Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-06
ID ESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
4 q HENTS TIC THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Resoirsd Bg the Senate ant Touse Of Represen-
taftees IF tie Commonwealth Of PsRusyisanfa ta
General ASSensJig 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 he additional article to said con-
sttution to be designated article eleven, fol-
lows ARTICLE M
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION /. The state may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits failures in revenues, or to
meet expenses not otherwise provided for: but
the aggregate am cunt of such debts direct and
contingent, whether contracted by virtue of one
more acts of the general assembly, at different
periods of time, shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars and the money arising
from the creation OF such debts shall be applied to
the purpose for which it obtained. 10 repay
the debts so contracted, and to no other purpose
whatever.
power the state may contract debts to repel inva-
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 was raised, to repay such
debts. and TO no other purpose whatever
SECTION ). Except the debts above specified in
sections one and two of this article, no debt what
ever shall be created by, on behalf of the state
SECTION 4. To provide for the payment of the
present debt and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid the legislature shall at its first ses-
sion, after the adoption of this amendment, create
sinking fund which shall be sufficient pay
the accrulng interest such debt, and annually
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. resources, that may
be designated by law. The said sinking fund may
be increased. from time to time by assigning to
1t any part Of the taxes. other revenues of the
state, not required for the ordinary and current
a. gof
invasion or iusurrecton. part of the said sink
ing fund shall be cd or applied otherwise than
in extinguishmont of the public debt. until the
mount of such debt is reduced below the of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION ). The credit of the commonwealth shall
not in any manner or event, be pledged, or loaned
to, any individual, company. corporation,
ciation nor shall the commonwealth hereafter be-
come joint owner, or stockho,dcr, in any compa-
ny, association or 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
traced to enable the state 10 ropei invasion, sup
press domestic instruction defend itself in time
of war. to assist the state in the discharge o!
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,
/ otherwise, to become stockholdcr in any compa-
n.y. association, or rcorporation; or to obtain money
for, or loan its credit to. any corporation, associa
!
| SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated article XII follows
ARTICLE
OF NEW COUNTIES.
! No county shall be divided by liuc cutting of
over one-tonth Of its population, either to form
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 AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the con-
ssitGtion strike out the words, 'ofhte ctty Of PHI
L2aeittH, a1lG Of each c0HHty respectively =; from
section five. same article strike out the words Of
/ PhjiqaciyhiG and o. THE sereral counties - from
section seven. same article, strike out the words,
''lletther tire ctty Of I'bFLGEekptt1 nor any,. and
| insert in lieu thereof the words. 'aHd no - and
| strike out section four. article, and in lieu
! thoreof insert the following
! SECTION +. 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 appOrtoned 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 at least three thousand five hundred
taxables. may be allowed 4 separate representa-
ton; but moro than three counties shall be
joined, and county shall be divided in the for
nation of a district Any city containing a sufi-
cient number of taxables to entite it to at least
two representatives. shall have separate repre-
scntatfon assigned it. and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory. of
equal taxable population as near as may be, each
of which districts shall elect representative. .
AT the end Of section seven same article, insert
these words, 'his city Of FhiIaaeiphG ShaH be d.
riaeI into single senatorial districts of c0ntfcH-
oHs teFritoTy neayfy eyiat az taabke p0pUIztlo1
as P0sst5{e. but ar1rd stall be 9frlded 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 XXvI. AFticie 1.
The 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.
In SENATE, April q. 1856
ReS0lred Thatthi resolution pass. On the first
amendment, yeas 81, nays ). On the second a
mendment, yeas 10. nays6. On the third amend
ment, yeas %, nays |. On the fourth amendment
yeas %, nays A.
Extract from the Journal
THOMAS A. MAG UIRE, Clerk.
IE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
april q. 1856.
Resojued. That this resolution pass. On the
first amendment, yeas72. nays p. On the second
ment yeas 81, nays 25 and on fourth amendment
yeas SO, nays To-
Extract from the Journal.
WILLIAM JACK, Clerk.
Filed April a. 1866 secretayqf oie coa,so,
aceaLh.
SEcRErARY's OFFICE