Mr. J. PRICE WETHERILL presented a memorial from the Philadelphia board of trade, asking for the repeal of the usury law, which was referred, without reading, to the Committee on Agriculture, Manufactures, Mining and Commerce.

Mr. CORSON presented the following resolution, which was read and referred to the Committe on the Judiciary:

Resolved, That the practice in the courts of this Commonwealth shall be uniform throughout the State, and no special mode of trial shall be established in any one section.

READING MEMORIALS.

Mr. LILLY offered the following resolution, which was read and laid over, under the rules, until to-morrow:

Resolved, That the rule of the Convention be altered, so that the Convention

PRINTING OF DEBATES.

Mr. NEWLIN, from the Committee on Printing, presented the following report: To the Constitutional Convention:

The Committee on Printing submit the following:

Resolved, That it is inexpedient to print the Debates of the Convention in the daily papers.

(Signed,)

J. W. M. NEWLIN.

The question being, shall the Convention proceed to the second reading and

consideration of the resolution? it was agreed to.

Mr. NEWLIN. Mr. President: I desire to make a single remark. The committee received bids from the different papers, and it was ascertained that in order to carry out the contemplated action in publishing the Debates in two papers-publishing them at all fully-would cost several hundred dollars a day. In addition to that, it is proper for me to say in regard to the Printer, that on last Friday that official had printed every line of copy which he had received from the Reporter, so that the Printer was not then in fault. Inasmuch as that official has had a good deal

of abuse, I take pleasure in making this statement to the Convention. It is proper also to state in regard to the Reporter that, perhaps, the delay was not his fault, inasmuch as a number of the members retained the copy to correct and revise their speeches.

made to the committee. An abstract of the account is here with submitted, marked "A."

Also, the account of William W. Harding for 241 reams of paper, amounting to $1,807 50, furnished to the printer under his contract; and the account of Val.

COUNTIES, TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS Mr. LAWRENCE, from the Committee on Counties, Townships and Boroughs, presented the following report, which was read:

SECTION 1. The Legislature shall have power to erect new counties. No new county shall have an area of less than three hundred square miles, nor a population of less than eighteen thousand, and no county shall be reduced to a less area than four hundred square miles. No new county shall be erected until the same shall be approved by three-fifths of the votes cast by the electors embraced within each of the sections of the counties taken to form the new county.

SECTION 2. That section of a new county taken from another county shall pay its equitable proportion of the existing indebtedness of the county from which it is taken; and if in the formation of a new county any township be divided, the indebtedness of such shall be equitably apportioned upon the respective divisions thereof.

SECTION 3. The Legislature shall, by general laws, prescribe the powers of boroughs and townships, and confer upon the courts the authority to erect boroughs and townships, to change their boundaries, and divide boroughs into wards.

The PRESIDENT. This article has now been read the first time. It will be laid on the table and printed.

CONVENTION EXPENSES.

Mr. HAY, from the Committee on Accounts and Expenditures, presented the following report, which was read:

The Committee on Accounts and Expenditures of the Convention respectfully reports:

That it has examined the account of the Chief Clerk for expenditures made by him, under the authority of the Convention, up to the 21st day of February last, showing the payment of the sum of $1,911 00, and a balance in his hands on that date of $89 00.

And that the same is correct, according to the vouchers exhibited and statements

and other articles furnished for the use of the Convention at Harrisburg, which is certified by the Chief Clerk.

These accounts are for proper expenses of the Convention, and should, therefore, be paid. The following resolution is accordingly reported:

Resolved, That the accounts of William W. Harding and Val. Hummel, mentioned in the foregoing report of the Committee on Accounts, are hereby approved;

and that a warrant be drawn in favor of William W. Harding for the amount of his account, and that the Chief Clerk pay the account of Val. Hummel.

[A.]

Abstract of expenditures mode by D. L. Imbrie, Chief Clerk, up to the 21st day of February, 1873.

To John Patterson, watchman, for services from January 8 until February 21, both days inclusive.......

To Joseph Ebersole, janitor, for services from November 12, 1872, until February 21, both days inclusive .........

To James Craig, janitor, for ser

vices from 7th January until February 21, both days inclusive........

To C. C. Mullen, janitor, ten days at Harrisburg

To John Switzer, fireman, for services from 12th November, 1872, until February 21, 1873, both days inclusive......

To James Chambers, assistant fireman, for services from 7th January until February 21, both days inclusive................

To D. Skerrett, page, for services from January 7 to February 21, both days inclusive........ To T. M'Gilloway, page, for services from January 7 to February 21, both days inclusive........ To Percy Meyers, page, for services from January 7 to February 21, both days inclusive........ To J. B. Allen, page, for services from January 7 to February 21, both days inclusive.....

$157 50

141 00

117 00

30 00

164 50

117 00

58 50

58 50

58 50

58 50