The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-03-26
with Rep. John Henderson

March II VIII be memorable
day since it marked the compile
ton of Congressional action
authorizing the admission of
Hawaii as the fiftieth state in
the Union. This extends repre-
sentation in the Congress and
in our flag to the 100000 people
of these Pacific Islands who have
long enjoyed all of the other
benefits and responsibilities of
United States citizenship.
A kind of record was establish
ed in that less than "a hours
elapsed between the start of the
debate on the bill in the Senate
on March II and the final agree
ment in the House of Represen-
tatives the next day. This, by
no means, tells the whole story,
however. Since 1885, no less than
% hearings on Hawaiian state
hood have been conducted by
the House and the Senate. More
than $50 witnesses have been
heard. The record consists of
over 5000 printed pages Of testi-
mony and would reach ten feet
in height. Three times before
the House has approved state
hood.
The principal gums n s
against admission were strongly
stated in the debate and were
answered with equal strength by
| proponents before the final vote
of 323-89 in favor of the bill was
| recorded.
Next Steps
After the President has signed
the bill, Hawaii must still in
dicate its desire for statehood
and elect two Senators and one
Representative to Congres
Spokesman hope that all Of these
requirements can be met on or
before July 4, the date which was
fixed by law in 1918 for all
changes in the flag.
The New Design
For several months, / have re-
ceived many requests for in
formation on the 49 star flag
which was proclaimed by the
President on January 3. The i'm
minent admission of Hawaii
makes this flag obsolete before
July 4, the date it was authorized
for public display Again, the
DESIGNERS are at work and the
suggestions of private citizens
are being encouraged.
Little known is the work of
the Heraldic Branch Of the
Army's Office of the Quarter
master General. It is this office
which does the final design work
on all official Federal seals and
the flag itself Design suggestions
for the new flag are sent to this
office where they are catalogued
and kept on file for study bv the
commission which the President
is expected to appoint to deter
mine the final choice. Already, a
large number of designs are or
| hand and new ones are being
| received in every mail.
New Ships
1 LdSl Wcch, uul lllS tIlS dSbdIS
on a bill to authorize the con
struction of modern naval yes.
sells. the Congress was provided
with a glimpse of our progress
in the field Of fighting ships
Several of these vessels are ad
vanced DESIGNS of submarine
chasers. One is referred to as {
hvdrofoil wherein the body of ;
ship is placed on kind Of SIX
design. AS the ship increases it!
speed. the body of the vesse
rises out Of the water permitting
GREAT speed.
| Summarizing the development
of nuclear-poWered ships, oul
Navy has completed five atom
powered submarines with /!
others now under construction
including six to carry ballisti,
missiles. one to carry guided mis-
siles. and one radar picket under
water craft. Three nuclear-pow
cred surface ships are nov
under construction. The first 0
these. the Long Beach, is sche
du1ed to be completed in October
| 1860.
These weapons and hundred
of others are but a part of tn,
reason for the revolution in de
fence concepts which have occur
red in the past several years.
l