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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0036.001 2012-2014 COUNTY OF HAWAjMM ° p IVED J44,2 Date .. .,,,.� Proceedings of the CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF HAWAII 1950 Volume 1 JOURNAL AND DOCUMENTS Published under the supervision of the ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE and the PUBLIC ARCHIVES State of Hawaii HONOLULU, HAWAII 1960 Comm. No (0, Ref.To: 1`2 L Ref. Date 8 20 Delegates and Committees CONVENTION OFFICERS President Samuel Wilder King Vice-President Arthur D. Woolaway Vice-President Hiram L. Fong Vice-President Charles A. Rice Vice-President Thomas T. Sakakihara Secretary Hebden Porteus ELECTED STAFF Chief Clerk Mrs. Ellen D. Smythe Sergeant-at-Arms Charles J. Brenham Assistant Clerk Mrs. Ethel C. Chillingworth Sergeant-at-Arms H. F. Kuhlman Chaplain Rev. Henry P. Judd DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTION Numbers and letters preceding delegates' names indicate position in photographs. FIRST REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: 54. Nils P. Larsen, Honolulu, Oahu 4. Nelson Kyoshi Dot, Hilo, Hawaii 14. Herbert K. H. Lee, Honolulu, Oahu B. W. Harold Loper, Honolulu, Oahu 15. Teruo Ihara, Honokaa, Hawaii C. D. John R. Phillips, Honolulu, Oahu . Frank C. Luiz, Papaikou, Hawaii E. Hebden Porteus, Honolulu, Oahu 27. Richard J. Lyman, Jr., Pahoa, Hawaii 47. Harold S. Roberts, Honolulu, Oahu 1. Tom T. Okino, Hilo, Hawaii 55. C. Nils Tavares, Honolulu, Oahu 6. Thomas T. Sakakihara, Hilo, Hawaii 33. Henry A. White, Honolulu, Oahu 8. James Kiyoji Yamamoto, Hilo, Hawaii 14. Benjamin O. Wist, Honolulu, Oahu 38. Takao Yamauchi, Hilo, Hawaii SECOND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: FIFTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: 28. Peter Kawahara, Holualoa, Hawaii 21. Trude M. Akau, Honolulu, Oahu 52. Earl A. Nielsen, Kealakekua, Hawaii 48. Edward C. Bryan, Ewa, Oahu 57. Sakuichi Sakai, Kohala, Hawaii 53. George Dowson, Waianae, Oahu F..Charles H. Silva, Kohala, Hawaii 51. Hiram L. Fong, Honolulu, Hawaii 34. Yasutaka Fukushima, Wahiawa, Oahu THIRD REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: 43. James F. Gilliland, Honolulu, Oahu A. Marguerite K. Ashford, Kaunakakai, Molokai 50. Edward B. Holroyde, Kahuku, Oahu 3. J. Pia Cockett, Wailuku, Maui 7. Frank Y. Kam, Honolulu, Hawaii 36. Kazuo Kage, Wailuku, Maui 13. Masao Kanemaru, Wahiawa, Oahu 20. Harold T. Kido, Lahaina, Maui 45. Charles E. Kauhane, Honolulu, Oahu 40. Harold W. Rice, Wailuku, Maui 5. Samuel Wilder King, Honolulu, Oahu 16. W. O. Smith, Puunene, Maui 18. Chuck Mau, Honolulu, Oahu 30. Richard St. Sure, Pala, Maui 2. Steere G. Noda, Honolulu, Oahu 32. Cable A. Wirtz, Wailuku, Maui 31. Frederick Ohrt, Honolulu, Oahu 35. Arthur D. Woolaway, Puunene, Maui 44. Herbert M. Richards, Honolulu, Oahu 42. Clarence Y. Shimamura, Waialua, Oahu FOURTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: 41. Arthur K. Trask, Honolulu, Oahu 34. J. Garner Anthony, Honolulu, Oahu 11. James K. Trask, Honolulu, Oahu 49. Samuel K. Apoliona, Jr., Honolulu, Oahu SIXTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT: 23. Alexander H. F. Castro, Honolulu, Oahu 46. Ann H. Corbett, Honolulu, Oahu 10. Matsuki Arashiro, Kalaheo, Kauai 29. Flora Kaai Hayes, Honolulu, Oahu 56. Randolph Crossley, Kapaa, Kauai 25. William H. Heen, Honolulu, Oahu 12. H. S. Kawakami, Waimea, Kauai 24. Elizabeth R. Kellerman, Honolulu, Oahu 26. Jack H. Mizuha, Koloa, Kauai 22. Katsumi Kometani, Honolulu, Oahu 17. Charles A. Rice, Lihue, Kauai 9. John K. Lai, Honolulu, Oahu 37. Toshio Serizawa, Lihue, Kauai xiv 'a, ! • fTsA GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE NO. 1 361 his seat be declared vacant, and the Governor be re- quested to fill the vacancy in the Frank C. Castro Tom d S. Roberts Y manner provided by law. Frank C, Luiz Harold 3. Rb t Benjamin O. Wilt, w—Apn!18, 1950 Chuck Mau Arthur K. Trask J.Garner Anthony Frederick Ohrt Arthur D. Woolaay Chairman Marguerite K.Ashford S. Governor's Messages GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE NO. 1 The people of Hawaii have shown skill and ability in local I wish to welcome the members of this Convention and Hawaii self-government. constitutional governmen°and for assure you that I will be only too glad to assist you in any matel y 50 years the Territory has had complete local self- way within my power. Today is a momentous day in the history of Hawaii,a the Secretary,except for the appointment of the Governor, day looked forward to by the people of Hawaii since the egi the Judges. The Legislature to has estr- Newlands Resolution of 1898 which effected the admission Lions f the Organic ganic Act and the subject ect only to the rutica. of Hawaii to the United States, The Newlands Resolution The er horn is Act dad the Unwed States n o ic,social contemplated an Organic The Territory L a modern unit with an economic,social P ganic Act which would complete the in- and political status of the highest order. It is and has been corporation of Hawaii as an integral part of the United States, for many years entirely self-supporting,paying all the ex- This was enacted in April 1900 and under it Hawaii resem- penes of the Territory and County governments except the • bles in every respect the territories created in continental salaries of the legislators and those officers appointed by United States by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and other the President, acts setting up territorial governments as a preliminary to The people have shown a keen interest in statehood, with a larger percentage of public affairs By the Organic Act of 1900 giving Hawaii territorial elections than in any state in Union.voters voting in status,Congress then and there commited the United States As long to the ultimate granting of statehood to Hawaii. A long line that'Hawaii has fulfilled eve yore r quire committee found of decisions of the United States Supreme Court sets out heretofore exacted of territories'but recommended a nod 'the ephemeral nature of a territorial government'and plebescite of the voters be held. Such a plebescite was held statehood as the ultimate destiny of a territory. Mr.Justice in 1940 with two-thirds of the votes for statehood. White, in Dorms v. Biddle,said'Since the constitution pro- In December 1941 came the outbreak of World War II vides for the admission by Congress of new states, it pro- with an attack on Hawaii. The Territory had set up a full perly may be said that the outlying continental public domain, scale organization for civilian defense which went into of which the United States was the proprietor, was,from the immediate action on December 7th. In less than two hours beginning,destined for admission as a state or states into after the attack,civilian first-aid units,well equipped and the Union; that as a preliminary step towards that afore- well staffed,were in active service. The Civilian Defense ordained end—to tide over the period of ineligibility—Con- gress, on from time to time,created territorial governments, hundreds of our wounded soldiers and sailors, the existence of which was necessarily limited to the period The record of Hawaii ter of pupilage,' Again,this same court has pointed out'a lowed December 7th bespeaks the dark days that fol- lowed under the constitution and laws of the United States ever of its Q°p°��°loyalty,y of fortitude and beginning, an inchoate state.' ri people. When the history of that period is During the 50 years that Hawaii has been a written the activities of the civilian volunteers,men and United During the 50 years of part of the women,will be a record of which Hawaii may be justly proud. United In wealth yard of pupilage, Hawaii has increased and Our citizens of every race and every color also served in census developed exceeded in fond in states so that under the last the armed services,Army,Navy and Marine Corps, in the de- to four other and had ss assessed ppopulation, value,was c= e Merchant Marine,and in war work of every kind and de- toour than property scription. The roll of Hawaii's honored dead throughout the any state at the time of admission,with the ex- word is proof positive of the loyalty of Hawaii's sons and ception of Oklahoma, their patriotism was not measured by the color of their I need not review for you Hawaii's economic development skin. Our populations tested by the fire of battle and the but in addition to its economic development Hawaii is in trials of war,both at home and abroad, were not found want- every respect a modern community, maintaining a high standard in government service. It has a high g� health and for a number of years has had a lower standard of of our°�r drew more light upon the loyalty and patriotism than any state in the Union. The maternal mortality rate and settlpoped1 for all ttime a question that hadybeen the cause of has been less than that of the average mainland state for the concern to many sincere democratic citizen who honestly last seven years; it is continuing to decline. Our schools questioned whether children of non-Caucasian parents, of are well equipped and well attended; our teachers are far alien cultures,of alien religions, o!many races,could be better paid than the average teachers in mainland United truly Imit by a common idealism into a nation, The situation States schools, Hawaii has progressive labor laws and a here had no precedent !n the older elates where the alien well-organized Department of Labor. It has an apprentice- population in such states had the same religions,customs, ship program, a child labor law,a minimum wage and maxi- habits and ways of thinking, more or less common with that mum hours work law, and workmen's compensation laws. of its citizens. No state had had to absorb and deal with a • 362 JOURNAL DOCUMENTS large group of Asiatic aliens who could not be naturalized . enactments however desirable you may consider such legis- under our existing laws and whose very religions in many lation. cases were foreign and strange to us. However, during the years preceding the war there had been tremendous changes In conclusion, I wish to read a radio (message) to you in our population since annexation, changes climaxed by the from the Secretary of the Interior; war. Our public schools, our boy and girl scout organizations, Please extend to the presiding officer and members and all of our free and democratic institutions had been of the Constitutional Convention meeting on April Four gradually but efficiently Americanizing each of the coming the greetings and cordial good wishes of the Interior De- generations. Hawaii proved to be truly a melting pot with partment and the Administration as they undertake the much more than a third of its marriages inter-racial. This important task for which they have been chosen. The is especially conspicuous among the Japanese for, at the very high caliber and often demonstrated interest in time of annexation, marriage among the Japanese people public affairs of the elected dole tes is a outside of their own race was unheard of; in the meantime that the results of their labors will be coast tution our percentage of citizenship population had increased from fully responsive to the needs of Hawaii and fully within less than 40% to more than 85% and, as stated, the war re- the great traditions of American Democracy. Such a moved all doubt of the thorough Americanization of our peo- Constitution will be the indispensable basis of the Gov- ples of all races. In this connection I call to your attention ernment of the new State of Hawaii which I am hopeful that Hawaii not only furnished its quota under selective will be approved by the present Congress and will be service, but by voluntary enlistment it raised a battalion of convincing evidence to the American people and the infantry among those of Japanese descent which finished the world that Hawaii is a mature and responsible member war with an outstanding record and was one of, if not the of the great American partnership of self-governing most, decorated units of the American Army, democratic communities. Suggestions from certain individuals from time to time to place the Territory of Hawaii under naval or military control or some form of commission government calls to our attention that our existing rights of local self-govern- ment can be secured only by statehood as under a territori- al status Congress may modify Territory ve of tubers g= y iiy or completely repeal the Executive Chambers Territorial Organic Act, Honolulu Equally important with making secure the existing rights of local self-government is a representation in national af- April 12, 1950 - fairs. With merely a voice in the House of Representatives, and neither voice nor vote in the Senate, it is difficult to se- Hawaii Wald Wilder King,President Convention cure due consideration and prevent discrimination against Honolulu,Wilder King,president us in national legislation. Thousands of young men of these H0°Olulu, Hawaii Islands were drafted during World War II though neither You are hereby notified that,pursuant to the power vested they nor their parents had any voice in the passage of the in me by Section 2 of Act 334, Session Laws of Hawaii 1949, draft act, nor vote in the declaration of war which sent them I have this day appointed John R. Phillips who is an elector into battle, of the Combination of Precincts 11, 15, 18,-17, 18, 24 and The citizens of Hawaii pay Federal taxes on exactly the 32, Fourth Representative District, to fill the vacancy same basis as do the citizens of a state, yet they have no vote cans by the resignation of Mr. Richard M. Kageyama. either in the levying of the taxes or in the disbursing of the revenues. These conditions are contrary to traditional Sincerely yours, American principles. No taxation without representation, INGRAM M. Hawaii ACK no government without the consent of the governed, are Governor of Hawaii axioms as much alive and as important to the people of Ha- waii today as they were to the Revolutionary fathers who first gave them utterance, and these principles are particu- larly applicable when we remember that the overwhelming GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE NO. 3 mass of the residents of Hawaii are citizens of the United States, citizens whose loyalty, patriotism and ability in Territory of Hawaii self-government cannot be questioned. Executive Chambers As previously stated, a territorial government is a trans- Honolulu itory one, tolerable for a reasonable period but should be April 21, 1950 endured no longer than is necessary to show that the people Honorable Samuel Wilder King of the Territory are loyal citizens of the United States and capable of self-government. That time has come. The House President,Constitutional Convention of Representatives has so decided, the President of the Honolulu Hawaii Armory ory United States and the Secretary of the Interior have endorsed Honolulu, T. H. statehood for Hawaii, the Legislature of Hawaii has petitioned for statehood, the people of Hawaii have voted for statehood, Dear Mr. King: and now your actions here will largely determine whether statehood will be granted now or be further delayed. I have 1950 This to the Governor, of which lyou advise him every confidence that you will meet this test and prepare that a vacancy exists in the membership of the Hawaii Con- for Hawaii a constitution of which we may be justly proud; stitutional Convention because of the disqualification and and, if I may add one word of advice, make it truly a frame- subsequent expulsion by the Convention of Delegate Frank work for government and do not clutter it up with legislative G. Silva who represented Precinct Combination BB (Pre-