The Democratic advocate., 1905-09-09
CHAPTER 81.

AN ACT 10 amend Section "a Of Article Of
the Constitution Of this State.
SEcrlox /. Be IL enacted by the General
Assembly Of Maryland three tifihs Of all the
members Of the two Houses cOncnrring) J,
That the following section he and the same is
hereby proposed as an amendment to the
Constitution OF this State. and If adopted hy
the legal and qualified voters thereof. as herein
provided, il shall supersede and stand in the
place and stead of Section "a Of Article Of
said Constitution.
SEcTIos "a. No debt shall be hereafter
contracted by the General Assembly unless
such debt shall be authorized by law pro-
yiditsg for the collection of an annual tax or
taxes sufficient TO pay the interest on such
debt as il falls due, and also 10 discharge the
principal thereof within fifteen years from the
tune OF contracting the same, and the taxes
laid for this purpose shall not be repealed or
applied 10 any other object until the said debt
and interest thereon shall be fully discharged.
The credit of the State shall not IN any manner
be given or loaned TO, or ia aid of any indI-
vidual, association or corporations; nor shall
the General Assembly have the power in any
mode TO involve the State in the construction
of works of internal improvement, nor in
granting any aid thereto which shall involve
the faith or credit of the State; nor make any
appropriation therefor, except IN aid OF the
construction of works of internal improvement
in the counties of st. Mary's, Charles and
Calvert, which had no direct advantage from
sucb works as have been heretofore aided by
the State; and provided that such aid, advances
or appropriations shall not exceed in the az
gregate the sum Of kye hundred thousand dol
lars, and they shall not use or appropriate the
proceeds of the internal improvement compa-
II .eak
may hereafter be levied TO pay off the public
debt, TO any other purpose until the interest
and debt are fully paid, or the sinking fund
shall be equal TO the amount of the outstanding
debt; but the General Assembly may, without
LAYING a tax, borrow an amount never to ex-
ceed fifty thousand dollars 10 meet temporary
deficiencies in the treasury, aud may contract
debts TO any amount that may be necessary
for the defense of the State.
But nothing in this section or in this Con-
stitution contained shall deprive the General
Assembly of the power to apportlon amongst
and TO appropriate to the city of Baltimore and
the several counties of the State out OF any
funds 10 the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, sum of money not exceeding four
hundred thousand dollars each year, TO be
expended only in the construction and main
tenance of public roads and highways under
aud in accordance with such regulations as
the General Assembly may from time to time
prescribe.
SEcTIOs 2 And be ii further enacted by
the authority aforesaid, That the aforegoing
section hereby proposed as an amendment to
the Constitution shall be, at the next general
election held in this State, submitted to the
legal and qualified voters thereof for their
adoption or rejection, in pursuance of the di-
rections contained in Article IA Of the Con.
stitution Of this State. aud at the said general
election the vote on said proposed amendment
TO the Constitution shall be by ballot, and
upon each ballot shall be printed the words
'fFor Constitutional Amendment and
nAgainst Constitutional Amendment. as
now prescribed by law, and Immediately after
said election due return shall be made to the
Governor of the vote for and against said pro-
posed amendment, as directed by the said
fourteenth article of the Constitution.
Th;s IA IN carfify that this anOrnssad docu-