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"Provided, that nothing, herein contained, shalt operate to pre
vent the Legislature from placing by general appropriation a con
tingent fund at the disposal of the Executive;"

Mr. Spencer, moved to amend said amendment by adding at
he end thereof these words, "not exceeding six thousand dollars
peryear;"

Mr. Spencer, withdrew said amendment.

The question was then put on the amendment as offered by
Mr. Ridgely, as a proviso to the end of 19th section, and

Determined in the affirmative.

The question then recurred upon the adoption of the 19th
section as amended.

On motion of Mr. Sprigg,
Said section was further amended by adding at the end thereof
the following:

"And the Governor shall report to the Legislature at each ses
sion the amount expended and the objects and purposes for
which said amount was incurred;"

The said 19th section was then adopted as amended.

The 20th section was then read and adopted.

The 21st section was then read,

Mr. Ridgely, moved to amend said report by striking out the 21st
section and substituting in lieu of it the following:

"The credit of the State shall never be given or loaned in aid of
any person, association, municipality or corporation, nor shall the
Legislature contract any debt, which shall singly, or in the aggre
gate exceed a half million of dollars, for which purpose a vote of
three-fourths of all the members elected to both branches of the
General Assembly shall be necessary, provided that the State may
contract debts exceeding that amount to repel invasion, suppress
insurrection, and if threatened, to provide for the public defence;"

Which was read.

Mr. George offered as a substitute for said section and substi
tute, the following

Article, 1. The amount of debts, hereafter contracted by the
Legislature, shall never exceed one hundred thousand dollars, ex
cept for the defence of the State, unless such debt shall he author
ised by a law pioviding for the collection of an annual tax or
taxes sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and
also to discharge the principal of such debt within flfteen years
from the time of contracting the same. And the taxes laid for
this purpose shall never be repealed, or applied to any other object,
until the said debt and the interest thereon shall be fully discharged.

Article, 2. The assent of two thirds of the members elected
to each branch of the Legislature, shall be requisite to every bill
 

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