Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-10-14
BY AUTHORITY.
DESOLUTIoN PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

He MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH
| Resokred, 6y tte Senate and House of Reyrese1-
tatiUes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
General assembly niet: That the following amend
ments proposed to the constitution of the com
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions of
| the tenth article thereof.
| FIRST AMENDMENT
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution to be designated article eleven, fol-
| lows
ARTICLE NJ.
| OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l. The State may contract debts, to sup
| ply casual deficits failures in revenues, or to
meet expenses not otherwise provided for; but
the aggregate amount of such debts direct and con-
| tingent, whether contracted by virtue of one or
more acts of the general assembly, 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
to the purpose for which il obtained, to re-
pay the debts contracted, and to no other pur-
| pose whatever
SECTION 3 In addition to the above limited pow
er the State may contract debts to repel invasion.
suppress instruction, defend the State in war, or
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
| the State; but the money arising from the con-
tracting of such debts, shall be applied to the pur
pose for which it raised, to repay such
debts, and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified, in
sections and two of this article, debt what
ever shall be created by, behalf of the State.
SECTION 4 To provide for the payment of the
present debt and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid the Legislature shall at its first ses-
sion, after the adoption of this amendment create
sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the
accruing interest on such debt, and annually to
| reduce the principal thereof by 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
ed by the State, the proceeds of the sale of the
/ same, or any part thereof, and of the income or
| uroaep1- of sale nf stoeES owned hy fhe to-
gethcr with other funds, resources, that may be
! designated by law. The said sinking fund ma V be
| increased, from time to time, by assigning to it
| any part OF the taxes, or other revenues of the
State, not required for thS ordinary and current
expenses of government and unless in of war,
invasion insurrection, part of the said sink
| ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
| in extinguishment of the public debt, until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
| SECTION 5. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, or event, ne pledged or
loaned to, any individual, company, corporation,
or association; nor shall the commonwealth here
after become joint owner, or stakeholder, in any
company, association, or corporation.
| SECTION d. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, or any part thereof, of any county, city,
borough, or township; of any corporation or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
traeted to enable the State to repe invasion, sup
press domestic insurrectOn, defend itself in time
of war, to assist the State in the discharge of
| any portion of its present Indebtedness
| SECTION Z. The legislature shall not authorize
any county, city, borough, township, or incorpora-
ted district, by virtue of vote of its citizens.
| otherwise, to become stakeholder in any compa-
n.y. association, Incorporation; or to obtain money
for, or loan its credit to, any corporation, assoca-
| tion, institution, or party.
| SECOND AMENDMENT.
| There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitutOn, to be designated article MI, fol-
! lows
| ARTICLE MI.
| OF NEW COUNTIES.
| No Sha all ha dad bv linn cu4ti of'
over one-tenth of its population, either to form
| new county or otherwise) without the express
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
| OF; nor shall any county be established,
| tanning less than four hundred square miles
THIRD AMENDMENT
From section two of the first article of the con-
Stitut9n strike out the words, of hse city Of PHI
Lgaet1ia, G1iG Of egct county respectirely;" from
section five, article, strike out the words, 20
Eh1LaaekI1iG and Of the Sererat counties - from
section seven, same article, strike out the words
insert in lieu thereof the words, 'aAH - and
strike out section four. 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 wear
thereafter representatives to the number of one
hundred. shall be apportioncd and distributed
equally, throughout the state. by districts in pro-
portion to the number of taxable inhab abitants in
the several parts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxables, may be allowed Il separate representa-
tion; but more than three counties shall be
joined and no county shall be divided, in the for
nation of a district Any city containing suffi-
clent mum Der of taXables to entite it to at least
two representatives, shall have n separate repre-
sentaton assigned it. and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory of
equal taxable population as near as may be. each
of which districts shall elect one Representatives
AT the end of section seven. article. insert
these words, 'Hts city of Phik13ephja snail be af-
rtea INTO single senatorial districts Of co5ftio-
o"s territory rs nearly eqhat IN ta1zbLe popuKtion
as 1'osSt6le; BIT Ao ac4y1i shaH be dict4e4 IN tile
formation thereoE''
The Legislature, at its first session. after the a.
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-
ment IN the year one thousand ight hundred and
sixty four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT
There shall be additional section to the first
article of said constitution, which shall be num-
bered and read rs follows:
SECTION 20. The legislature shall have the pow-
er to alter, revoke. annul any charter of incor-
poration hereafter conferred by or under, any
special, or general law, whenever in their opinion
1t may be injurious to the citizens of the common
wealth IN such manner, however, that no irius-
lice shall be done to the corporators
II SENATE. March 81, 1857
hesofcea, That this resolution pass. On the
hrst amendment, yeas a, nays on the second
amendment, yeas %, nays S; on the third amend
ment, yeas "a, nays A. on the fourth am mendment
yeas %, nays 1.
Extract from the Journal
GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Clerk
IL THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April 90, 1857.
neSofrea' lhat this resolution pass. On the