Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-10
1lisrellQueous.

Proposing Amendments to the Constitution Of
the Commonwealth.

RESoLC u 11oN
Proposing Amendments to the Constitution Of
the Commonwealth.
Resoirsd by the Senate and House Of Representatives.
of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania General As
eabu met That the following amendments are 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 -
OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION /. The state may contract debts to supply
casual deficits failures In revenues TO meet expen
ses otherwise provided for but the aggregate
of such debts direct and contingent whether contracted
by virtue of one or more acts Of the assembly
at different periods OF time shall exceed hum
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 whatevee.
SECTION q In addition to the above limited power the
state may contract debts to epe INVASION suppress in
surrccton defend the state in TO redeem the
sent outstanding Indebtedness of the state but the
ney arising from the contracting such debts shall be
applied to the purpose for which 1t raised to
pay such debts, and to no other purpose whatever
SECTION s. Except the debts above specified, in sec.
tions 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 additional debt contracted as 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 resour
that may be designated by law The said sinking
fund may be increased from time to time, by assigning
to it any part of the taxes other of the state
not required for the ordinary and current expenses Of
government and unless in of invasion or sur
recton pert of the said sinking fund shall be used
applied otherwise than in eXtingushment of the public
debt until the amount of such debt is reduced below the
sum of five millions of dollars.
SECTION S. The credit of the commonwealth shall not
in any manner event. be pledged or loaned to, any
Individual, company corporation. or association nor
shall the commonwealth hereafter become joint owner
soekholder in any company association or corpora
tOn.
SECTION 6. The commonwealth shall not the
debt any part thereof of any county, city borough
township or of any corporation. or association un
less such debt shall have been contracted to enable the
state to repe INVASION suppress domestic insurrection
defend itself in time of war; or to assist the state In the
discharge Of portion Of its present Indebtedness
SECTION Z. The legislature shall not authorize any
county, city, borough township orncorporated district
by virtue of vote of its citizens otherwise, to be-
come a stockholder in any company association OF cor
poraon to obtain money for. or loan its credit to-
any corporation, association institution, or party
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be additional article TO ssd constitution
to be designated as article Xll as follows:
ARTICLE XII.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by line cutting of over
netenth of its population (either form county
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 the words, OF the city of Phiiadeida. and
of each county respectively :" from section five same ar
tcle strike out the words Of Philadelphia and Of The
seUerGl counties )" from section seven same article
strike out the words. neither The city of Phaadepha
any, and insert i'll lieu thereofthe words and no )"
and strike out section Jour same article, and in lieu
thereof insert the following:
SECTION 4. In the year thocsand eight hundred
and sxtyour and in every seventh year thereafter rep
resentatves to the number of one hundred shall be ap
portioned and distributed equally throughout the state
by districts in proportion to the number Of taxable in
habants in the several parts thereof except that
county containing at least three thousand five hundred
taxables may be allowed seperate representation but
more than three counties shall be joined and no coun
ty shall be divided in the formation of district ANY
city containing sufficient number Of taxabes TO entte
1t to Mt least two representatives. shall nave separate
representation assigned it, and shall be divided into con-
vcnient districts of contiguous territory Of equal taxa
BILE population as near as may be- each OF which districts
shall elect representative"
At the end OF section seven same article insert these
words the city Of Philadelphia shall be drided into
gle senatorial DISTRICTS of territory nearly
equal IN tarabe population possible but ,rard
shall be dirided in the formation thereof"
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
above provided such districts to remain unchanged
until the apportionment in the year one thousand eight
hundred and sixtyfour.
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 or under any special or general law
whenever in their opinion II may be Injurious to the c
of the commonw' alth in such manner however
that injustice shall be done to the corporators.
IL SENATE, March 21, 1857
Resolred. That this resolution pass: On the first
amendment, yeas "a, nays the second amendment
yeas %, nays the third amendment yeas - nays
on the fourth amendment, yeas %, nays 4:
Extract from the Journal.l
GEO. w. HAMERSLYi Clerk.
IL TIE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Resoired That this resolution pass On the first
amendment yeas Is, nays IL the second amendment
yeas ST. nays 81 the third amendment yeas ~ nays
% on the fourth amendment yeas SO, nays z.
(Extract from the Jourpal.l
JACOB zIEGLEf, Clt,k.
A.G. CURTIN,
Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
SEcRETARY's OFrfcE,
HARRIsBCRG, June -, 1857.
Pennsylvania. IS:
do certify that the aiote and foregoing is true and
correct copy of the original " Resolution proposing
amendments to the Constitution of tie CoJnonw eah
with the vote in each branch of the Legislature upon the
final passage thereof as appears from the originals on
file in this Office.
In testimony whereof hate hereunto set my
L.. 81 hand and caused to be affixed the seal Of the
Secretarys Office, the day and year above written.
\. G. CURTIN,
Secretary Of The Commonwealth.
....-.. ... IN SENATE, March q, 1857.
The resolution proposing amendments to the Constitu
ton of the Commonwealth being under consideration,
On the question: ...
VIII tbo Sauata ooran IN tho first