Evening star., 1931-12-21
HAWAII PRGGff00SED
FOR STk1E STATUS
Resolution Urging Full U. S.
Membership Is Presented
to Congress.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Is the Territory Of Hawaii TO become
State? Is the blue field OF the Star
Spangled Banner to be redesigned TO
admit another star to the company Of
the 48 already there?
These questions are raised by the
introduction of concurrent resolution
requesting and urging the Congress of
the United States Of America to pass
an enabling act authorizing the people
Of the Territory of Hawaii to form
constitution and State government, to
be admitted to the Union on an equal
footing with the original States"
The resolution recites that the Terri
tory Is an integral part of the United
states, that for long period of years
II mas demonstrated its ability to gov
ern itself, that the population and
wealth OF the Territory exceed those of
several Of the States Of the Union. that
the income taxes paid by the people OF
the Territory to the Federal Govern
ment are in excess Of those paid by
many States, and that the people OF
! the territory desire to participate in
the Government Of the United States
freely. fully and Loyalty as sovereign
State"
Legislature Approves.
AHc 4tII4UOIldI mouse OF represent
atives and Senate have given their
corporate approval to the movement
Formal documents embodying their
arguments in behalf of statehood have
been filed with the National Congress
Among the provisions of the proposed
enabling act are those for a constitu-
tlon OF republican form, perfect tolera-
ton OF religious sentiment, the reten-
ton OF public lands within territorial
limits, the assumption of territorial
debt by the new State. the establish
+ ment and maintenance of public schools
the election Of one member of the Ma
tional House Of Representatives and of
two members Of the National Senate,
| the organization of a suitable judicial
system, and the repeal Of all acts OF
the territorial Legislature conflicting
with these changes.
Victor S. Kaleoaloha Houston, Re-
publican, of Honolulu is the Hawaiian
Delegate TO Congress. A son of the
late Rear Admiral Edwin Samuel
Houston, U. S. N, he was born at San
Francisco July %, 1876, and educated
In Germany and Switzerland and In
washington. He was member of the
class OF 1897 at the Naval Academy at
Annapolis, and served in the Navy In
as commander. He returned to the
Capital as Delegate OF the Hawaiian
people March 4. LOOT.
Mr.. Houston takes the position that
the claims of the Territory to Statehood
are as valid as those of many States
already admitted to the Union. He
says: We have the disadvantages of
statehood, but not its advantages. We
are carrying the burden, but have to
plead for the rewards. Hawaii today
is an example of taxation without repre-
Sentation. We have more people than
four of the States and we pay more
income and corporation tax than l3 Of
them. But We do not wish to be mis-
understood. We seek statehood, equality
within the Union. We do not seek any
sort Of -eparation from the country.
On the contrary, we are simply
seeking recognition for our essential
Americanism.'
Mr.. Houston may introduce bills in
the House and may join in debate, but
he has no vote.
Territorial Government.
The Hawaiian Islands are a Terri
| tory, not a possession of the United
! States They are governed under an
organic act, effective from June IA,
1900, The territorial Legislature meets
biennially. There are Is members in
the Senate and 80 in the House. The
President appoints the Governor. the
secretary. the chief justice, the two as
sociate justices of the Supreme Court
and the judges of the Circuit Courts
The Governor appoints the attorney
general. treasurer, auditor, commissioner
Of public lands etc.
Citizenship by birth and naturaliza-
| ton are governed by the Federal Con-
stitution and laws.
The population of the Territory In
1927 was 333,420. OF this number 2l7,-
| 6l8 were American citizens.