1 SEC. 12. The Legislature shall not audit or allow any private 2 claim or account against the State, or pass any special law in 3 relation thereto, but may appropriate money to pay such claims 4 as shall have been audited and allowed according to law. 1 SEC. 13. There shall be a court of claims, to consist of three 2 judges, to be appointed on the nomination of the Governor, by 3 and with the advice and consent of the Senate, in which court 4 shall be adjudicated all such claims against the State as the 5 Legislature shall, from time to time, by general laws direct. 6 Such claims shall be tried without a jury, but the facts found 7 by the court on the proofs shall be stated in each adjudication. 8 In all cases where such claims shall amount to five hundred dol9 lars or more, and be for the value of or damages to real estate, 10 the judges of said court shall, and in all other cases, may view 11 the property in question, and in deciding thereon shall consider 12 their own estimate of such value or damages in connection with 13 the evidence in the case. In all other respects such court shall 14 be governed in its adjudications by the legal rules which have 15 heretofore existed between the State and its citizens, according 16 to the course and practice of the common law as modified by the 17 statutes of this State. The statute of limitations shall prevail 18 in favor of the State the same as in favor of individuals. The 19 jurisdiction of such court shall be exclusive, and its decisions 20 may be reviewed on the law on appeal to the Court of Appeals. 21 The judges of said court shall hold their offices for the term of 22 five years, unless sooner removed according to law, and shall 23 severally receive at stated times for their services a compensation 24 to be established by law, which shall not be increased or dimin25 ished during their continuance in office. 1 SEC. 14. There shall be a solicitor of claims, to be appointed 2 in the same manner as the judges of the court of claims, whose 3 duty it shall be to take charge of the interests of the State in all 4 matters depending before the court of claims. Such solicitor 5 may be removed by the Governor for incompetency or neglect 6 of duty, upon the recommendation of said court, and whenever, 7 in the judgment of the Legislature, the office of solicitor of 8 claims shall be or become unnecessary, they may abolish the 9 same by law. 1 SEC. 15. The Legislature shall not grant any extra compen 2 sation to any public officer, servant, agent or contractor after 3 the service shall have been rendered, or the contract entered into, 4 nor increase or diminish the compensation of any public officer, 5 agent, contractor or servant, except judicial officers, during his 6 time of service. 1 SEC. 16. The Legislature shall not sell, lease, or Referred to 2 otherwise dispose of any of the canals or salt springs 3 of the State, but they shall remain the property of the Committee of the Whole on Canals, and Referred to Committee on Education. 4 State and under its management forever. The aggre 5 gate quantity of land now connected with the salt 6 springs shall not be diminished. 1 SEC. 17. The Legislature shall provide by law for 2 making all the common schools in this State free, and 3 requiring all children in the State to be educated. 1 SEC. 18. The Legislature may declare the cases in which any 2 office shall be deemed vacant, when no provision is made for 3 that purpose in this Constitution, and shall provide for filling 4 vacancies in office, and in case of elective offices, any person 5 appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold the office till a successor 6 shall be chosen at the ensuing election, and duly qualified 7 according to law. SEC. 19. Provision shall be made by law for the removal, for 2 misconduct or malversation in office, of all officers (except judi3 cial), whose powers and duties are not local or legislative, and 4 who shall be elected at general elections, and also for supplying 5 vacancies created by such removal. 1 SEC. 20. When the duration of the term of any office is not 2 provided for by this Constitution, it may be declared by law, 3 and if not so declared such office shall be held during the pleas4 ure of the authority making the appointment. 1 Referred to on Finance. SEC. 21. The Legislature shall not exempt any Committee 2 property from taxation except churches, burial grounds, 3 and that of free colleges and incorporated academies, 4 and of all common or public schools organized pursu 5 ant to the laws of this State and subject to the super 6 vision of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 1 SEC. 22. The political year and Legislative term shall com2 mence on the first day of January. 1 SEC. 23. No railroad shall hereafter be constructed This section pending Sept. 3d. 2 or operated within any of the cities or incorporated 3 villages of this State, until the consent of the local 4 authorities of such village or city shall be first obtained 5 for that purpose, and also the consent of the owners of 6 at least one-half in value of the property on the line 7 of the streets through or over which the same shall be 8 constructed, be previously had and obtained for that 9 purpose; for in case the consent of such property 10 owners be not obtained, then with the consent of the 11 general term of the Supreme Court of the district in 12 which such road shall be located to be first obtained; 13 such consent to be obtained and authenticated in such 14 manner as the Legislature shall by general law for that 15 purpose provide. The franchise allowing such railroad 16 to be operated, shall be sold at public auction to the 17 highest bidder, after three months public notice, describing the 18 route of such railroad, in the State paper, and in such news19 papers in the city or village where said railroad shall be located 20 as the Legislature shall direct. The whole avails of such sale 21 shall belong to the city or village in which said railroad shall 22 be located. 1 SEC. 24. No office shall be created for weighing, gauging, 2 culling or inspecting any merchandise, manufactures, produce or 3 commodity whatever, but nothing in this section contained shall 4 affect any office created for the purpose of protecting the public 5 health or the interests of the State in its property, revenue, tolls 6 or purchases, or of supplying the people with correct standards 7 of weights and measures, or shall prevent the creation of any 8 offices for such purposes hereafter. by consent. Passed over 1 SEC. 25. The Legislature may, on application of the 2 Board of Supervisors, provide for the election of local 3 officers, not to exceed two in any county, to discharge 4 the duties of county judge and of Surrogate, in cases 5 of their inability or of a vacancy, and to exercise 6 such other powers in special cases as may be provided 7 by law. Passed over by consent. 1 SEC. 26. The Legislature shall provide for the 2 speedy publication of all statute laws and of such judi |