ARTICLE [XIV.]-STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL

INDEBTEDNESS.

SECTION 1. The state may, to meet casual deficits or failures in the revenues, contract debts never to exceed in the aggregate one hundred thousand dollars; and no greater indebtedness shall be incurred except for the purpose of repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, or defending the state in war; and provision shall be made for the payment of the interest annually, as it shall accrue, by a tax levied for the purpose, or from other sources of revenue, which law providing for the payment of such interest by such tax shall be irrepealable until such debt be paid. (2 Neb., 399.)

cities, etc., to

internal im

SEC. 2. No city, county, town, precinct, municipal- Donations by ity, or other subdivision of the state, shall ever make do- aid in works of nations to any railroad or other works of internal improve-provement. ment, unless a proposition so to do shall have been first submitted to the qualified electors thereof at an election by authority of law: Provided, That such donations of a county with the donations of such subdivisions in the aggregate shall not exceed ten per cent of the assessed valuation of such county; Provided further, That any city or county may, by a two-thirds vote, increase such indebtedness five per cent, in addition to such ten per cent, and no bonds or evidences of indebtedness so issued. shall be valid unless the same shall have endorsed thereon a certificate signed by the secretary and auditor of. state, showing that the same is issued pursuant to law. (2 Neb., 423; 6 Neb., 215; 7 Neb., 310; 12 Neb., 185.) SEC. 3. The credit of the state shall never be given or loaned in aid of any individual, association or corporation.

State credit not to be loaned.

Militia.

Oath of officers.

Who ineligible to office.

ARTICLE [XV.]-MILITIA.

SECTION 1. Th legislature shall determine what persons shall constitute the militia of the state, and may provide for organizing and disciplining the same.

ARTICLE [XVI.]-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

SECTION 1. Executive and judicial officers and members of the legislature, before they enter upon their official duties, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the state of Nebraska, and will faithfully discharge the duties of -according to the best of my ability, and that at the election at which I was chosen to fill said office I have not improperly influenced in any way the vote of any elector, and have not accepted, nor will I accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing from any corporation, company, or person, or any promise of office for any official act or influence (for any vote I may give or withhold on any bill, resolution or appropriation)." Any such officer or member of the legislature who shall refuse to take the oath herein prescribed, shall forfeit his office, and any person who shall be convicted of having sworn falsely to, or of violating his said oath, shall forfeit his office, and thereafter be disqualified from holding any office of profit or trust in this state, unless he shall have been restored to civil rights.

1

SEC. 2. Any person who is in default as collector and custodian of public money or property, shall not be eligible to any office of trust or profit under the constitution or laws of this state; nor shall any person convicted of felony be eligible to office unless he shall have been restored to civil rights.

SEC. 3. Drunkenness shall be cause of impeach- Drunkenness. ment and removal from office.

ARTICLE [XVII.]—AMENDMENTS.

SECTION 1. Either branch of the legislature may How made. propose amendments to this constitution, and if the same be agreed to by three-fifths of the members elected to each house, such proposed amendments shall be entered on the journals, with the yeas and nays, and published at least once each week in at least one newspaper in each county, where a newspaper is published, for three months immediately preceding the next election of senators and representatives, at which election the same shall be submitted to the electors for approval or rejection, and if a majority of the electors voting at such election adopt such amendments, the same shall become a part of this constitution. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same election, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment separately.

revise consti

SEC. 2. When three-fiths of the members elected Convention to to each branch of the legislature deem it necessary to tution. call a convention to revise, amend, or change this constitution, they shall recommend to the electors to vote at the next election of members of the legislature for or against a convention; and if a majority voting at said election vote for a convention, the legislature shall, at its next session, provide by law for calling the same. The convention shall consist of as many members as the house of representatives, who shall be chosen in the same manner, and shall meet within three months after their election, for the purpose aforesaid. No amendment or change of this constitution, agreed upon by such convention, shall take effect until the same has

Rights preserved.

Fines, taxes, etc., to inure to people.

Recognizances etc., to remain valid.

courts.

been submitted to the electors of the state, and adopted by a majority of those voting for and against the same. (See chap. 3, Comp. Stat., 53.)

ARTICLE [XVIII.—SCHEDULE.

SECTION 1. That no inconvenience may arise from the revisions and changes made in the constitution of this state, and to carry the same into effect, it is hereby ordained and declared that all laws in force at the time of the adoption of this constitution, not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions, claims, and contracts of this state, individuals, or bodies corporate, shall continue to be as valid as if this constitution had not been adopted. (4 Neb., 539; 6 Neb., 302.)

SEC. 2. All fines, taxes, penalties, and forfeitures owing to the state of Nebraska, or to the people thereof, under the present constitution and laws, shall inure to the use of the people of the state of Nebraska under this constitution.

SEC. 3. Recognizances, bonds, obligations, and all other instruments entered into or executed upon the adoption of this constitution, to the people of the state of Nebraska, to the state of Nebraska, to any state or county officer, or public body, shall remain binding and valid, and rights and liabilities upon the same shall continue; and all crimes and misdemeanors shall be tried and punished as though no change had been made in the constitution of this state.

Jurisdiction of SEC. 4. All existing courts which are not in this constitution specifically enumerated, and concerning which no other provision is herein made, shall continue in existence, and exercise their present jurisdiction until otherwise provided by law.

Persons to con

SEC. 5. All persons now filling any office or aptinue in office. appointment, shall continue in the exercise of the duties thereof, according to their respective commissions, elec

tions, or appointments, unless by this constitution it is otherwise directed. (7 Neb., 48.)

neys.

SEC. 6. The district attorneys now in office shall District attor continue during their unexpired terms to hold and exercise the duties of their respective offices in the judicial dirtricts herein created, in which they severally reside. In each of the remaining districts one such officer shall be elected at the first general election, and hold his office until the expiration of the terms of those now in office. SEC. 7. This constitution shall be submitted to Constitution, the people of the state of Nebraska, for adoption or re- mitted. jection, at an election to be held on the second Tuesday of October, A. D. 1875, and there shall be separately submitted at the same time; for adoption or rejection, the independent article relating to "Seat of government," and the independent article "Allowing electors to express their preference for United States senator."

when sub

SEO 8. At said election the qualified electors shall Election for. vote at the usual places of voting, and the said election shall be conducted and the returns thereof made according to the laws now in force regulating general elections, except as herein otherwise provided.

tary of state.

SEC. 9. The secretary of state shall, at least twenty Duties of secredays before said election, cause to be delivered to the county clerk of each county, blank poll-books, tally lists, and forms of return, and twice as many of properly prepared printed ballots for the said election as there are voters in such county, the expense whereof shall be audited and paid as other public printing ordered by the secretary as is by law required to be audited and paid; and the several county clerks shall, at least five days before said election, cause to be distributed to the judges of election, in each election precinct in their respective counties, said blank poll-books, tally lists, forms of return, and tickets.