Las Vegas City Commission Minutes, January 7, 1947 to October 26, 1949, lvc000006-252

230 WHEREAS, under this 48 years of Territorial status Hawaii has had only a vestige of the autonomy through the appointment of its Governor, Judges of its Courts and other Territorial officials by the President of the United States; and WHEREAS, the people of the Territory of Hawaii have been qualified and loyal citizens of the United States and have contributed of their services and cooperation in times of peace and war; and WHEREAS, the Territory of Hawaii pays more in Federal taxes than 14 states of the American Union; and WHEREAS, the Territory of Hawaii is larger in area than three states of the Union and the population, presently exceeding that of seven states, is larger than ary state when admitted to the Union, except Oklahoma; and WHEREAS, the Territory of Hawaii has only one representative in Congress who has no vote in the House and neither voice nor vote in the Senate; and WHEREAS, the Territorial Legislature has petitioned Congress for statehood 14 times since 1903, and has appropriated funds 11 times for Congressional investigation; and WHEREAS, this integral part of the United States exemplified its unquestioned loyalty in both world wars in the most recent of which it suffered physical violence to a vastly greater extent than any other part of the United States; and WHEREAS, Hawaii is today asking for Statehood on the highest moral, political and economic grounds, NOT, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of Honolulu, in regular meeting assembled, that we take this means of urging upon the Senate of the Congress of the United States of America early and favorable action be taken to the end that H.R. 49 providing for the status of statehood in the Territory of Hawaii be passed by the said Senate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these resolutions be spread on the records of this Board and that copies thereof be forwarded to the respective Mayors of Principal cities of the United States in the hope and trust that they individually and in concert with their municipal governments will supplement our appeal by voicing their support of this resolution in communi­cations directed to the said United States Senate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that duly authenticated copies of this resolution be sent to the delegate in Congress from Hawaii and to the Statehood Commission of the Territory. and WHEREAS, the claim of Hawaii to the right of statehood appeals to this Board as being just and equitable, and worthy of favorable consideration by the Congress of the United States of America, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 22nd day of April, 1948, that it respectfully urge upon Senate of the United States the early passage of H. R. 49 pro­viding for the status of statehood for the Territory of Hawaii, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be for­warded to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate of the United States, and to each member of the Senate of the United States from the State of Nevada, and that the members of the Senate of the United States representing the State of Nevada be respectfully urged to actively support said legislation. Thereafter, Commissioner Clark moved that the foregoing Resolution be approved and adopted. Motion seconded by Commissioner Whipple and carried by the following vote: Commissioners Clark, Moore, Whipple and His Honor voting aye. Noes, none. absent: Com­missioner Baskin.