Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-23
miscellaneous.
+ RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.


Proposing Amendments to the Constitution OF
the Commonwealth.
Resolved by The Senate and House of Represetatires
OF the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General As
senby met That the following amendments propos
ed to the constitution of the commonwealth in accor
dance with the provisions of the tenth article thereof
FIRST AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said constitution
to be designated as article eleven, as follows
ARTICLE XI.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION ]. The state may contract debts, to supply
casual deficits failures in revenues to meet eXpen
ses not otherwise provided for but the aggregate
OF such debts direct and contingent whether contcted
by virtue of acts OF the general assembly
at different periods of time shall exceed hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars and the money arising
from the creation of such debts shall be applied to the
purpose for which ii obtained to repay the debts
so contracted and to no other purpose whatevee.
SECTION 2 In addition to the above limited power the
state may contract debts to repel INVASION suppress in
surrecon, defend the state in redeem the pre-
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the mo-
ncy arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
applied the purpose for which it was raised or to re
pay such debts and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
tions one and two of this article debt whatever shall
be created by, or on behalf of the state.
SECTION A. To 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 he
sufficient to pay the accrung interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof by not
less than two hundred and fv thousand dollars which
sinking fund shall consist OF the net annual income OF
the public works, from time TO time owned by the
the proceeds of the sale of the same any part
thereof and of the income proceeds of sale OF stocks
owned by the state together with other funds
that may be designated by law. The said sinking
fund may be increased from time to time by assigning
to II part OF the taxes other OF the state
not required for the ordinary and current expenses OF
government and unless in Of war invasion sur
rection pert of the said sinking fund shall be used
applied otherwise than in exnguishment of the public
debt until the amount of such debt reduced below the
sum OF five millions of dollars.
SECTION D. The credit of the commonwealth shall not
in any manner event be pledged, loaned to, any
individual, company, corporation association noI
shall the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner
or stockhoder in any company, association, or corpora
ton.
SECTION g. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt any part thereof OF any county city, borough
or township of any cOrporation association un
less such debt Shall have been contracted to enable the
state to repe! INVASION suppress domestic nsurrecton
defend itself in time Of war; to assist the state in the
discharge OF any portion OF Its present Indebtedness
SECTION T. The Legislature shall not authorize any
county, city borough, township, orincorporaed district
by virtue Oi vote of its citizens otherwise, TO be-
come stockholier any company association,
poration or 70 obtain money tor or loan its credit TO-
any corporation, association, Institution, or party.
sECO.,D AMENDMENT
There shall De addt5a article to said constitution
to be designated as article Nj, as follows:
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall bc Divided by line cutting Off over
onecnth OF its population, (ether to form county
otherwi-e) without the express assent of such coun
ty by vote of the electors thereof shall any
county be established containing less than four hundred
square miles.
From section two OF the first article Of the constitution
strike cut the words of the city Of Phadeldhta, and
ticle strike out the words Of Philadelphia and Of the
serera counties - from section seveA same article
strike ont the words, " neither the city of Phad1ePhd
aay and insert in lieu thereof the words and no
and strike out, section four, article, and in lieu
thereof insert the following:
.SacT1oN T. In the year one thocsand eight hundred
-fyt,- apli flor
rcsentatives to the number of hundred, shall be ap
poroned and distributed equally, throughout the state
v districts in proportion to the number of taxable in
haDtlnt in the several parts thereof except that any
cOunty containing at least three thousand five hundred
;axabe7, may be allowed seperate representation but
no more than three counties shall be joined and
ty shall be divided in the formation of district Any
city containing sufficient number of taXabcs to cnltle
it to at least two representatives. shall have separate
representation asst ned it, and shall he divided into con-
venent districts contiguous territory, Of equal taxa
Die population may be- each Of which districts
shall elect o.c representatives,
At the end Of section seven same article, insert these
words the c5ty Of PhIate,phia stall be drided into SIN
gle senatorial districts Of cont iSuOus territory nearly
eYu1 t1rable population possible JCd no 'caTd
| shM be diridcd IN the formation Hcrecf."
The legislature, at its first session, after the adoption
OF this amendment shall divide the city of Philadelphia
into senatorial and representative districts in the man
tb provided such districts to remain unchanged
lutil the appcrtioncnt in the year thousand eight
| hundred and siXty-oar.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional section to the first article
IF said Constitution which shall be numbered aud reat
| l. follows
SEcrIoN 90 The legislature shall have the power to al
ter revoke anuu any charter of incorporation here
conferred by, under any special general law
whenever in their opinion it may be injurious to the citi
zens Of the c0mmonw ath in such manner. however
hat no injustice shall be done the corporators.
IL SENATE, March %, 1857.
Resclred That this resolution pass. On the frs
! amendment yeas &4 nay, on the second amendment
yeas 23 Lays on the third amendment, yeas u, nays
| / on the .oarth amendment yeas %, nays 1.
| Extract from the Journal
GEO ". UAMERSLY, Clerk.