Journal of the Convention to Amend the Constitution of Pensylvania

the district court and the court of common pleas of the city and county of Philadelphia, into a court to consist of twelve judges, and be entitled "the court of common pleas," and to have the same jurisdiction and powers as are now conferred by law upon said courts and judges; and the said judges shall, in turn, preside over the criminal branch of said court, which shall hereafter be styled "the court of general sessions," and have the same jurisdiction as is now conferred by law on the courts of oyer and terminer, general jail delivery and quarter sessions of the peace, and a majority of said judges shall constitute a court of appeals in criminal cases.

Mr. Hemphill offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be requested to inquire into the propriety of reporting the following for incorporation into the Constitution: First. The Governor shall nomniate and, with the consent of two-thirds of a full Senate, appoint the judges of the Supreme Court, and the president judges of all other courts now, or that may hereafter be established within the Commonwealth.

Second. The judges of the Supreme Court, and president judges of all other courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior; but for any reasonable cause, which shall not be sufficient ground for impeachment, the Governor may, with the consent of two-thirds of a full Senate, remove any of them.

Third. The judges of the Supreme Court, and the president judges of all other courts shall, for the term for which they are appointed, be ineligible for any other office of trust, honor or profit, unless it be another judgeship.

Also, the following resolutions, which were referred to the Committee on Executive Department, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Executive Department be requested to inquire into the propriety of reporting the following for incorporation in the new Constitution: "The Governor shall nominate, and with the consent of the Senate, appoint six of the president judges of the court of common pleas, to constitute, with himself, and for which he may be elected, a court of pardon; and a majority of said court, of whom the Governor shall be one, may remit fines and forfeitures, and grant pardons after convictions in all cases, except impeachment, and no pardon granted before conviction shall avail the party pleading the same."

Resolved, That the Committee on Executive Department be requested to inquire into the propriety of reporting the following for incorporation in the new Constitution: "The Governor shall hold his office during four years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election, and shall not be eligible thereafter.

Mr. Craig offered the following article and resolution, which were referred to the Committee on Industrial Interests and Labor, viz:

"The manufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks, as a beverage, is prohibited. The Legislature shall provide amply for the enforcement of this article.

Resolved, That the above article be submitted, separately, to the vote of the people.

Mr. Campbell offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Railroads and Canals, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Railroads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of incorporating into the Constitution the following section: "That no railroad company shall be incorporated in this State, unless upon condition that its road shall not cross any public highway at grade, and that the franchises of all railroad companies now incorporated shall be revoked, unless within five years their roads shall be so altered, changed or constructed, that the same shall cross public highways either above or below grade.

Mr. Boyd offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee, on Legislation, viz:

Resolved, That the proper committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of introducing into the Constitution of this State the following provision in substance, to wit:

"The Legislature shall not ratify any amendment or proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States without first submitting such amendment to a vote of the people, and the Legislature shall obey and carry out the will of the majority, as expressed in such vote.

Mr. Worrell offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, viz:

Resolved, That in all proceedings between parties, the courts of this Commonwealth are authorized and empowered to try and determine the validity of any act of the Assembly.

Also, the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, viz:

Resolved, That the Attorney General of the Commonwealth shall have authority to proceed by scire facias in any of the courts of the Commonwealth to try and determine the validity of any act of Assembly.

Mr. Temple offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, viz:

Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the Constitution as to abolish the office of register of wills, and to establish in lieu thereof probate courts in each county of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Alricks offered the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Legislation, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Legislation inquire into the expediency of so amending the Constitution that no present or future obligation or liability of the Pennsylvania Central or the Philadelphia and Erie railroad company, or of any other corporation, for the payment of money to the Commonwealth, shall ever be transferred, suspended, altered or remitted, or in any way diminished or impaired by the Legislature or other authority, nor shall such indebtedness be released, except on payment being made into the State Treasury.

Mr. Dunning offered the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That until otherwise ordered, this Convention shall meet at 10 o'clock A. M., and adjourn at 1 o'clock P. M.

On the question,

Will the Convention proceed to the second reading and consideration of the resolution?

It was determined in the negative.

Mr. Armstrong offered the following resolution, which was twice read, viz:

Resolved, That each of the standing committees have leave to print such matter for the use of the committee and Convention as, in its opinion, it may be proper to have printed.

On the question,

Will the Convention agree to the resolution?

A motion was made by Mr. Hunsicker,

To amend the same, by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and inserting in lieu thereof as follows, viz:

"That all propositions relating to amendments to the organic law be printed. for the use of the Convention."

On the question,

Will the Convention agree so to amend?

It was determined in the negative.

The resolution was then agreed to.

Mr. Worrell offered the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That until otherwise ordered, the Convention will meet at 1 o'clock P. M., and adjourn at 4 o'clock P. M., and the committees of the Convention will meet at 10 A. M.

On the question,

Will the Convention proceed to the second reading and consideration of the resolution?

It was determined in the negative.

Mr. Newlin, from the Committee on Printing and Binding, to whom was referred the following resolution, viz:

"Resolved, That the Committee on Printing and Binding, when appointed, be directed to report whether the contract between the State and the present Public Printer entitles such printer to the printing and binding of the Convention, and if their report on this subject be in the negative, then to receive and report to the Convention bids for the printing and binding of the Convention," made a report, which was read as follows, viz:

That having reported that the State Printer was not entitled to the Convention printing under his existing contract, they advertised, as therein directed, for proposals for printing and binding the Journal and Debates of the Convention, und for such other printing as might be ordered; and also for proposals for printing paper. They have received, and herewith report to the Convention, the annexed Lids, numbered from one to twelve, consecutively. Tabulated statements thereof are hereto appended.

The lowest aggregate bidder for printing and binding is Joseph S. Lare. The lowest proposal for supplying printing paper is that of William W. Harding.

For the Journal the committee recommend an octavo form, in brevier type, solid; size of printed page 36 ems wide and 62 ems long; and for the Debates, a quarto form, in three equal columns, 22 by 88 ems, brevier type, solid, each, the same to be half-bound. They further recomment that there be printed 1,500 copies of the Journal, and 5,000 copies of the Debates. They further report the annexed resolution, and recommend its passage. All of which is respectfully submitted.

Laid on the table.

JAMES W. M. NEWLIN,
Chairman.

Resolved, That a contract be made with Joseph S. Lare, in the manner and upon the terms specified in his proposal to print and bind fifteen hundred copies of the Journal of the Convention, in octavo form, thirty-six by sixty-two ems brevier type, solid-two hundred and forty copies to be furnished daily to the Convention in sheets, and the remainder to be half-bound; and also to print and bind in quarto form, in three equal columns, twenty-two by eighty-eight ems, brevier type, solid, each, five thousand copies of the Debates of the Convention, in the manner and upon the terms specified in his proposal, four hundred and eighty copies to be delivered daily to the Convention in sheets, and the remainder to be half-bound; and also that a contract be made with William W. Harding to supply the printing paper for the Convention, in the manner and upon the terms specified in his proposal, the paper for the Journal to be twenty-four by thirty-eight inches and to weigh fifty pounds to the ream, and the paper for the Debates to be twenty-six by forty inches, and to weigh sixty pounds to the ream; and that a contract be made with B. Singerly to do all other printing ordered by the Convention, or required in the transaction of its business, if he will do the same at forty-one and a quarter per cent. below the price established by the act of April, 1856, and the supplements thereto of February 25, 1862, and March 27, 1871, relating to the public printing and binding of the State.

PRINTING AND BINDING AND SUPPLYING PAPER FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

In pursuance of a resolution of the Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, sealed proposals will be received by the undersigned until Monday, January 26, 1873, at 3 P. M., at his office, No. 514 Walnut street, Philadelphia, for printing

the Journal of the daily proceedings of the Convention, and the debates and such other printing as may be ordered, and for binding the same. Separate bids for supplying printing paper will also be received. Bidders may attend at the time and place above mentioned. Blank forms of proposal may be had by addressing the undersigned. JAMES W. M. NEWLIN, Chairman Committee on Printing and Binding.

Published in the Philadelphia and Harrisburg dailies by order of the committee.