Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-24
miscellaneous.


RESOLUTION q I
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.
Resoired ty the Sencte and House of Representatives.
Of The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania in GeneTrl As-
emily mel 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 l. The state may contract debts to supply
casual deficits or failures in revenues tn meet eXpen
not otherwise provided for but the aggregate amount
of such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
by virtue Of acts Of the general assembly
at different periods of tme shall hun
dred 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 whateyee.
SECTION 2. In addition to the above limited power the
state may contract debts to repel invasion suppress in
surrection defend the state in to redeem the
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the
ney arising from the contracting of such debts shall be
applied to the purpose for which 1t was raised or to
pay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION g. Except the debts above specified, in sec,
be created by. or Oh behalf of the state.
SECTION T. 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 be
sufficient to pay the accruing interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof By sum not
less than two hundred and fly 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, any part
thereof and of the income proceeds OF sale of stocks
owned by the state together with other funds resou
ces that may be designated by law. The said sinking
fund may be increased, from time to time by assigning
to any part of the taxes other re7enues Of the state
not required for the ordinary and current expenses Of
government and unless in case of war invasion nsur
recton pert of the said sinking fund shall be used
aDDlieu otherwise than eXtinguiShment the public
debt until the amount of such debt is reduced below the
OF five millions of dollars.
SECTION s. The credit of the commonwealth shall not
in any manner event, be pledged loaned to- any
individual, company, corporation association
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
less such debt shall have been contracted to enable the
state to repel INVASION suppress domestic insnrrecon
defend itself in time of war; to assist the state in the
discharge of any portion of its present Indebtedness
SECTION = The legislature shall not authorize any
county city borough township incorporated district,
by virtue of vote OF its citizens, or otherwise to be-
stockholder in any company, association,
poration to obtain money for loan its credit to,
any corporation association institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said constitution
to be designated as article XII, as follows;
ARTICLE XII.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting OFF over
or otherwise 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.
THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the constitution
strike out the words of the city Of Phiiade,a and
of each county respsstircy from section FIVE same ar
tc!e strike out the words of Philadelphia and Of the
sererai counties :; FROM section seven, same article.
strike out the words neither thf city Of Philadelphia
any, ard insert in lieu thereof the words, and
and strike out, section four, article and in lieu
thereof insert the followingi
4" SECTION t. In the year one thGcsald eight hundred
and sxtyour and in every seventh year thereafter rep
resentaves to the number of hundred shall he ap
portioned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion to the number OF taxable in
hahant in the several parts thereof except that any
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taXable may be allowed seperate representation but
than three counties shall be joined and cou
ty shall be divided in the formation of district Amy
city containing sufficient number of taxables TO entte
it to at least two representatives, shall have separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into
venient districts Of contiguous territory OF equal taxa
BILE population may be- each Of which districts
shall elect one representative"
At the end of section seven same article insert these
words the city of Philadelphia shall be drided into sin
equal an tarabe population as possible but no 'card
shall be dirided in TIE formation thereof"
The legislature, at its first session, after the adoption
of this amendment shall divide the city OF Philadelphia
senatorial and representative districts in the
above provided such districts to remain unchanged
until the appointment in the year thousand eight
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional section to the first article
of said constitution which shall be numbered and read
as follows
SECTION 2G The legislature shall have the power to al
ter revoke annu any charter OF incorporation here
after conferred by, under special general law
whenever in their opinion may be injurious 10 the c
of the commonw alth in such manner. however,
that injustice shall be done to the corporators
In SENATE, March q, 1857.
Resoired That this resolution pass. On the first
amendment yeas "a. nays the second amendment
23 nays the third amendment, yeas "a nays
On the fourth amendment, yeas %. nays 1.
Extract from the Journal.]
GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Cie,k.
Is RTE House OF REPRESENTATIVE
April 20, 1857.
Irsoired That this resolution pass: On the first
amendment yeas Is, nays II the second amendment
yeas nays 81 the third amendment, yeas r. NAYS
% the fourth amendment, yeas So nays {:
lExtract from the Journall
JACOB ZIEGLER, Cisrk.
Filed in secretary's cnlce, May 1857.
AIG. CURTIN,
Secretary of the Commonwealth,
SEcRErARY's QFpuE,
HARaIssURu, June 22, 1857
P7nnsyra,id, IS
DO certify that the above and foregoing Is true and
correct copy of the original " Resolution proposing
amendments the Constitution of tho Common wealth. -
with the vote IN each branch of The Legislature upon the
final passage thereof appears from the originals
file in this Office.
In testimony whereof have hereuhto set my
IT, ST. hand and caused TO be affixed the seal Of the
Secrctary's Office, the day and year abote written
4. q. CURTIN
Secretary Of TIE Coras,on,rPthh
IL senate March ~ is57
The resolution proposing amendments TO the Cdnsttu