Year: 1873

me OODStltutlOuat Sou'Cution ~
Pennsylvania has voted in Committee
OF the Whole to the following provision
in the new Constitution OF that State. 1t
is difficult to imagine more searching
law than that proposed, but what shall
be said of the condition Of that public
service in which such precautions are
needed to secure faithfulness and hon.
esty?


SECTION l. Members OF the General
Assembly, all judicial, State and county
officers shall, before entering upon the
duties of their respective Offices, take,
and subscribe the following oath or
affirmation


II do solemnly swear (or atfirm) l
will support, obey and defend the Con.
stitution Of the United States, the Con-
sti,ution of the Commonwealth, and
will discharge the duties of my office
with fidelity; and do further solemnly
swear Cor affirm) that l have not paid
or contributed or promised to pay or
contribute. either directly or indirectly,
any money or valuable thing to procure
my nomination, election or appoint
ment; nor have l knowingly violated
any election law of the Commonwealth
or procured it to be done BY others in
nv behalf; do further solemnly swear
(or afirm) that l will not knowingly
receive, directly or indirectly, any
money or other valuable thing for the
performance or non-performauce OF any
act or duty pertaining to my Office other
than the salary or fees allowed by law.


The foregoing oath shall be admin
istered by some person authorized to
administer oaths. In the case OF the
State officers and Judges of the Supreme
Court this oath shall be filed in the Of
fee of the Secretary of the Common.
wealth, and in case Of other judicial and
county officers in the Office OF the coun-
ty in which the same is taken. Any
person refusing to take said oath or
affirmation shall forfeit his office any
person who shall be convicted OF hav.
ing sworn or affirmed falsely, or OF
having violated such oath or affirma-
ton, shall be guilty OF perjury, and be
forever afterwards disqualified from
holding offices OF trust or profit IN the
Commonwealth.


Sec. 2. Within twenty days after the
adjournment of the General Assembly
sine die, every member OF the House OF
Representatives and every Senator,
whose terms will expire next general
election shall take and subscribe before
some officer qualified to administer
oaths. the following oath or affirmation


II do solemnly swear (or afirm) that
as q member of the General Assembly
l have supported and obeyed the Con-
stitution Of this Commonwealth to the
best of my knowledge and ability; that
l have not knowingly been influenced
by corrupt or private solicitation from
interested parties or their agents; have
not voted or spoken on any matter 10
which had or expected to have prl-
vate interest; have not done or willing
" permitted TO be done any act which
would make me guilty Of bribery; have
observed the order and forms Of iegis-
lation as prescribed by the Constitu-
tion; have not knowingly voted or
spoken for any law, bill or resolution
which I knew or believed to Re incon-
sietent Herewith"


The foregoing oath or affirmation
shsll be filed in the Office Of the Protho-
natory of the county in which the
Sonator or REPRESENTATIVE reeidas. IT
apy Senator or Represe shall fail
to take and file said oath or afirma-
ton in the time prescribed, unless
unavoidably prevented, he shall be for
ever afterwards disqualified from hold-
ing any Office Of trust or profit within
this Commonwealth; and If in taking
such oath or affirmation, it shall sp-
pear that he has knowingly sworn or
affirmed falsely, he shall be deemed
guilty OF perjury, and also be disquail'
fed as afore said.