The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-06-10
(BY AUTHoRITY.)
L,xWS OF THE UNITED SITES
AN ACT
CONCERNING Public Contracts.

Conceraing Public Contracts.
- II enacted by the Senate and HOUSE of Retire.
- sentatives If the URited States Of Aa,eyica, in
Congress assembled, That from and after the pas
sag OF this act, no member of Congress shall,
directly or Indirectly, himself, or by any other
person whatsoever, in trust for him. for his use
or benefit, or on his account, undertake. execute,
hold or ENJOY III the whole or in part any contract
or. agreement hereafter to be made or entered III.
to with any officer CT the United States, in their.
behalf, or with any person authorised to make
contracts on the part of the United States; and
It any member of Congress shall, directly or IN
directly, himself, or by any other person whatso-
ever, III trust tor HIM, or for his use or benefit of
on ms account enter into. accept Of, agree for,
undertake or execute any such contract or agree
ment IN the whole. or in part. everv member $50
offending, shall, for every such offence upon con
viction thereof, before any court of the United
States, or OF the territories thereof, having coz
nlzance OF such offence, be adiuds>-d guilty of a
high misdemeanor, and shall be fined three thou
sand dollars; and every such contract or agree
naent as aforesaid, shan moreover be absolutely
void and OF effect. 2, t.t,k!ell III,
IN al cases where any sum sums of money shall
have been advanced ON the part of the United
States, m consideration of any such contract or
agreement, the same shall be forth with rep.d
and IN case OF refusal delay to repay the same,
when demanded, by the proper officer of the de-
Partment under whose authority such contract or
every person SO refusing or delaying toaether
with his surety or sureties, shall be forthwith
prosecuted at law for the recovery of any such
sum or sums of money advanced as aforesaid.
Sec; D. Ind be 1T further enacted, That nothing.
herein contained shall extend, or be construed to
extend to any contract or agreement, made or en-
tered INTO, or accepted, by any Incorporated com
Pany, where such contract or agreement shall be
made tor the general benefit of such incorpora
lion or company nor to the purchase or sale of
Dilis OF exchange or other PROPERTY by any mem
Der OF Congress, where the same shall be ready
Tor delivery and for which payment shall be maze
at the time of making or entering into the con
tract or agreement.
Sec. ). IND BE- at farthey enacted, That in every
such contract or agreement to be made or enter
cd INTO, or accepted as aforesaid, there shall be
inserted an express condition, that no member of
Congress shall be admitted to any share or part
Oh such contract or agreement, TO any benefit
TO arse thereupon.
Sec 4. init it.tuyfAer endctsa, That if ANY of.
lcer otihe T. States on behalf the United State
snail, directly or Indirectly, make or enter into 4
ny contract, bargain, Or agreement, in writing or
otherwise, other than such are herein except.
ed, with any member OF Congress, such officers
so Offending, on conviction thereof before any
court having jurisdiction thereof shall be deem.
ed and taken to be guilty of high misdeEeanor
and be fined in sum OF three thousand dollars
Sec 5. Ind BE II further enacted, That from and
after the passing on this act it shall be the dut,
of the Secretary Of uie Treasury, Secretary ot
War, Secretary Of the Navy, and the post.inas.
ter-Genersi, annually to lay before Congress q
statement of all the contracts which have b,,en
made in their respective departments during the
year preceding such report, exhibiting in such
statement the name Of the contractor, the article
or thing contracted for, the place where the mr..
ticie was to be delivered, or the thing performed
the sum TO be paid for its performance or deiive
ry, the date and duration Of the contract
q VARNUM.
Speaker q the House Of Representatives..
S. SMITH,
president Of tie Senate pro tenlbore.
APRIL 81, 1903.
APPRovED,
TIL. TEPFFRSON