Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-09-23
BY AUTHORITY.
H ESOLUTION PROPOSING AMEND
u MENIS To THE CONSTITUTION
II FL L CON IIIl Y ii.'EEI

/ Resolcci bU tsc Senate ollA House Of Reprrse1s-
tfttUes al tire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania az
t5eRerR -isseDs5fg mcs That the following amond-
mentS proposed to the constitution OF the com
monweallh, 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-
| ARTICLE VI.
! OF PUBLIC DEBTS.
SECTION ]. The State may 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 directand con-
| tingent, whether contracted by virtne of one or
more acts of the general assembly, or at different
periods of time. shall never exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, aud the money arising
! from the creation of such debts. shall be applied
| to the purpose for which il obtained, or to re-
pay the debts contracted and to no other pur-
| pose whatever.
SECTION . In addition to the above limited pow
er the State may contract debts TO repcl invasion
suppress insurrection, defend the State in
TO redeem the present outstanding Indebtedness of
| the State but the money arising from the con-
tracing of such debts, shall he applied to the pur
pose for which it was raised, or TO repay such
debts, and to other purpose whatever.
| SECTION ,. Except the debts above specified in
sections and two of this article, debt what
ever shall be created by, behalf of the State
| SECTION A. To provide for the payment of the
present debt, and any additional debt contracted
as aforesaid, the legislature shall, at its first
sion, after the adoption of this amendment create
sinking fund, which shall be sufficient to pay the
aecruing interest on such debt, and annually to
reduce the principal thereof by 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 own
ed by the State the proceeds of the sale of the
| same, or 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, other revenues of the
! State, not required for III: ordinary and current
expenses of government and unless in case of war,
invasion insurrectiOn, no part of the said sink
| ing fund shall be used or applied otherwise than
in cxtinguishment 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, oe pledged, or
| loaned to. any individual, company, corporation,
| or association; nor shall the commonwealth here
after become n joint owner, stakeholder in any
company, association, or corporation.
SECTION =. The commonwealth shall not assume
the debt, any part thereof. of any county city,
! borough. or township: or of any corporation. or
association unless such debt shall have been con-
tracted to enable the State to repel invasion, sup
press domestic insurrecton. defend itself in time
| of war, 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 stockholder in any compa-
ny, association, Incorporation; or to obtain eney
for loan its credit to, any corporation, associa
ton, institution, or party.
SECOND AMENDMENT.
There shall be an additional article to said con-
sitution, to be designated article MI, US fol-
| lows =
| ARTICLE MI.
! OF NEW COUNTIES.
No county shall be divided by lue cutting off
over One-tenth of its population, either to form
new county or otheTwise,) without the express as
sent of such county, by vote of the electors there
| shall county be eStabll led, con
tanning less than four hundred square miles.
| THIRD AMENDMENT.
From section two of the first article of the con-
stuuon, strike out the words, 'Of The ctty 0f Pm
iadetptt0, aatd of eGch county reSpcct Uefy; from
section five, article strike out the words, of
| PhiiJielphfG and Of TIE sFUeTaL c0naties;T from
| section seven, article, strike out the words
| ..ncither tie city Of PhitadeiphIG nor any and
| insert in lieu thereof the words, amt no - and
! strike out section four. same article, and IN lieu
| thOrcof insert the following:
| SECTION 4. 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 apportonH and distributed
equally, throughout the state. by districts in pro
! portion to 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 n separate representa-
ton; but no more than three counties shall be
joined and no county shall be divided, in the for
nation of district Any city containing sufi-
cicnt bcr of taxablcs to entitle 1t to at least
two representatives, shall have separate repre-
| sentation assigned it, and shall be divided into
convenient districts of contiguous territory of
] equal taxable population may be. each
of which districts shall elect one representative
At the end Of section seven, same article, insert
these words, "tke city Of Philadelphia shall be d.
Uted into single SeGtoriaL districts, Of coHtIgSe
os territory nearly e4ial "a ta5t6te popHiaioH
as possible; bit no arara sAaH be diclded tm The
| formation heyeOf.'
| The legislature at its first session. after the a
| doption of this amendment shall divide the city
of phiadelphia 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-four.
FOURTH AMENDMENT
| There shall be additional section to the first
| article of said constitution, which shall be num-
| bcred and read follows
| SECTION 20. The legislature shall have the pow
| 10 alter. revoke annul any charter of incor-
poration hereafter conferred by, under, any
special general law, whenever in their opinion
ii may be injurious to the citizens OF the common
ealth in such manner, however, that no irjus
| tice shall be done to the corporators.
| IL SENATE March 81, 1857.
| ResoYred, That this resolution pass. On the
| first amendment, yeas 81, nays Z on the second
| amendment yeas %, nays s on the third amend
ment, yeas a, nays 4; on the fourth amendment
| yeas %, nays 4.
Extract from the Journal.
| GEO. W. HAMERSLY, Clerk
/ Is THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
April 20, 1857.
ResoIred, That this resolution pass On the
first amendment, yeas rs, nays II on the second
ment yeas 72, nays %; on the fourth amendment
yeas So, nays z.
Extract from the Journal
| JACOB ZEIGLER, Clerk
| Filed in the Secretary Office, May ,, 1857.
| A G CURTIN,
| Secretary of the Commonwealth