my distinguished colleague, Representa- religion, freedom of speech, and the pursuit of for the past century. tive ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON of the District economic freedom through private enterprise. It started in 1897 when Louis Meyers pro- of Columbia, for her great work in the district Ever since the Republic of China was vided a horse-drawn funeral livery service on and her diligence in making sure the com- founded 86 years ago, we have enjoyed a the lower East Side. These modest beginnings memoration ceremony continues year after very friendly relationship. Part of that friend- reflected the state of Jews in New York as re- year. ship has been based on the Republic of Chi- cent emigrants. The company followed a I was honored to be included in the com- na's strong foreign policy leaders. The Repub- newer generation to Harlem and in 1926 made memoration program at the U.S. Department lic of China's newest Minister of Foreign Af- a landmark move to Amsterdam Avenue and of the Interior. Sponsored by the U.S. National fairs, John Chang, has done an outstanding 76th Street, still the signature location of what Park Service and D.C. Reading Is Fundamen- job of continuing this tradition. Prior to his ap- was to become Riverside Chapel. tal, Inc., the 2-hour program featured reflec- pointment last year as Minister of Foreign Af- This spectacular four-story building, with its tions on history and prayers for the future. fairs, Mr. Chang worked more than 30 years Gothic style chapel and hand-painted religious Particularly moving were the beautiful spiritual to promote better relations between our two frescoes, had an implicit dedication to the sen- songs performed throughout the program. countries. Educated here in the United States, sibilities of the three main streams of Judaism. They represented the powerful hopes of the Mr. Chang served as the Director of North In 1933 Edward and Herman Meyers, slaves as they one day dreamed of freedom. American Affairs in Taipei, and most recently grandsons of Louis Meyers, bought the com- Overall, it was an amazing program cele- the Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs. pany, renamed it Riverside Memorial Chapel brating an amazing event in history. The only Many Members of Congress have had the op- and opened chapels in Far Rockaway and disappointing point of note were the hordes of portunity to meet with him over the past year, Miami Beach. After World War II, Riverside empty seats in the main auditorium at the De- and I am sure they join me in congratulating expanded by purchasing the adjoining building partment of the Interior. There should be him on a successful first year. and building new chapels in Brooklyn, the standing room only for a program of this mag- Mr. Speaker, I also would like to congratu- Bronx, and Mount Vernon. nitude. late Taipei's Representative here in Washing- Riverside has also expanded throughout the After speaking with the organizers of this ton, Ambassador Jason Hu. Ambassador Hu country to establish a national presence so year's event, we determined the D.C. emanci- has worked hard to strengthen the political that as Jews left New York City they could still pation commemoration would get more expo- and economic relationship between our two have a ``Riverside'' funeral. Riverside Chapel sureÐand thus more attendanceÐby present- countries. Ambassador Hu has been instru- has acquired a sterling reputation for service, ing it in the Capitol next year. Not only should mental in helping Chung Hwa, the newly thanks in part to my close friend, Senior Vice we encourage our schools to offer this pro- privatized Taiwanese telecommunications President David A. Alpert. Riverside Chapel is gram to their students, but Members of this company, open an office here in Washington. a landmark in New York City which has body should attend as well. I, also would like to bring attention to a re- Chung Hwa is seeking to purchase more than earned our praise. lated event that is going to take place tonight 10 billion dollars worth of U.S. goods and f services. Ambassador Hu's leadership in pro- at the Smithsonian Institution's Hirshhorn Mu- moting political and economic relations be- COMMEMORATING THE 135TH ANNI- seum and Sculpture Garden. This event is tween our countries is an invaluable resource VERSARY OF D.C. EMANCI- called the International Emancipation Day Ini- to our continued friendship. Recently, Dr. Hu PATION tiative Program and will examine the abolition received an honorary doctoral degree from the of chattel slavery by the British Empire within University of Southampton where he studied HON. DONALD A. MANZULLO its colonies on August 1, 1834, a historic ac- tion which fueled abolitionists movements from 1976 to 1978, earning a master's degree OF ILLINOIS worldwide. Included at this event, Peter Hanes in social science from the Department of Poli- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tics. Dr. Hu later earned his Ph.D. in 1985 will speak and exhibit literature about D.C. Wednesday, May 7, 1997 from Oxford University. Mr. Speaker, I wish to emancipation. He will also introduce D.C. congratulate President Lee for having so wise- Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, last month, I emancipation historian C.R. Gibbs, noted au- ly chosen a scholar/diplomat to represent the had the honor of participating in an event thor, journalist, and historian of the African Di- Republic of China in the United States. commemorating one of the greatest events in aspora. A little more than one year ago, Mr. Speak- our Nation's historyÐthe 135th anniversary of f er, the Republic of China held free and fair the emancipation of the District of Columbia. OPPOSITION TO H.R. 2—THE Presidential elections despite military bullying On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln HOUSEING OPPORTUNITY AND by the People's Republic of China. The PRC signed into law legislation freeing the more RESPONSIBILITY ACT claims to hold elections, but the entire world than 3,000 slaves owned by residents of the knows that the people on the mainland have District of Columbia. The action occurred 9 no choice in deciding their political leaders. months before LIncoln's Emancipation Procla- HON. BOBBY L. RUSH OF ILLINOIS That is not the case with the Republic of mation took effect on January 1, 1863. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES China, which has a multi-party system, respect The mission to free the slaves in the District for individual rights and a robust economy of Columbia began following a discussion in Wednesday, May 7, 1997 based on free trade. Therefore, it is particu- early 1862 between President Lincoln and Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to vig- larly appropriate to take this opportunity to Senator Sumner of Massachusetts. During the orously call for defeat of H.R. 2ÐThe Housing