Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-24
fe9al Abperticmsuts.
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth

Ine commonwealth.
Resolred by the Senate and House Of
9t the Cornon,redi of Penn Gene raj fsse,n
bly, met That the following amendments are nronosod -
the constitution of the commonwealth accordance With
the provisions OF the tenth article thereof. NJ
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article To sad
TO be designated as article eleven as follows =
ARTICLE
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l. The state may contract debts to spnn,v
casual deficits or failures in revenues or to meet expe
of such debts direct and contingent whether
by virtue of one acts of the general assembly or
at different periods of time shall exceed seven hun
dred and hity thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied 10 the
purpose for which obtained or to repay the debts
go contracted, and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION 2 In addition to the above limited power the
state may contract debts TO repe invasion suppress in
surrection defend the state in war deem the pre-
ney arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
applied to the purpose for which il was raised or to re.
pay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever
tons one and two of this article debt whatever shall
he created by, or on behalf of the state.
SECTION A. To provide for the payment of the present
debt and any additional debt contracted as aforesaid the
legislature shall its first session after the adoption of
TINS amendment, create sinking fund, which shall be
sufficient to pay the accrung interest on such debt and
annually to rednce the principal thereof by not
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars which sink
ing fund shall consist Of the net annual income of the
public works from time to time owned by the state or
the proceeds of the sale of the same any part there
o. and OF the income proceeds of sale of stocks owned
by the state together with other funds or resources that
may be designated by law. The said sinking fund ma be
increased from time to time by assigning it any part
0 e taxes or othdr revenues of the state required
Tor the ordinary and current expenses of government and
unless IN case OF war invasion or nsurrecton part
the said sinking fund shall be used or applied otherwise
than IN eXtngushment of the public dept until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the of mil
lions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credir of the commonwealth shall not
in any manner or event be pledged loaned to- any
ubnl
the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner. or
stockhoiGe IN any company association corporation
SECTION d. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt or any part thereof Of any county city borough
township of any corporation association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the state
10 repel INVASION suppress domestic nsnrrecton defend
Itself In time OF to assist the state in the discharge
oil any portion OF its present indebtedness
SECTION T. The legislature shall not authorize any
county city borough township incorporated district
by virtue OF vote of its citizens otherwise to become
stockhoder IN any company or corporation;
ton, association, institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article said constitution
to be designated as article AiI is follows
ARTICLE
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off over
onctenth Of its population (eher to form new county
othcrwse without the express assent of such county,
by vote of the electors thereof shall any
y be established containing less than four hundred square
miles.
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two OF the first article OF the constitution
strike out the words Of the city of Phlddepia and of
each county respectively " from section five, article
strike out the words. Of Philadelphia and of the seUeral
counties " from section seven, article strike out
the words, neither the city Of Philadelphia nor anu -
and insert in lieu thereof the words and no - and
strike out section four article and in lieu thereof
insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hundred
and sXyour, and in every seventh year thereafter rep
reSentatrcs to the number of hundred shall be ap-
portOned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion to the number of taxable III
haants in the several parts thereof except that any
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taXabes be allowed separate representation but
than three counties shall be joined and no coun-
" shall be divided. IL the formation OF district Anv
city containing suc lent number Of taxabes to entc
it to at least two representatives shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided con
districts of contiguous territory of equal taxable
population may be- each of which districts shall
elect representative"
words the city Of Philadelphia shall be disded into SIN
equal tGTabie population possible but no uqrd shall
be Gjrded in the formation thereof"
The legislature at its first session, after the adoption
Of this amendment, shall divide the city of Phiadelph
into senatorial and representative districts in the manner
above provided such districts to remain unchanged un-
I'll the apportionment in the year thousand eight hun
dred and sxty-four
FOURTH AMENDMENT
To be section yXvI, Articie I.
The Legislature shall have the power to alter revoke