Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-10-07
BY AUTHORITN \
ID ESOLUTION PROPOSING AMEND
~ MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COMMONWEALTH

~ MENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF TIE COMMONWEALTH
Resofrcd, 5V the Se,sgte a7,f Ho,ss of Rcpresea-
| tGtfreS Of The Commonwealth Of PeaRsvIrlRf,l. fyt
General ASScBtJfV met: That the following amend
ments are proposed To the constitution of the com
monweath, in accordance with the provisions of
| the tenth article thereof.
FIRST AMENDMENT
| There shall be additional article TO said con
stution to be designated as article eleven as fol-
! lows
| ARTICLE Al.
OF PUBLIC DEBTS
SECTION I. The State NAV contract debts to sup-
ply casual deficits or failures in revenues or to
meet expenses not otherwise provided for; but
the aggregate amount of such debts direct and con-
ungent. 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
10 the purpose for which il obtained, to
pay the debts so contracted: and 20 no other pur-
pose whatever.
SECTION ? In addition TO the above limited pow
cr, the State may contract debts to repel invasion
suppress nsurrection, defend the Stale in war, or
to redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
the state; but the money arising from the
tracing of such debts shall be applied to the pur-
pose for which it was raised, to repay such
debts. and to no other purpose whatever.
SECTION J. Except the debts above specified, in
sections and two of this article, debt what
shall be created by. on behalf of the State
SECTION 4 To provide for the payment of the
present ucbl, anu any aIulliOnaI ucbt contracted
aforesaid, the legislature shall at its first ses-
sion. after the adoption of this amendment create
a sinking fund which shall be sufficient TO pay the
accruing interest on such debt, and annually to
reduce the principal thereof by not less
than two hundred and fifty thousand dollaTs:
which sinking fund shall consist of the net annual
income of the public works, from time to time own
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. resources, 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, or other revenues of the
State, not required for the ordinary and current
expenses of government, and unless in of war.
invasion or insuTTcetion part of the said sink
ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
in extnguishment of the public debt until the
amount of such debt is reduced below the sum of
five millions of dollars.
SECTION ,. The credit of the commonwealth
shall not in any manner, or event, De 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 o. The commOnwea ealth shall not assume
the debt or any part thereof. of any county, city,
borough. or township: or of any corporation. or
association unless such debt shall have been
tracted to enable the State repcl INVASION sup
press domestic insurrcction, 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, ineorpora-
ted district. by virtue OF vote OF Its citizens.
otherwise. to become a stakeholder in any compa-
NY. association corporation obtain money
for or loan its credit to, any corporation assoeia
ton, institution or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT
There shall be additional article to said con
stitution, to be designated article XII, fol-
lows -
ARTICLE MI.
OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by a line cutting off
over onc-tenth of its population. ;either To form
new county or othcrwise.l without the express as
sent of such county by vote of the electors there
of; nor shall any new county be established, con-
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
THIRD AMENDMENT
From section two of the first article of the cen
stitution, strike out the words, ''9tte city o PHI
L5Lepei1, os5td Of ezCh county respectfully; from
section five article strike out the words -of
Phth2!eptIG 0Md o tie NsCerat counties; - from
section seven, same article strike out the words.
''IIchtheT the city Of PAtLHfaptE6 nor any. and
insert in lieu thereof the words. 'asil :; and
strike out section four same article, and in lieu
thOreof insert the following:
SECTION t. In the year one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-four. and in every seventh year
thereafter, representatives TO the number of one
hundred, shall be appOrtioncd and distributed |
equally throughout the state. by districts. in pro-
portion 10 the number of taxable inhabitants in |
the several parts thereof: except that any county
containing at least three thousand five hundred |
taxables, may be allowed a separate representa- |
ton; but no more than three counties shall be |
Joined. and county shall be divided. in the for
nation of district. ANY city containing sufi- |
cient number of taxab!cS to eattle it 10 at least
two representatives. shall have a separate repre-
sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory, of
equal taxao}e population may be- each |
of which districts shall elect one Representative. |
At the end of section seven, article insert |
these words 'tBe city Of Phii1detphia SaH he III
Utlea into single SeHutoriUk dSStricfs. Of cOntign
territory Hearty cy,tat tarahie popnlgtioH
aS loSstbte bat orsrd ss1H be diUtdet IN the |
formntioH Herc0f"
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 eight hundred and |
sixty-tour.
FOURTH AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional section 10 the first |
article of said constitution. which shall be mum
bercd and read follows:
SECTION 26 The legislature shall have the pow
er 10 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 irjus- |
tice shall be done to the corporators.
II SENATE. March 81, 1887.
ReS0iUed, That this resolution pass. On the |
first amendment, yeas "a, nays 4 on the second |
amendment, yeas % nays s on the third amend |
ment, yeas Il, nays i on the fourth amendment, |
yeas 23 naysi.
Extract from the Journal
GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Ckerk.
IS THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
April %. 1887.
Resoiped, That this resolution pass On the |
first amendment. yeas as, nays IL on the second |
amendment, yeas57, nays 81 on the third amend !
ment. yeas ~ nays %; on the fourth amendment |