Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-06


July 10, 1854.
DISSOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE HECOMMONWEALTH
Resoired, bv the Senate aud House Of Represen-
tatireS Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania tn
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 an additional article to said con-
stituton to be designated as article eleven as fol-
lows ARTICLE
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION /. The state may contract debts, to sup
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
more acts of the general assembly, or 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 TO 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 inva-
sion, suppress nsurrection. 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, or to repay such
debts. and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
sections and two of this article, no debt what
SECTION 4. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid, the legislature SHALL mt its first
sion, after the adoption of this amendment, create
sinking fund, which shall be sufficient TO pay
the accruing interest on such debt, and annually y
to reduce the principal thereof by 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
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 v
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
expenses of government, and unless in case of war;
invasion insurrection part of the said sink
ing fund shall be ed or applied otherwise than
in extinguishmont of the public debt, until the r.
mount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars
SECTION 5. The credit of the commonwealth shall
not in any manner, or event, be pledged or loaned
to, any individual, company corporation, or asso-
citation; nor shall the commonwealth hereafter be-
come joint owner or stock holder, in any compa-
ny, association. or corporation.
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof of any county, city,
borough, or township; of any corporation, or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the state to repel invasion sup
press domestic insurrection, defend itself in tpe
of war, 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,
otherwise, to become a stakeholder in any compa-
ny. association, corporation or to obtain money
for, or loan its credit to- any corporation asSoeia-
ton. institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated article XII follows
! OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting of
| tenth of DODulatiOn. either form
new county or otherwise) without the express as
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
of; nor shall any county be established, con-
| tanning less than four hundred square miles
THIRD AvrAbMExr
From section two of the first article of the con.
sttution. strike out the words 'Of tie city Of PM
k1fephia, and of each county respectively - from
section FIVE. same article. strike out the words 'O
! Philadelphia amt of the Ssrerat counties :" from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
| .'Lettisr THE city Of PhIkadeiphtn any" ans
| insert in lieu thereof the words and no ;" anC
strike out section four. same article, and in lier
| thoreof insert the following:
| SECTION L. In the year one thousand eight hun
| dred and siXty-four, and in every seventh yea
| thereafter, representatives to the number of one
hundred shall be apportioncd and distributed
equally throughout the state. by districts in pro
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants il
the several parts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred
| taxables, may be allowed separate representa-
| ton; but no more than three counties shall b,
joined, and no county shall be divided IN the for
nation of district. Any city containing a sufi
cient numbe of taxables to cntitle it to at leas
| two representatives, shall have separate repre-.
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, OF
equal taxable population as near as may be. eact
| of which districts shall elect one representative.
| At the end of section seven, same article. inser
these words 'tks city Of Phitateip phi1 shall be dI
0'aed INTO single se1'ateriai districts Of eont,g"
territory nearly c77sai az taabie population
| as possible; brt no rc1rd shall be dirtded az TIL
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
| tricts to remain unchanged until the apportion
| ment in the year one thousand eight hundred and
| sixty -four.
| FOURTH AMENDMENT.
| To be section XNvI, article
| The legislature shall have the power to alter
revoke, or annul. any charter of incorporation
hereafter conferred by. or under. any special, oil
| general law, whenever in their opinion it may be
injurious to the citizens of the commonwealth in
| such manner, however. that no injustice shall bt
done to the corporators.
In SENATE, April 81, 1856
ReSolUed. That this resolution pass. On the frs
amendment yea. a. nays s. On the second
mendment, yeas 49, nays6 On the third amend
mcnt, yeas 2S. nays l. On the fourth amendment
yeas %, nays 4.
| Extract from the Journal.
| THOMAS a. MAG UIRE, Clerk
IS House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
April q, 1856. {
| Resoired. That this resolution pass. On th,
first amendment yeas Y, nays "a. On the second
amendment. yeas 63. nays 25. On the third amend
ment, yeas 64, nays % and on fourth amendment
| yeas Co. nays l6.
Extract from the Journal.
WILLIAM JACK, Clerk.
Filed April ?aFlIa a. 1866 see.q1geSS ~ The IsSlN
| zDesltd