Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-09
ID ESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
~ MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE ECOMNONWFA

OF THE COMMONWEALTH
heSofoea, by tie Senate and House of Rspr>ssa,-
t9.4ees 81 re Contaon tcsath Of PeHNsyiUalliG an
General assembly met That the following amend
ments are proposed to the Constitution of The Com
monweaith in accordance with the provisions of
the tenth article thereof
| FIRST AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said con-
stituton to be designated article eleven, as fol-
! lows ARTICLE NJ
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
| SECTION l. The state may contract dc hts TO sup-
ply casual deficits 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 OF at different
periods OF time shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousan nd dollars and the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied to
the purpose for which it obtained or to repay
the debts so contracted, anu TO no other purpose
| whatever.
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts to repel inya-
sion, suppress insurrection defend the state in war
or to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
OF the state; but the money arising from the con-
tracing of such debts shall be applied to the pur-
| pose for which it raised, or to repay such
debts and to no other purpose whatever.
| SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified in
sections one and two of this article, no debt what
ever shall be created by, 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 ut its first ses-
sion. after the adoption of this amendment create
a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient TO pay
| the accruing interest on such debt and annuaIIy
to reduce the principal thereof by sum not less
| than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
which sinking fund shall consist of the net annual
income of the public works, from time to time
owned by the state, 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
1t any part OF the taxes or other revenues of the
state, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses OF government and unless in case of war;
INVASION or lnsurrecton, part of the said sink
ing fund shall be IL ed or applied otherwise than
IN extinguishmont of the public debt until the n
mount of such debt is reduced below the sum Of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credit of the commonwealth shall
not IN any manner, or event be pledged or loaned
TO, any individual, company. corporation, asso-
citation; nor shall the comm onwealt hereafter be-
| come joint owner, or stockholder in any compa-
ny. association. corporation
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt or any part thereof, of any county, city
borough or township; or of any corporation, or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the state to repeI invasion su-
press domestic insurrection, defend itself in time
OF war, or to assist the in the discharge of
any portion of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION {. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township, incorpora-
ted district by virtue of a vote of its citizens or
otherwise, to become n stockhoIder in any conpa-
ny, association, corporation; or to obtain money
Tor or loan its credit to- any Corporation assesi.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stlution to be designated article XII follows
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES
No county shall be divided by line cutting of
over one-tenth of its population, either 10 form n
new county OF otherwise.) without the express as
sent of such county by a of the electors there
of; nor shall any county be established, con-
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
THIRD AMEAnMESr
tNn of thp first ticIa nf ~
stituion, strike out the words. o the cSty of Phi
tadetpta and Of each county respectively - from
section five same article strike out the words ''of
Phitadekpta G'ia Of the several counties - from
section seven, article, strike out the words
',teither TIE city Of PhHadelptt1 nor any.'' and |
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'and no - and
strike out section four, article, and in lieu /
thoreof insert the following
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hun |
dred and sixty-four, and in every seventh year |
thereafter, representatives to the number of one |
hundred shall be apportioned and distributed |
equally, through the state, by districts in pro-
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants in |
the several parts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred |
taxables may be allowed a separate representa- |
ton; but more than three counties shall be /
Joined, and no county shall be divided in the for
nation of a district. Any city containing sufi- |
cient number of taxables to entitle it TO at least
two representatives. shall have n separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into |
convenient districts of contiguous territory. of |
equal taxable population Is near rs may be- each |
of which districts shall elect one representative " |
AT the end of section seven, same article, insert |
these words, 'He city Of Phifadelphfa shall be d.
vided into single senatorial districts If contign-
onS territory nearly e7tsaI t tpra5ie population
as possible; bit no aeaa shall be Gtr'ded IN tie
formation thereof.'
The legislature at its first session. after the a
doption of this amendment shall divide the city
OF Philadelphia into senatorial and representative
districts, in the manner above provided such dis
triets to remain unchanged until the apportion-
ment in the year one thousand eight hundred and |
sixty-four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section XVI, ArticieI.
Tho legislature shall have the power to alter,
revoke, annul any charter of incorporation
hereafter conferred by, or 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.
Is SENATE, April 81, 1856.
Resolved, Thatth resolution pass. On the first
amendment. yeas "a, nays s. On the second a
mendment, yeas 49, nays6 On the third amend
ment, yeas 2S. nays /. On the fourth amendment,
yeas 90, nays 4.
Extract from the Journal.
THOMAS a. MAGUIRE, Clerk.
Ii House OF REPREsEsTATTvEs)
April 81, 1856.
first amendment yeas n nays "a. On the second
amendment. yeas 63 nays %. On the third amend
ment, yeas 81, nays 25 and ON fourth amendment,
yeas g. nays l6.
Extract from the Journal.
WILLIAM JACK, Clerk.
F;Is5 sp, oarlSs ,. Ysss e. cgsTM
acealh.
SEcRErARY's OFFICE.
Harrisburg June q; 1890.
Pennsylvania, SIS.
do certify that the above and foregoing is a
md rapfc of the orr