Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-12
Ceaal Aoperiiemeuts.
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth

-RESOLUTIONV2
Proposing Amendments TO the Constitution of
the commonwealth.
Resolved by the Senate and Iouse of
g the CONFERENCE.-The of Pennsylvania in General Assem-
Diy met That the following amendments are proposed 10
the constitution OF the commonwealth in accordance With
the provisions of the tenth article thereof
mn 49, FIRST AMENDMENT.
ihere snail be an additional article to said constitution
TO be designated as article eleven as follows =
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l. The state may tract debts to supnlv
casual declts or failures in revenues or to meet exnen
ses not otherwise provided for 1.-THE aggregate
OF sueh debts direct and contingent whether contracted
p virtue OF one or more acts of the general assembly, or
at derent periods OF tme shall exceed seven bun
died and fifty Thousand dollars the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied to the
if Whcn IL was obtained, or to the debts
so contracted and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION Z In addition to the above limited power the
ste may contract debts to repel INVASION suppress in
surrecton defend the state in war to deem the pre-
sent outstanding indebtedness of the state but the mo-
ey arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
applied to the purpose for which raised or to re-
pay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION D. Except the debts above specified in sec
lions one and two of this article, debt whatever shall
be created by, or on behalf of the state
SECTION A. 10 provide for the payment of the present
debt and any additional debt contracted aforesaid the
legislature SHALL at its first session. after the adoption of
this amendment create sinking fund, which Shall be
sucent TO pay the accrung interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof y sum not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars which sink
ing fund shall consist of the annual income of the
pube works from time to time owned by the state or
the proceeds OF the sale of the same any part there
Of and OF the income proceeds sale of stocks owned
by the state together with other funds resources that
may be designated by law The said sinking fund NAV be
from time to time by assigning it any part
Ol the taxes or O5r of the state not reGuired
or the ordinary and current expenses Of
unless IN case OF war; invasion nsurrecton no part of
the said sinking fund shall be used or applied otherwise
than In eXtlnguishment of the public dept until the
amount OF such debt is reduced below the of five mil
lions of dollars.
SECTION 5. The credr of the commonwealth shall not
IN any manner or event be pledged loaned to, any
dNdual company corporation, association shall
tile commonwealth hereafter become Joint owner. or
stockhode In any company association, corporation
SECTION o. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt or any part thereof Of any county city boroughO
township or of any corporation or association unless
such debt shall have been contracted to enable the
to repe INVASION suppress domestic instruction defend
ltset Ill time OF war; to assist the state in the discharge
oil any portion of its present Indebtedness.
SECTION 1 The legislature shall not authorize any
county city, borough township Incorporated district
by virtue OF vote of its citizens otherwise become
stockh"ider in any company association or corporation;
tion association, institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said
10 be designated as article All rs follows 81
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting off over
one tenth of its population (eher to form new county
otherwise without the express assent of such county
by vote OF the electors thereof shall any
t be established containing less than four hundred square
miles.
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two OF the first article of the constitution
strike out the words Of the city Of Philadelphia, and of
each county respectively " from section five same article
strike out the words, Of Philadelphia and Of the severai
counties " from section seven same article strike out
the words, neither the city of Philadelphia any,"
and insert in lieu thereof the words and no :" and
insert the following:
"SEcTfoN 4. In the year thousand eight hundred
and and in every seventh year thereafter rep
resentatves TO the number of hundred shall be a
portoned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion to the number of taxable
hlbants IN the several parts thereof except that any
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taXabes, be allowed separate representation but
no more than three counties shall be joined and coun
ty shall be divided in the formation of district Any
city containing sufficient number of taxabIcs to entite
to at least two representatives shall have separate
representation gned it, and shall be divided into
venent districts of contiguous territory of equal taxable
population as near as may be- each OF Which districts shall
elect one representative"
At the end of section seven article insert these
words, the city Of Philadelphia shall be dirided
gle senatorial districts of contiguous territory nearly
equal IN Grat population as possible but ,card shall
be dirided in the formation thereof"
The legislature at its first session. after the adoption
of this amendment, shall divide the city of Phadcp pha
into senatorial and representative districts in the manner
above provided such districts to remain unchanged
Ill the apportOnment in the year thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-four
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section XVI, dTticie I.
The legislature shall have the power alter revoke or
annu charter hereafter conferred
by, under, any special general law, whenever in
their opinion it may he injurious to the citizens of the
commonwealth in such manner, however, that no in
justice shall be done to the corporators.
IL SENATE, April q, 1856.
Resolrod That this resolution pass. On the first amend
ment yeas "a nays ). On the second amendment yeas
TO- nays On the third amendment, yeas IS, nays l.
On the fourth amendment, yeas %, nays 1.
Extract from the journal.
THOMAS A. MAGUIRE, CLERK.
Is HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AprI u 1856.
Rrsoped That this resolution pass. On the first amend
ment yeas ~ nays 2i On the second amendment yeas
G3 nays 25 On the third amendment, yeas Ca nays 25
and on fourth amendment yeas 90, nays l6.
Extract from the Journal. wiz. JACK, Clerk
OFFICE, A:G. CURTIN.
Filed AprH -, 1856. Ssc'y Of the Commonwealth
SECRETARY's OFEICE,
Harrisburg, June %, 1856.
Pennsylvania
correct correct of the original Resolution relative
to an amendment Of the Constitution as the same
mains file in this office.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my
LIS hand and caused TO le affixed the seal of the Sec
reary's Office, the day and year above written
4. G.. CURTIN,
SscrCtrry Of the Commonwealth
Is SENATE, Apra n, 1856
Resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution
Of the Commonwealth, being under consideration,
On the question,
Will the Senate agree to the first amendments
nd taken apreeaby the