Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-08
nliseellaneous.
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.

RESOLUTION
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of
the Commonwealth.
Resored bu the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Genervi As
emily That the following amendments propos
ed 10 the constitution of the commonwealth. in accor
dance with the provisions of the tenth article thereof
FIRST AMENDMENT. .t
There shall be additional article said constitution
to be designated rs article eleven, as follows
ARTICLE XT.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION l. The state may contract debts, to supply
casual deficits failures in revenues or to meet eXpe
not otherwise provided for butthe aggregate amount
of such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
by virtue OF acts OF the general assembly
at different periods of time shall never exceed seven hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars and the money arising
from the creation of such debts, shall he applied the
purpose for which it obtained to repay the debts
contracted, and to no other purpose wllatevee
SECTION p In addition to the above limited power the
state may contract debts repel invasion suppress in
surrecon defend the state in war, to redeem the pre-
sent outstanding Indebtedness OF the state but the
ney arising from the contracting of such debts shall
applied to the purpose for which it was raised to
pay such debts. and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION g. Except the debts above specified in Sec
tiuns and two of this article debt whatever shall
be created by, 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
his amendment. create sinking fund.- which shall he
sufficient to pay the aecming interest such debt and
annually to reduce the principal thereof by sum
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
owned by the state, together with other funds
ccs. 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 Of the state
not required for the ordary and current expenses of
government and unless in of war invasion sir
rection pert of the said sinking fund shall be used
applied otherwise than in eXtinguishment of the public
debt until the such debt reduced below the
of live millions of dollars.
SECTION 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 sockholder in any company association or corpora
ton.
SECTION C. The commonwealth shall not assume the
debt or any part thereof, of any county city borough,
or township or OF corporation or association
less such debt shall have been contracted to enable the
state 10 repe Invasion, suppress domestic insurrecon,
defend itself in time of war 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
stOckholder in any company, association.
poraton or to obtain money for or loan its credit to-
any corporation, association institution, party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article to said constitution
to be designated as article XII, as follows:
ARTICLENII.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting of
oneenth of its population, tether TO form county
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 Phiadedha and
Of each county reSgestireiY " from section five same ar
ticc, strike out the words Of Phlcdetpkir and of the
SecerGi counties : from section seven, article
strike out the words neither Tie city of Philadelphia
dng and insert Ill lieu there0fthe words, and ;
and strike ont section four GTticie and in lien
thereof insert the following:
SECTION 1. In the year thOcSaud eight hundred
and siXtyour and in every seventh thereafter rep
resentatvcs the number of hundred shall be APP
poroned and distributed equally throughout the state
by Districts IN proportion to the number o taxable III
hatants in the several parts thereof except that
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxabes may he allowed cperate representation but
than three counties shall be joined and
ty shall be divided. in the formation of a district Any
city containing sufficient number Of taXables to ente
it at least two representatives, shall have separate
representation assigned it. and sl be divided into
veen districts Of contiguous territory, of equal taxa
bic population near may be- each Of which districts
shall elect oae representative
At the end of section sytn same article insert these
words. the city Of Philadeitia shall be drided into sin
gle senatorial districts of cont ieI.0sS territory as eary
equal IN t1rab!e population possible but tcard
shaI be dtr,dea IN tie formation Me'ect'
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
above provided such districts to remain unchanged
until The apportonmcnt 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
follows
SECTION &C. The legislature shall have the power to al
ter revoke annu any charter of incorporation here
after conferred by. under any special general law,
whenever in their opinion may be injurious the cit
zens Of the comrlonw alth in such manner however,
that no injustice shall be done to the corp0rators.
IL SENATE, March -. 1857
Reso'red, That this resolution pass. On the first
amendment yeas 81, nays the second amendment,
yeas 23 nays the third amendment yeas "a, nays
IEXtract from the Journal
GEO. W. HAAfERSLY, Clerk.
II THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April 30 1857.
Reso'rsd, That this resolution pass. On the first
amendment yeas Is, nays II the second amendment
yeas 81 nays 81 the third amendment, yeas - nays
- on the fourth amendment yeas ~, NAYS {.
Extract from the Journal
JACOB HIEGLER, Clerk.
Filed in Secretary's Office, May ., 1857.
A.G. CURTIN.
Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
SECRETARY's OFFICE
HARRISBURG, June 22, 1857.
Pennsy syirdniG.
do certify that the above and foregoing il true and
copy of the original Resolution proposing
amendments to the Constitution of tire Commonwealth
with the in each branch of the Legislature upon the
final passage thereof appears from the originals
file in this Office.
IN testimony whereof have hereunto set my
s. hand and caused to he affixed the seal of the