Article VII, § 4 AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BUT NOT SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE 1. Time for payment of state debts § 4. Except the debts specified in sections two and three of this article, no debts shall be hereafter contracted by or [on] in behalf of this state, unless such debt shall be authorized by a law, for some single work or object, to be distinctly specified therein; and such law shall impose and provide for the collection of a direct annual tax to pay, and sufficient to pay, the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt within [eighteen] thirty-five years from the time of the contracting thereof. No such law shall take effect until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election. On the final passage of such bill in either house of the legislature, the question shall be taken by ayes and noes, to be duly entered on the journals thereof, and shall be: "Shall this bill pass, and ought the same to receive the sanction of the people?" The legislature may at any time, after the approval of such law by the people, if no debt shall have been contracted in pursuance thereof, repeal the same; and may at any time, by law, forbid the contracting of any further debt or liability under such law; but the tax imposed by such act, in proportion to the debt and liability which may have been contracted, in pursuance of such law, shall remain in force and be irrepealable, and be annually collected, until the proceeds thereof shall have made the provision herein before specified to pay and discharge the interest and principal of such debt and liability. The money arising from any loan or stock creating such debt or liability shall be applied to the work or object specified in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or for the repayment of such debt or liability, and for no other purpose whatever. No such law shall be submitted to be voted on, within three months after its passage, or at any general election when any other law, or any bill, or any amendment to the constitution, shall be submitted to be voted for or against. 1902. A. No. 1825 (Int. 1323). A. J. 2344. § 4. Except the debts specified in sections two and three of this article, no debts shall be hereafter contracted by or [on] in Article VII, § 4 behalf of this state, unless such debt shall be authorized by a law, for some single work or object, to be distinctly specified therein; and such law shall impose and provide for the collection of a direct annual tax to pay, and sufficient to pay, the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt within [eighteen] thirty-five years from the time of the contracting thereof. No such law shall take effect until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election. On the final passage of such bill in either house of the legislature, the question shall be taken by ayes and noes, to be duly entered on the journals thereof, and shall be: "Shall this bill pass, and ought the same to receive the sanction of the people?" The legislature may at any time, after the approval of such law by the people, if no debt shall have been contracted in pursuance thereof, repeal the same; and may at any time, by law, forbid the contracting of any further debt or liability under such law; but the tax imposed by such act, in proportion to the debt and liability which may have been contracted, in pursuance of such law, shall remain in force and be irrepealable, and be annually collected, until the proceeds thereof shall have made the provision hereinbefore specified to pay and discharge the interest and principal of such debt and liability. The money arising from any loan or stock creating such debt or liability shall be applied to the work or object specified in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or for the repayment of such debt or liability, and for no other purpose whatever. No such law shall be submitted to be voted on, within three months after its passage, or at any general election when any other law creating a debt, or any bill, or any amendment to the constitution,] shall be submitted to be voted for or against. 2. 1902. S. No. 1273 (Int. 885). S. J. 1468. Time for paying state debts - creation of debt voters when submitted to § 4. Except the debts specified in sections two and three of this article, no debts shall be hereafter contracted by or [on] in behalf of this state, unless such debt shall be authorized by a law, for some single work or object, to be distinctly specified therein; and such law shall impose and provide for the collection of a direct annual Article VII, § 4 tax to pay, and sufficient to pay, the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt within [eighteen] fifty years from the time of the contracting thereof. No such law shall take effect until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election. On the final passage of such bill in either house of the legislature, the question shall be taken by ayes and noes, to be duly entered on the journals thereof, and shall be: "Shall this bill pass, and ought the same to receive the sanction of the people?" The legislature may at any time, after the approval of such law by the people, if no debt shall have been contracted in pursuance thereof, repeal the same; and may at any time, by law, forbid the contracting of any further debt or liability under such law; but the tax imposed by such act, in proportion to the debt and liability which may have been contracted, in pursuance of such law, shall remain in force and be irrepealable, and be annually collected, until the proceeds thereof shall have made the provision hereinbefore specified to pay and discharge the interest and principal of such debt and liability. The money arising from any loan or stock creating such debt or liability shall be applied to the work or object specified in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or for the [repayment] payment of such debt or liability, and for no other liability, and for no other purpose whatever. No such law shall be submitted to be voted on, within three months after its passage.[, or at any general election when any other law, or any bill, or any amendment to the constitution, shall be submitted to be voted for or against.] 1903. A. No. 73 (Int. 73). A. J. 44. 3. Creation of debt submitted to taxpayers § 4. Except the debts specified in sections two and three of this article, no debts shall be hereafter contracted by or [on] in behalf of this state, unless such debt shall be authorized by a law, for some single work or object, to be distinctly specified therein; and such law shall impose and provide for the collection of a direct annual tax to pay, and sufficient to pay, the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt within eighteen years from the time of the contracting thereof. No such law shall take effect until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the [people] electors of the state whose Article VII, § 4 names appear upon the general assessment rolls of their respective tax districts, and have received a majority of all the votes cast by such electors for and against it at such election. On the final passage of such bill in either house of the legislature, the question shall be taken by ayes and noes, to be duly entered on the journals thereof, and shall be: "Shall this bill pass, and ought the same to receive the sanction of the people?" The legislature may at any time, after the approval of such law by the [people] such electors, if no debt shall have been contracted in pursuance thereof, repeal the same; and may at any time, by law, forbid the contracting of any further debt or liability under such law; but the tax imposed by such act, in proportion to the debt and liability which may have been contracted, in pursuance of such law, shall remain in force and be irrepealable, and be annually collected, until the proceeds thereof shall have made the provisions hereinbefore specified to pay and discharge the interest and principal of such debt and liability. The money arising from any loan or stock creating such a debt or liability shall be applied to the work or object specified in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or for the repayment of such debt or liability, and for no other purpose whatever. No such law shall be submitted to be voted on, within three months after its passage, or at [any] a general election when any other law, or any bill, or any amendment to the constitution, shall be submitted to be voted for or against. 4. Permitting legislature to alter tax rate to provide for debt authorized by vote of people § 4. (Proposal to add the following to section four as amended in 1909) In case any annual tax heretofore imposed for the payment of a debt authorized by vote of the people under the constitution will, if continued, provide for the payment of the interest on such debt as it falls due and also the payment of the principal of such debt before it becomes due, the legislature may amend the law by reducing the rate of such tax provided that the same shall not be reduced below a sum sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due and also the principal of such debt when it becomes due. Article VII, § 4 The supreme court shall have jurisdiction to direct the comp troller or any officer of the state to impose a tax sufficient to comply with the provisions of this section for the protection of any sinking fund of the state. 1914. S. No. 1619 (Int. 1306). S. J. 795, 1071, 1211. 5. Initiative and referendum (For amendment to this and other sections to provide for the initiative, and the referendum, see p. 271.) 6. Initiative, referendum and recall (For amendment to this and other sections to provide for the initiative, the referendum and the recall of elective officers, see p. 293.) § 7. The lands of the State, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed. AMENDMENT SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE AND ADOPTED § 7. The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed. But the legislature may by general laws provide for the use of not exceeding three per centum of such lands for the construction and maintenance of reservoirs for municipal water supply, for the canals of the state and to regulate the flow of streams. Such reservoirs shall be constructed, owned and controlled by the state, but such work shall not be undertaken until after the boundaries and high flow lines thereof shall have been accurately surveyed and fixed, and after public notice, hearing and determination that such lands are required for such public use. The expense of any such improvements shall be apportioned on the public and private property and municipalities benefited to the extent of the benefits received. Any such reservoir shall always be operated by the state and the legislature shall provide for a charge upon the property and municipalities benefited for a reasonable return to the state upon the value of the rights and prop |