Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-05
2.P{:A,U1rAl TOR
EDWAnDsvlLLE. FEBRuARY $, 1922.

was taken up on the succeeding day,
and passed by the house. The debate
on the subject will be given in our next.
1t will be seen that the resolution re-
speeding the examination Of land Offices
has also been passed In our last we
minated that one of our senators is
placed in very critical situation in rela-
ton to this business. Presuming that
some Of our readers are unacqu ainted
with the circumstances of the case, we
will briefly state it.
The secretary Of the treasury is re-
CURED by law, at stated periods, to APP
point suitable persons toexaminc the Sc
yeral land Offices Of the United States.
In pursuance of this law, at the close of
the last session of congress, The Hon.
JESSE B. THOMAS, one of the sena-
tors ofthe state Of Illinois in the congress
of the United States, was appointed by
Mr.. Crawford to examine all the land
offices in the states of Missouri, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, and the territory of Mi
chigan, amounting, we believe, to sixteen
in number. The compensation allowed
by the secretary for this service is not
known, but it will appear in his report,
as required BIZ the resolution. Mr.. Tho
mas was aathorized to draw from each
Office examined by him, as much money
as he should think proper; and from the
Office in this place he drew the sum Of
two hundred dollars. The time occu-
pied by him in examining the Office, was
four days. including a few hours each
day.
The constitution Of the United States
prohibits any member of congress from
holding any office under the government.
Congress finding this prohibition in some
instances evaded, and in order to guard
its members against ali corrupting mhu-
ence, passed special law ON the subject,
in the year 1903, which it was thought
would embrace every case which could
occur This law may be found in Bioren
and Duane's edition of the laws Of the
United States, vol.4, p. l66, from which
wc make the following extract:
Be ii enacted by IRE senate and house
Of Representatives Of the Unitea States
3 ofAmerica in congress asse m5ted, That
from and alter the passage ofthls act, no
member of congress shall, directly or
indirectly, himself, OF by any other person
whatsoever in trust for him, or for his
use or benefit, or ON his account, under
take, execute, hold or enjoy, in the whole
or in part, any contract or agreement.
hereafter to be made or entered into with
any officer OF the United, in their. behalf,
or with any person authorized to make
contracts on the part of the United States;
and if any member Of congress shall, di-
rectly or indirectly, himself, Or by any
other person whatsoever intrust for him,
or for his use and benefit, or on his ac-
count, enter into, accept of, agree for,
undertake or execute, any such contract
or agreement, in the whole or in part,
every member so offending shall, for
every such offence, upon conviction
threof, before any court of the United
States, or ofthe territories thereof, having
cognizance Of such offence, be adjGdged
guilty of high misdemeanor, and shall
be fined three thousand dollars; and eve
ry such contract or agreement as afore-
said shall, moreover, be absolutely void
and of no effect: Provided, nevertheless,
That in all cases where any sum or sums
of money shall have been advanced on
the part Of the United States, in conside-
ration ofany such contract or agreement,
the same shall be forthwith repaid; and
in case of refusal or delay to repay the
same, when demanded, by the proper Off
Ger Of the department under whose au-
thority such contract or agreement shall
have been made or entered into, every
person so refusing or delaying, together
with his surety or sureties, shall be forth
with prosecuted at law for the recovery
Of any such sum or sums Of money adj
vanced as aforesaid.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted,
That nothing herein contained shall ex-
tend, or be construed to extend, to any
contract or agreement, made, or entered
into, or accepted, by any Incorporated
company, where such contract or agree
ynent shall be made for the general bene-