Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-23
ESOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMON w EAITu

P EVOLUTION, PROPOSING AMEND
y 4 y MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
oF THE COMMONWEALTH.
ReSotcea, 6v the Senate and Horse of Repres,n
tatt0es Of tire Commonwealth of Pennsvisania IN
General Assembiy met, That the following amend
ents are proposed to the Constitution of the Com
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions O,
the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said con.
stution to be designated as article eleven fol-
lows ARTICLE NI.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS
eEcTIoN l. The state mar contract debts TO sup
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues or ia
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 or at different
periods of time shall never exceed seven hundred
ana nifty thousand dollars, and the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied to
the purpose for which it was obtained or to repay
'he debts so contracted, and to other purpose
whatever
SECTION 3 In addition to the above limited
power the state may contract debts to repel inya.
sion suppress insurrection. defend the state in war
OF N"deem the present outstanding Indebtedness
OF me state but the money arising from the con-
tracing of such debts, shall be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was raised, or to repay such
aeDts and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified in
sections one and two of this article no debt what
ever shall be created by behalf of the state
SECTION A. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
is aforesaid, the Legislature SHALL at its first
sion, after the adoption of this endment create
sinking fund, which shall be sufficient TO paw
the accruing interest on such debt and annually
to reduce the principal thereof by a 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, 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 NAV
be designated by law. The said sinking fund IN ay
be increased from time to time by assigning to
III any part of the taxes, other revenues of the
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 ed applied otherwise than
in cxtinguishment of the public debt until the a.
mount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION D The credit of the commonwealth sha II
not In any manner. event. be pledged, or loaned
to, any individual, company corporation or asso-
claton; nor shall the comm onwealth hereafter be-
come joint owner, or stockholder in any compa-
ny. association. or corporation.
SECTION 4. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt or any part thereof of any county. city.
borough, or township; of any corporation or
assoclaion; unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the state to repel invasion, sup
press domestic insurreeticn 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
thN city, bOTOuSn. township. or lncOrp0ra-
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens
to become stakeholder in any compa-
for its credit to, any corporation, associa
tion: Institution, party.
SECOND AaESDMENr.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
to be designated article Y IL as follows
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by a line cutting off
over one-tenth of its population, either to form
or oth har,r \ with tba
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 AHEADMEyr,
From section two of the first article of the con-
:tiution, strike out the words, 0f tie city Of Phi
'adekt@, F1ta of eac county respectively - from
section five. article, strike out the words :'of
Phtkadetphia and of the sereral counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words.
meither the city of Phikadelphta nor ang,'' and
insert in lieu thereof the words and no - and
strike out section four. same article. and in lieu
thoreof insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hun
ircd and siXty-four, and in every seventh year
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
at least three thousand five hundred
taxables may be allowed separate representa-
ion; but more than three counties shall be
ana no county snail be divided. the Tor
nation of district Any city containing a suhi-
'lent number of taxables to entite it to at least
TWO representatives shall have a separate repre-
'entation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
'fnai taxable population as near may be. each
1f which districts shall elect one representative.
At the end of section same article insert |
hese words Hte city Of Philadelphia shall be d. |
,'aed into single senatorial districts of coMtign
ms territory nearly eyaeaI az taxable population
IS possible 6ut no arars shall be atv,ded in the
formation thereof''
The legislature, at its first session, after the a
ioption of this amendment, shall divide the city
IF Philadelphia into senatorial and representative
iIstricts in the manner above provided such dis
rlets to remain unchanged until the apportion- |
nent in the year one thousand eight hundred and |
1xty -four
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
To be section yXvI, Article I.
The legislature shall have the power to alter |
evoke, or annul. any charter of incorporation |
hereafter conferred by, under, any special or |
general law, whenever in their opinion it may be |
INJURIOUS to the citizens of the commonwealth in |
uch manner, however. that no injustice shall be |
lone to the corporators.
In SENATE, April 81, 1856.
Resolrcd, That this resolution pass On the first |
amendment yeas "a nays s. On the second a. |
nendmcnt, yeas 10, nays6 6. On the third amend |
nent, yeas %. nays l. On the fourth amendment, |
Teas %, nays 4.
Extract from the Journal
THOMAS a. MAGUIRE, Clerk.
In House OF REpREsESTATrvEs.
April 81, 1856.
RESOLVED, That this resolution pass. On the
irst amendment, yeas ~, nays "a On the second
I'm endment. yeas 63, nays 25. On the third amend
nent, yeas "a, nays 25; and on fourth amendment,
yeas 90, nays 16.
Extract from the Journal.
WILLIAM JACK Clerk
sEcRErARYs OFFICE A. G. CURTIN,
Filed April "a, 1866. .Seeretaryof the Common
tceolfh
SEcRETARY's OFFICE.
Harrisburg, June q, 1856.
Pennsylvania,