The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-07-30
TO AMEND CONSTITUTION.
What the Voters Will Decide Upon at the
Fall Election.

Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Robert McAfee, Esq.
is sending out copies of the propos
ed amendments to the State Consti-
tuition, which must be voted for at
the fall election, and for the edi6ca-
ton of OUR readers we herewith
append memorandum of the same:
Amendment No. I. Providing
for the consolidation of the courts
of Common Pleas of Philadelphia
and Allegheny counties, and to give
the General Assembly power to
establish separate court in Phila-
delphia county with criminal and
miscellaneous jurisdiction.
No. 2. Proposes an amendment
to the Constitution allowing coun-
ties, cities, boroughs, townships,
school districts, or other municipal
or incorporated districts to increase
their Indebtedness, never to exceed
ten per cent. upon the assessed
value of the taxable property
therein.
No. 3. Designating the manner
in which the Governor shall make
appointments and fill vacancies.
Fo. 4. Designating the Grange
in the terms of State officers so that
the State Treasurer shall be elected
at the same time with the Secretary
of State, Secretary of Internal Af-
fairs. etc.
No. S. Designating the change
of terms of Justices of the Peace
and Magistrates from five to six
years.
No. 6. Designating that the
general State election hereafter shall
be held biennially, in the even
numbered years.
No. 7. Designating the dispens-
ing with the spring election, and
oviding that the local municipal
officers be voted for in the odd
numbered years in November.
No. 8. Giving the General AS
sembly authority to make laws pro-
viding for the appointment of cleo
tion boards, when not elected bien-
nially.
No. 9. Designating that all Of
ficers whose election is not provided
for in the Constitution shall come
under the new provision.
No. 10. Stipulates that county
officers shall be elected at the gen.
eral elections and shall hold Office
for term of four years beginning
on the first Monday of January
next, after their election } instead
of three years, as at present.
No. II. Indicates the change of
the County Commissioners and
terms to four years, dat
ing from 1911.
Fo. IL. Summarizes that in order
to carry these changes in the Con-
stitution into complete operation, it
is hereby declared that all terms of
office, as at present, with an odd
of years, shall each be
heightened one year.
This extension of official term
shall not affect officers elected at
the general election in 1908, nor
any city, ward, borough or town
ship, or election division officers,
whose terms would expire in 1910.
In 1910 the municipal election
shall be held as usual in February,
but all officers chosen at that elec
ton to any Office for two years. and
also all election officers and assess
ors chosen at that election shall
serve until the first Monday of
December, 1911. All officers chosen
at that election tor four year terms
shall serve until the first Monday
of December, 1913.
All Justices, Magistrates and AL
dermen chosen at that election shall
serve until the first Monday of
December 1915.
All terms of Office after 1910 of
city, ward, borough, township and
electian division officers shall begin
on the first Monday in December in
the odd number year.
All officers of any kind whose
term may expire during the year
1911, as at present provided, shall
continue to hold their Offices until
the first Monday of December of
that year.
All Judges of the court and all
county officers whose term may ex
pire in the year 1911, shall continue
in Office until the first Monday of
January, 1912.