Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-13
ESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
- : =, y MENIS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

OF THE COMMONWEALTH. io-'
t.oSofrea; 6l the Se1iGte dlta House of Represen-
L9ttces OF fhe ConmoRacsaiM Of Penasyluania ih
oe"erai Asse7'bfy met, That the following amend.
inents are proposed to the Constitution of the Com
mhonweaith' IN accordance with the provisions of
the tenth article thereof
- FIRST AMENDMENT
ihere shall be an additional article IN said con
s.tuuon to be designated article eleven as fol-
| lows = ARTICLE NJ.
| OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION ]. The state may contract debts To spn
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues or to
meet expenses not otherwise provided for: but
| the aggregate amount of such debts direct and
contingent whether contracted by virtue of one or
more acts OF the general assembly or mt different
periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars and the money arising
from the creation of such debts, shall he applied TO
the purpose for which it obtained or TO repay
The debts so contracted, and to no other purpose
| whatever.
| SECTION 2. In addition to the above Emited
power the state may contract debts to repel inva
sion suppress nsurrection defend the state in war
OF TO redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
vi the state; but the money arising from the con-
tfacing OF such debts shall be applied to the pur
pose for which it was raised, to repay such
ueDts and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above spceified in
sections one and two of this article no debt what
ever shall be created by or on behalf of the state
SECTION 4 10 provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid, the Legislature SHALL ut its first ses
SION, after the adoption of this amendment, create
a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient 10 pay
the accrung interest such debt, and annually
10 reduce the principal thereof by q sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
winch sinking 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 or any part thereof, and of the income
or proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the state.
together with other funds or resources that NAV
be designated by law. The said sinking fund NAV
be increased. from time to time. by assigning to
10 any part OF the taxes, or other revenues of the
state, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses OF government and unless in of war.
invasion or insurrection. part of the said sink
ing fund shall be u ed or applied otherwise than
In eXtinguishmont of the public debt until the a.
mount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
sEcTIoN5. The credit of the commonwealth sha IL
not IN any manner: or event be pledged, loaned
TO- any Individual, company. corporation, or assO-
citation; shall the comm onwealth hereafter be-
come q joint owner, or stockhoder, in any compa-
NY association. corporation
SECTION o. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, or any part thereof of any county, city
borough, or township; of any corporation or
aSsoclaton; unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the state to repel invasion sup
press domestic instruction defend itself in time
OF war, or to assist the state in the discharge of
any portion of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION 4 The legislature shall not authorize |
any county, city, borough, township, or incorpora
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens or
M otherwise, to become stoekholder in any compa- |
oan m eFe @ 6ST or t9 9Rn
tion institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stltuton, to be designated article XII follows
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES
No county shall be divided by line cutting off |
over ono-tenth of its population. either to form a
new county or otherwise.l without the express as
sent of such county by vote of the electors there
Of; nor shall any new county be established, con-
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
THIRD ANEApMExr.
From section two of the first article of the con-
stltut0n, strike out the words, of the city Of PHI
I9dcilhln, afd Of each county respecttUsky;'' from
section five, article, strike out the words. 'of
0It2 o. the sarer1I counties - from
section seven, same article. strike out the words
.~etther Tie city Of Phtiadekphta nor any, and
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'and no - and
strike ont section four. same article and in lieu
thereof insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eioht bun
dred and sixty-four, and in every seventh year
thereafter, representatives to the number of one
hundred, shall be apportioned and distributed
equally, throughout the state. by districts in pro-
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants in
the several parts thereof except that any county
containing ut least three thousand five hundred
TAXA: taxapies, may be allowed separate representa-
non; but no more than three counties shall be
joined and no county shall be divided in the for
nation OF n district Any city containing a suff-
ceht number OF taxables to entitle it TO at least
Two representatives, shall have a separate repre-
sentatlon assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
equal taxable population as may be. each |
or which districts shall elect one representative
AT the end of section seven. same article insert |
these words, 'Hte city of PhtLndekzia shall be III
rfea s7ito single senatorial districts, Of c0Rtig
o"s territory 12e'ty eq7tat tarable aopeLation
rs possible ); bat 1card shall be diGided az tie
formation hereofn
The Legislature, at its first session, after the a
doption of this amendment, shall divide the city
Of Phiadelphia into senatorial and representative
districts, IN the manner above provided; such dis
triets to remain unchanged until the apporton-
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred and
sixty -four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section xXvI, Article +.
The legislature shall have the power to alter
revoke, or annul, any charter of incorporation
hereafter conferred by, under. any special or
general law, whenever in their opinion it may be
injurious to the citizens of the commonwealth in
such manner, however. that no injustice shall be
done to the corporators.
In SENATE, April 81, 1856
ResolUed, That this resolution pass On the first
amendment, yeas q, nays 5. On the second a. |
mendment yeas TO- nays6. On the third amend
ment, yeas %, nays l. On the fourth amendment
Extract from the Journal
THOMAS \. MAGUIRE, Clerk
In House OF REpREsESTArIvEs,
April 81, 1856.
ResotUed, That this resolution pass On the
lrst amendment, yeas -. nays "a. On the second
yeas 63 nays 25 On the third amend
nent, yeas 81, nays % and on fourth amendment
yeas 50, nays 16
Extract from the Journal
WILLIAM JACK Clerk.
Filed April 2s r. 1866 g. r. SeSan comaGn
acealth.
SEcRETARY's OFFICE,
Harrisburg, June %, 1856.