Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-29
BY AUTHORITY.
EsoLUTION PROPOSING AMEND
HI MENTS TO THE CONSTITu IIoN
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

IL
Resofred 6y the Senate and Horse Of Represe,t-
trti,.es of the Commonwealth Of PeR1isyfcaRfa, "a
GeBerR assembly met: That the following amend
mcnts are proposed TO the constitution OF the CON-
monwealth, in accordance with the provisions OF
the tenth article thereof
FIRST AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stituon to be designated as article eleven, as fol-
lows -
ARTICLE xI.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION / 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-
tngent 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 it was obtained. to
pay the debts SO contracted, and to no other pur-
pose al sf#akened n % n. .hovo ,;m;sod now-
er the State may contract debts to repel invasion.
suppress nsurrection, defend the State in war, or
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
the 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
debts and to other purpose whatever.
SECTION 3. Except the debts above specified in
sections and two of this article, no debt what
shall be created by, on behalf of the State.
SECTION A. To provide for the payment of tho
present debt and any additional debt contracted
aforesaid the legislature SHALL at its first
sion after the adoption of this amendm t. create
a sinking fund. which shall be sufficient to pay the
aecruing interest such debt, and annually to
reduce the principal thereof by a 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, any part thereof, and OF the income or
proceeds of sale of stocks owned by the State to-
gethcr with other funds, or resources that may be
designated by law. The said sinking fund may be
increased. from time 70 time, by assigning 10 it
any part of the taxes, or other revenues of the
State, not required for thc ordinary and current
expenses of government and unless in of
invasion or insurrcction 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 D. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, or event, be pledged, or
loaned to- any individual company, corporation,
or association; nor shall the commonwealth here
after become joint owner, stockhoder, in any
company, association or corporation.
SECTION g. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof, of any county, city,
borough. or township; of any corporation, or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tractcd to enable the State TO repcl Invasion sup
press domestic insurrection, defend itself in time
of war; or 20 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, ineorpora-
ted district by virtue of vote of its citizens,
otherwise, to become stockholder in any compa-
ny. association, corporation or to obtain money
for or loan its credit to. any corporation assoeia
tion, institution. or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
stitution, be designated as article NII, as fol
lows =
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting of
over one-tenth of its population, either to form
tbo,Yt
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
of; shall any county be established, con
tanning less than four hundred square miles. .
TuIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the con
stitution strike ont the words 'oftte city Of Pm
kaaefpta, Izla of each cOs,1Sty respeettceky; from
section five same article strike out the words. oj
PhiLadekplti0 aaL o. tire seUera eoss7ltfes - from
section seven. same article, strike out the words
..1tettker hs city of PhiLadetphta nor any. and
| insert in lieu thereof the words, 'a51d no - and
strike out section four: same article and IN lieu
| thereof insert the following
SECTION 4. In the year one thousand eight hun
| dred and sixty-four and in every seventh yeal
thereafter, representatives to the number of ono
hundred, shall be apportioned and distributed
equally throug hout the state by districts. IN pro
portion to the number of taxable inhabitants il
the several parts thereof; except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred
| taxables. may be allowed separate representa-
| ton; but more than three counties shall b'
joined and county shall he divided, in the for
| nation of district. Any city containing n suil
cient number of taxables to entitle it to at leas
two representatives. shall have separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided int
| convenient districts of contiguous territory. o
/ equal taxable population near as may be, eaei
of which districts shall elect one representative.
At the end of section seven. same article. lnseT
these words, ''the city Of PhtLaetpfta s1tt be az
oited into single senatorial districts, Of cOmtg"
territory Ret5fY eYScak tR taTQ6te Por"tatto'
| as possible; Gut sc6T1 StGlE be dtct0ed IN M
| formation Mereof."
| The legislature. at its FIRST session. after the
| 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 eight hundred ans
! sixty y-four. -
| There shall be an additional section to the frs
article of said constitution. which shall be mum
bered and read follows:
SECTION 26. The legislature shall have the pow
er to alter, revoke. annul any charter OF lneor
| poration hereafter conferred by, or under. an
! special, general law whenever in their opinion
it may be injurious to the citiZenso of the common
wealth in such manner, however, that no irJus
tice shall be done to the corporators
In SENATE. March 81, 1857.
| RcsoIued, That this resolution pass On th'
| first anne endment, yeas "a. nays z on the secont
amendment, yeas %, nays s; on the third amend
ment, yeas "a, nays 4 ON the fourth amendment
| yeas 23, nays4.
! Extract from the Journal
| GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Cfeyk.
| II THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
| April 30. 1857
! ResoLrsg That this resolution pass. On th
! first amendment, yeas rs, nays -; on the second
/ amendment, yeas 81, nays 81 the third amend
! ment. yeas a. nays %; on the fourth amendment
! yeas So, nays Z.
Extract from the Journal
| JACOB ZEIGLER, Clerk.
Filed in the Secretary's office, May 2, 1857.
| A. G CURTIN,
Secretary of tie Commonwealth,
SEcRErARY's OFFICE,
HARRISBURG, June %, 1857.