Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-16
p ESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
Ia MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTIONS
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

"a MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
| OF THE COMMON W EABTH.
ReSoLUed, 5u the Senate and House of RepreSen-
tattues Of Tire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ia
General assembly met, That the following amend
ments are proposed to the Constitution of the Com
| mOnwealth in accordance with the provisions Of
| the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT.
| There shall be additional article to said con-
stituton to be designated as article eleven, fol-
/ lows - ARTICLE XI
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
! SECTION i. The state may contract debts. TO sup
| ply casual deficits failures in revenues, 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, 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 or 10 repay
the debts so contracted and to no other purpose
whatever.
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts to repel inya-
sIon suppress lnsurrecuon defend the state in
or to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
OF the state; but the money arising from the
tracing of such debts shall be applied TO the pur
pose for which it raised 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 debt what
ever shall be created by on behalf OF the state.
SECTION I. To provide for the payment of tho
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid, the legislature shall, at its first
a sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay
the accrung 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 iBcome
or 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 may
be increased from time to time, by assigning to
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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 extinguishmant 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, loaned
to, any individual, company, corporation, or asso
citation; nor shall the commonwealth hereafter be-
come joint owner, or stockholder, in any compa-
ny association or corporation.
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof of any county. city,
association; unless such debt shall have been
tracted to enable the state to repel invasion sup
press domestic insurrection, defend itself in time
OF war, or to assist the state in the discharge of
any portion of its present indebtedness.
SECTION Z. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township or incorpora-
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens
ny. assocIlaon, 81 :.
for or loan its credit 10. any corporation associa
ton: institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stituton, to be designated article XII follows
ARTICLE
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
over one-tenth of its population, either to form
new county or otherwise,) without the express
sent of such county by vote of the electors there
of; nor shall any new county be established,
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
THIRD AMEADMExr
From section two of the first article of the con-
stitution, strike out the words of tire city of PHI
t1GslptG GG of each c01sHty reSpectIUely;' - from
section five, article, strike ont the words, 'Of
PhtLadeipia ant the several counties - from
section seyen same article, strike out the words.
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'a7,d aO - and
strike out section four. article and in lieu
| thoreOf insert the following:
SECTION A. In the year one thousand eight hun
! dred and sixty-four, and in every seventh year
| thereafter, representatives to the number of
/ 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 at least three thousand five hundred
! taXables may be allowed separate representa-
| ton; but no moro than three counties shall be
! joinedean county shall be divided. in the for
nation of n district. Any city containing sufi-
cient number of taxables to eutitle it to at least
two representatives, shall have a separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
| equal taxable population may be, each
| of which districts shall elect representative
| At the end of section seven, article, insert
these words the city Of PItstaaeiphfa shall be dt-
cded into single Sea1teriaS districts, Of contigu
territory ue9y}y eq7sal fqra5le population
| as possible bit acarI shall be dlUtde1 IN tie
! formation thereof"
The legislature, at its first session, after the a
! dopton 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, ArttcfeI
| 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 Il. 1856.
| Resolrea, That this resolution pass On the first
/ amendment, yeas q. nays 5. On the second a.
mendment yeas 10, nays6. On the third amend
! ment, yeas 2S. nays |. On the fourth amendment,
yeas %, nays 4
! Extract from the Journal.
THOMAS A. MAGUIRE, Clerk.
Is HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
April 2l. 1856
! Resoiued, That this resolution pass. On the
| first amendment, yeas 72 nays "a. On the second
amendment. yeas 63, nays 25 On the third amend