ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

Expiration of Term of Present Officers. Section 26. All persons in office in this Commonwealth at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, and at the first election under it, shall hold their respective offices until the term for which they have been elected or appointed shall expire, and until their successors shall be duly qualified, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution.

Administration of Oath of Office.

Section 27. The seventh article of this Constitution prescribing an oath of office shall take effect on and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. Expiration of Terms of Present County Commissioners and Auditors.

Section 28. The terms of office of County Commissioners and County Auditors, chosen prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, which shall not have expired be. fore the first Monday of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, shall expire on that day.

Compensation of Present Officers May Include Fees.

Section 29. All state, county, city, ward, borough and township officers in office at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, whose compensation is not provided for by salaries alone, shall continue to receive the compensation allowed them by law until the expiration of their respective terms of office.

State and Judicial Officers now in Office to Take Oath to Support this Constitution. Section 30. All state and judicial officers heretofore elected, sworn, affirmed, or in oflice

GEORGE A. ACHENBACH, JOHN E. ADDICKS,

WM. H. AINEY,

HAMILTON ALRICKS,

G. W. ANDREWS,

WM. H. ARMSTRONG,

WM. J. BAER,

JOSEPH BAILY, Perry Co.,

JNO. M. BAILEY,

WILLIAM D. BAKER,

THOS. B. BANNAN,

GEO. G. BARCLAY,

JOHN BARDSLEY,

JAMES P. BARR,

LIN. BARTHOLOMEW,
M. C. BEEBE,

WM. BIGLER,

C. A. BLACK,

CHAS. O. BOWMAN,

CHARLES BRODHEAD,

J. M. BROOMALL,

R. BROWN,

C. R. BUCKALEW,
JOHN C. BULLITT,
SAML. CALVIN,
LEWIS C. CASSIDY,
HENRY C. CAREY,
JOHN H. CAMPBELL,
PEARSON CHURCH,
SILAS M. CLARK,
THOS. E. COCHRAN,
WM. L. CORBETT,
GEORGE N. CORSON,
JNO. P. CRONMILLER,
JAMES W. CURRY,
A. G. CURTIN,

THEO. CUYLER,
GEO. M. DALLAS,
WM. DARLINGTON,
WM. DAVIS,

R. M. de FRANCE,

S. C. T. DODD,

A. B. DUNNING,
MATTHEW EDWARDS,

M. F. ELLIOTT,
JAS. ELLIS,

[blocks in formation]

THOS. EWING,
A. C. FINNEY,
A. M. FULTON,
JOSIAH FUNCK,
JOHN GIBSON,
JOHN GILPIN,
HENRY GREEN,

J. B. GUTHRIE,

JNO. G. HALL,
WILLIAM B. HANNA,
EDWARD HARVEY,
MALCOLM HAY,

T. R. HAZZARD,

JOS. HEMPHILL.

JAMES H. HEVERIN,
GEO. F. HORTON,
THOS. HOWARD,

CHAS. HUNSICKER,

D. KAINE,

E. C. KNIGHT,

R. A. LAMBERTON,
AUG. S. LANDIS.

GEO. V. LAWRENCE,
WM. LILLY,

W. E. LITTLETON,
WAYNE MacVEAGH,
THOMAS MacCONNELL,
JOEL B. McCAMANT,
WM. McCLEAN,
INO. McCULLOCH,
MORTON MCMICHAEL,
JOHN MCMURRAY,
FRANK MANTOR,
JNO. J. METZGER,

SAMUEL MINOR,

LEWIS Z. MITCHELL,

JAMES W. M. NEWLIN,

JEROME B. NILES,

G. W. PALMER,

HENRY W. PALMER,
HENRY C. PARSONS,
D. W. PATTERSON,

T. H. BAIRD PATTERSON,
JOSEPH G. PATTON,
DAN. S. PORTER,
LEWIS PUGHE,

President.

[blocks in formation]

ADJUSTMENTS OF TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TO AMENTMENTS OF 1909.

That no inconvenience may arise from the change in the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and in order to carry the same into complete operation, it is hereby declared that

In the case of officers elected by the people, all terms of office fixed by act of Assembly at an odd number of years shall each be lengthened one year, but the Legislature may change the length of the term, provided the terms for which such officers are elected shall always be for an even number of years.

The above extension of official terms shall not affect officers elected at the general election of one thousand nine hundred and eight; nor any city, ward, borough, township, or election division officers, whose terms of office, under existing law, end in the year one thousand nine hundred and ten.

In the year one thousand nine hundred and ten the municipal election shall be held on the third Tuesday of February as heretofore; but all officers chosen at that election to an office the regular term of which is two years, and also all election officers and assessors chosen at that election, shall serve until the first Monday of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and eleven. All officers chosen at that election to offices the term of which is now four years, or is made four years by the operation of these amendments or this schedule, shall serve until the first Monday of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirteen. All justices of the peace, magistrates, and aldermen, chosen at that election, shall serve until the first Monday of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and fifteen. After the year nineteen hundred and ten, and until the Legislature shall otherwise provide, all terms of city, ward, borough, township, and election division officers shall begin on the first Monday of December in an odd-numbered year. All city, ward, borough, and township officers holding office at the date of the approval of these amendments, whose terms of office may Adopted November 2, 1909, by a vote of 147,162 for and 141,551. This is Schedule No. 2.

known as

end in the year one thousand nine hundred and eleven, shall continue to hold their offices until the first Monday of December of that year.

All judges of the courts for the several judicial districts, and also all county officers, holding office at the date of the approval of these amendments, whose terms of office may end in the year one thousand nine hundred and eleven, shall continue to hold their offices until the first Monday of January, one thousand nine hundred and twelve.

AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION
OF PENNSYLVANIA.†

General Assembly May Enact Laws Providing a System of Registering, Transferring, Insuring and Guaranteeing Land Titles by the State or by Counties.

Laws may be passed providing for a system of registering, transferring, insuring of and guaranteeing land titles by the State, or by the counties thereof, and for settling and determining adverse or other claims to and interest in lands the titles to which are so registered, transferred, insured, and guaranteed; and for the creation and collection of indemnity funds; and for carrying the system and powers hereby provided for into effect by such existing courts as may be designated by the Legislature, and by the establishment of such new courts as may be deemed necessary. In matters arising in and under the operation of such system; judicial powers, with right of appeal, may be conferred by the Legislature upon county recorders and upon other officers by it designated. Such laws may provide for continuing the registering, transferring, insuring, and guaranteeing, such titles after the first or original registration has been perfected by the court, and provision may be made for raising the necessary funds for expenses and salaries of officers, which shall be paid out of the treasury of the several counties.

Adopted on November 2, 1915, by a vote of 853,686, for and 178,567 against. No Article or Section designation was provided for this Amendment.

HISTORY OF THE SEVERAL CONSTITUTIONS OF

ADOPTION.

PENNSYLVANIA.

DATES OF CONVENTIONS AND TIME OF | at the succeeding election choose delegates to a constitutional convention to meet on November 24, 1789.

Constitution of 1776.

The Constitution of Pennsylvania of 1776 was inspired by the following resolution passed by the Continental Congress :

"In Congress, May 15, 1776. Whereas, His Britannic Majesty, in conjunccommons of Great tion with the lords and Britain, has by a late act of parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the protection of his crown: And whereas, no answer whatever, to the humble petitions of the colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Britain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these colonies:

And whereas, it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience, for the people of these colonies, now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any government, under the crown of Great Britain; and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority, under the said crown should be totally suppressed, and all the powers of government exerted, under the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue and good order, as well as for the defense of their lives, liberties and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies. Therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, has been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general. By order of the Congress,

to

JOHN HANCOCK President."

con

In accordance with this resolution and a call issued thereunder by the committee of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, 103 deputies were appointed by the committees of the city of Philadelphia and the several counties of the conference. meet in provincial province, Ninety-seven of the deputies convened at Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia, on June 18, and elected Thomas McKean president of the ference. They continued in session until June 25, 1776, and unanimously agreed that a provincial convention should be called for the purpose of forming a new government in the province, and fixed Monday, July 8, as the time for the election of the members of the convention. The convention was composed of ninety-six members and was in session in Philadelphia from July 15 to September 28, 1776. jamin Franklin was the president of the body. The "Bill of Rights and Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" adopted committed to the charge of the Council of Safety, with directions to deliver the same to the General Assembly of the State, at their first meeting immediately after they had chosen their speaker.

Constitution of 1790.

Ben

was

On March 24, 1789, the General Assembly, which then consisted of but one House, viz: the House of Representatives, passed a resolution submitting to the people the question of calling a convention to draft a new Constitution. At the following election the majority of votes cast favored the calling of such convention. The General Assembly, on September 14, 1789, then passed a resolution recommending that the people of the Commonwealth should

Sixty-nine delegates were elected to this conabove date. Thomas Mifflin was elected presivention, which assembled in Philadelphia on the The convention comdent of the convention. pleted the drafting of the new Constitution and adjourned finally on September 2, 1790.

Constitution of 1838.

By an act approved April 14, 1835, the qualified electors were permitted to vote at the next following general election for or against calling convention. The proposition a constitutional was carried.

The act of March 29, 1836, prescribed the time of meeting of the convention and fixed Friday, November 4, 1836, as the day The conon which delegates should be elected. vention was composed of 133 members, and assembled at the capitol at Harrisburg on May 2, 1837. John Sergeant, of Philadelphia, was On November 23, the conelected president. vention adjourned to meet on November 28, in Musical Fund Hall, in Philadelphia, where, on the amended Constitution February 22, 1838,

It was submitted to was adopted and signed. the electors and ratified by them at an election held on October 9, 1838, there being 113,971 votes in favor of and 112,759 against its adoption. The alterations and amendments went Amendments into effect on January 1, 1839. to this Constitution were adopted in 1850, 1857, 1864 and 1872.

Constitution of 1873.

By an act approved June 2, 1871, the question of calling a convention for the purpose of forming a new Constitution was submitted to and was the people on October 10, 1871, favorably decided by a vote of 316,097 for and 69,715 against. The act regulating the holding of the convention was approved April 11, 1872. The number of delegates was fixed at one hundred and thirty-three, and they were elected on The convention met in the October 8, 1872. House of Representatives at Harrisburg on November 12, 1872, and adjourned November 27, to meet in Philadelphia, January 7, 1873, where William the balance of its sessions were held. M. Meredith, of Philadelphia, was elected president. He died August 17, 1873, during an The convention on reconvening adjournment. September 16 elected as his successor John H. Walker, of Erie county, who had served during On the previous sessions as president pro tem. November 3, 1873, the convention finished its It work of drafting the present Constitution. was submitted to the people at an election held December 16, 1873, and adopted by a vote of 253,744 to 108,594. This Constitution went into effect January 1, 1874.

Amendments to Constitution of 1878.

On November 5, 1901, Section 1, of Article 8, by a vote of 214,798 for, and 45,601 against. was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1901.

On November 5, 1901, Section 4, of Article 8, by a vote of 194,053 for, and 41,203 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1901.

On November 5, 1901, Section 7, Article 8, by a vote of 180,521 for, and 48,634 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 3 of 1901.

On November 2, 1909. Section 8. of Article for, and 150,281 4, by a vote of 165,741 against,

was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1909.

4,

On November 2, 1909.

Section 21, of Article

and is designated as

Amendment No. 2 of 1909.

by a vote of 164,352 for, and 142,385 against, was amended,

On November 2, 1909, Section 11, of Article 5, by a vote of 162,689 for, and 141,203 against was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 3 of 1909.

On November 2, 1909, Section 12, of Article 5, by a vote of 157,958 for, and 142, 335 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 4 of 1909.

On November 2, 1909, Section 2, of Article 8, by a vote of 168,874 for, and 140,837 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 5 of 1909.

as

On November 2, 1909, Section 3, of Article 8, by a vote of 162,117 for, and 140,841 against, was amended, and is designated Amendment No. 6 of 1909. This amendment was amended by Amendment No. 3, which was adopted on November 4, 1913.

(On November 2, 1909, the proposed amendment to Section 14, of Article 8, by a vote of 128,287 for, and 194,810 against, was defeated. This proposed amendment was designated as Amendment No. 7 of 1909.)

On November 2, 1909, Section 1, of Article 12, by a vote of 160,499 for, and 140,303 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 8 of 1909.

On November 2, 1909, Section 2, of Article 14, by a vote of 161,184 for, and 141,547 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 9 of 1909.

On November 2, 1909, Section 7, of Article 14, by a vote of 159,953 for, and 140,476 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 10 of 1909.

On November 2, 1909, the Schedule to carry into operation the amendments voted for on November 2, 1909, by a vote of 147,162 for, and 141,551 against, was adopted. The act of March 2, 1911, P. L. 8, carried the amendments mentioned in this Schedule into operation and changed the date of termination of terms of city, ward, borough, township and election division officers, from December to January.

On November 7, 1911, Section 8, of Article 9, by a vote of 140,647 for, and 88,965 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1911. This amendment was amended by Amendment No. 2, which was adopted on November 2, 1915.

On November 7, 1911, Section 6, of Article 5, by a vote of 124,678 for, and 85,421 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1911.

(On November 4, 1913, the proposed amendment to Section 4, of Article 9, by a vote of 259,042 for, and 300,435 against, was defeated. This proposed amendment was designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1913.)

(On November 4, 1913, the proposed amendment to Section 7, of Article 3, by a vote of 203,633 for, and 219,351 against, was defeated. This proposed amendment was designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1913.)

[blocks in formation]

On November 4, 1913, Section 15, of Article 9, by a vote of 208,063 for, and 291,605 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 5 of 1913.

(On November 2, 1915, the proposed amendment to Section 1, of Article 8, by a vote of 385,348 for, and 441,034 against, was defeated, This proposed amendment was designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1915.)

On November 2, 1915, Section 8, of Article 9, by a vote of 361,188 for, and 191,004 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1915.

On November 2, 1915, Section 21 of Article 3, by a vote of 487,135 for, and 174,168 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 3 of 1915.

On November 2, 1915, by a vote of 353,686 for, and 178,567 against, an amendment to the Constitution was adopted and is designated as Amendment No. 4 of 1915.

On November 5, 1918, Section 4, of Article 9, by a vote of 384,780 for, and 119,249 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1918.

On November 5, 1918, Section 8, of Article 9, by a vote of 262,250 for, and 123,401 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1918.

On. November 2, 1920, Section 11, of Article 16, by a vote of 431,122 for, and 142,262 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1920.

On November 2, 1920, Section 8, of Article vote 9, by a of 373,643 for, and 144,512 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1920.

On November 7, 1922, Section 1 of Article 15, by a vote of 377,298 for, and 244,808 against, was amended.

On November 6, 1923, Section 1, of Article 9, by a vote of 554,347 for, and 215,343 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 1 of 1923.

On November 6, 1923, Section 4, of Article 9, by a vote of 625,039 for, and 237,578 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 2 of 1923.

On November 6, 1923, Article 3, by a vote of 474,826 for, and 217,229 against, was amended, and is designated as Section 34. It was known as Amendment No. 3.

On November 6, 1923, Section 8, of Article 17, by a vote of 470,711 for, and 329,519 against, was amended, and is designated as Amendment No. 4 of 1923.

[blocks in formation]

Penn, "proprietor and

governor, William The 1682. located October 28, at Chester, first Assembly of the Province was held there a few weeks later, and the "Great Law" was passed. The following year the government was established in Philadelphia, which remained the capital until 1799. By the act of April 3, 1799. first the capital on the became Lancaster On February 21, Monday of November, 1799. 1810, an act was approved requiring that the offices during of the State government, month of October, 1812, be moved to Harriswas fixed and deburg, which by said act, On Febclared to be the seat of government. ruary 7, 1812, a supplement was passed to this act providing that the removal should be made in April, 1812, and, accordingly, the offices were removed about April 1, 1812, and Harrisburg from that time has continued to be the capital of the State.

The Capitol Buildings.

of April 11, 1866, P. L. 81, and April 11, 1867,
P. L. 18, provided for the completion of the
wing used for the library.

A new building for the use of the library
authorized by
and other department was
act passed April 11, 1893, P. L. 17.
building was completed during 1894;
stone laid December 15, 1893.

room,

an This corner

the

The main building of the Capitol was des-
troyed by fire at noon February 2, 1897, the
Legislature had been in session, and on the
located in
following day, February third, the Senate met
in the Supreme Court
the
south wing, and the House assembled in the
United States District Court room, in the post
office building. Sessions of the two Houses were
held February third and February fourth in
these rooms; arrangements having been made
the Legislature, on February eighth and for the
balance of the session of 1897, occupied Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, Harrisburg.

was

An act passed March 18, 1816, P. L. 148. provided for the erection of a State Capitol at Harrisburg. Under this act, two wings of the built. building were A supplement act passed January 27, 1819, P. L. 43, provided This wa for the completion of the building. act passed March further supplemented by an 28, 1820, P. L. 134.

The Legislature occupied the new building on January 2, 1821, apparently without further action than a joint meeting for prayer.

An act passed March 30, 1821, P. L. 157, act passed January 23, supplemented by an 1822, P. L. 5, provided for furnishing the new Capitol.

ex

The appropriation acts of 1864, P. L. 230 and 1013, provided for the building of an The appropriation acts tension to the building.

The act of April 14, 1897, P. L. 19, supplemented by the act of July 18, 1901, P. L. authorized 713, the erection of the present building, excavations for which were commenced May 2, 1898; a cornerstone was laid August was not considered 10, 1898, but later this representative of the proposed building, hence on May 5, 1904, a new stone was laid on the corner to the right of the main entrance, and the building rapidly constructed and dedicated October 4, 1906.

Four regular sessions of the Legislature were the construction held in the Capitol during period, viz:-1899, 1901, 1903 and 1905, also

the extra session of 1906.

The main Capitol building is constructed of Vermont granite. It is 520 feet long, 254 feet wide and 272 feet high. The building contains 475 rooms. The dome, called "the heart of the Capitol", weighs fifty-two million pounds, The cost of construction was $6,985,968.52; building and equipment $11,033,400.89.

VOTES CAST ON HOME RULE AMENDMENT AT ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 7, 1922.

Counties.

YES.

[blocks in formation]

3,044 Lawrence,

NO. 3,050 2,887

Allegheny,

63,038

Armstrong,

1,477

Beaver,

4,028

Bedford,

971

Berks,

9,132

25,358 Lebanon,
3,262 Lehigh,

3,402 Luzerne,
3,709 Lycoming,

7,147

2,051

2,06 !

7,165

3,484

[blocks in formation]

Blair,

5,015

4,255

McKean,

2,637

1,464

Bradford,

2,208

1,403

Mercer,

2,253

6,606

Mimin,

484

Bucks,

2,334 1,465

1,669

Butler,

3,156

Cambria,

6,892

4.570
5,470

Monroe,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Montgomery,

[blocks in formation]

Cameron,

196

181

Montour,

[blocks in formation]

Carbon,

[blocks in formation]

Northampton,

[blocks in formation]

Centre,

1,837

2,637

Northumberland,

[blocks in formation]

Chester,

5,181

3,632

Perry,

522

1,708

Clarion,

1,301

1,437

Philadelphia,

[blocks in formation]

Clearfield,

3,211

2,267

Pike,

364

241

Clinton,

1,276

989

Potter,

[blocks in formation]

Columbia,

1,722 2,625

Schuylkill,

[blocks in formation]

Crawford,

2.416

2,899

Snyder,

[blocks in formation]

Cumberland,

2,251

2,974

Somerset,

[blocks in formation]

Dauphin,

11,132

Delaware,

9,258

6,616 3,718

Sullivan,

176

Susquehanna,

1,059

113 1,723

Elk,

797

Erie,

7,809

Fayette,

3,669

727 3,124 3,785

Tioga,

849

954

Union,

[blocks in formation]

Venango,

[blocks in formation]

Forest,

Franklin,

109 1,987

Fulton,

142

Greene,

793

[blocks in formation]

188 2,728 612 1,390 988 1,529 1,706 2,341 2,460

Warren,

1.227

Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York,

3.853

798 4,108

[blocks in formation]

597

[blocks in formation]

Lackawanna,

10,887

8,067

Lancaster,

5,113

5,055

[blocks in formation]
« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »