Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-27
p ESoLUTEoN, PROPOSING AMEND
z mENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COM MONWEAITU

az sES0LUTEoN, PROPOSING AMEND
OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
hesotced, bp nte Senate anil Ho,sse Of Represen
tatfceg Of Tire CopsmoRIrealLb OF Pe7aisHltasia u
General Asseaa5iy met. That the following amend
ments are proposed to the Constitution of the Com
monweaith, n accordance with the provisions Of
the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT
There shallybe an additional article to said con.
stitution to be designated article eleven as fol
lows = ARTICLE ".
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SEcTIoE l. The state may contract debts, to sup
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues. or ;o
meet expenses not otherwise provided for bu,
the aggregate amount of such debts direct ana
contfpgent whether contracted by virtue Of one or
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 10
inc purpose Tor which 1t was obtained. TO repay
the debts SO contracted and to other purpose
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts to repel inva-
sion, suppress nsurrcctOn. defend the state in war
or to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness
OF the state; but the money arising from the CON
tracing of sach debts shall be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was raised or to reusv sucb
debts. and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified in
sections and two of this article no debt what
ever shall be created by or on behalf of the state
SECTION /. To provide FOR the payment of tho
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 pav
the accruing interest on such debt, and annually
10 reduce the principal thereof by sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars :
which sinking fund shall consist of tbe NOT onno
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 may
he S1id siulz zir,crf finn
be increased, from time to time, by assigning 10
lt 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 lnsurrection. part of the said sink
ing fund shall be ed or applied otherwise than
IN eXtnguishmont of the public debt, until the a.
mount OF such debt is reduced below the sum of
i've millions of dollars
SECTIoN5. 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 cal ia hereafter be-
come joint owner or stocllholder, in any compa-
ny, association or corporation.
SECTION q. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, or any part thereof, of any county city
borough or township; or of any cooperation.
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the state to repei 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 rot authorize
any county, city, borough, township. or ncorpora-
TED district by virtue of of its citizens. or
otherwise to become n stockhoder in any compa-
ny association, orcorporation; or to obtain money
ior or loan its credit to, any corporation, associa
ton: institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated as article MI follows
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES
No county shall be divided by line cutting off
over one-tenth of its population either 10 form
new new county or otherwise) without the express
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 AMEADMExr.
From section two of the first article of the con-
stituton strike out the words sOftLe cjty Of PHI
la@elhta, s'4a Of each eo""tg respectiUeLy' - from
section five same article, strike out the words of
G3td Of tte secerGt counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
.9ettleT TIE city Of I'htiaFelptta 7lor any" and
insert in lieu thereof the words zld no - and
strike out section four, same 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, 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 n separate representa-
ton; but more than three counties shall be
Joined, and county shall be divided. in the for
nation Of n 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 near as may be, each
of which districts shall elect representative.
At the end of section seven, same article. insert
these words, ..the city Of EtilaReiia shall be di-
cIded tt0 single senatorial districts Of contigzt-
0as terr7i0rY nearly eyital tara5le population
as possible; bit Ro Uurd Sh0H be diriaed in tie
f0r0latioN Here0f"
The le0islatrlre M ;ts session of ho
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-
lnent in the year thousand eight hundred and
sixty-four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section XVI, AyticleG
The legislature shall have the power TO alter,
revoke, aunul. any charter Of incorporation
hereafter conferred by. under, any special, or
general law, whenever in their opinion it may be