Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-05
TPUBLIc-No 26.
AN ACT to prevent frauds upon the Treasury Of the
Init ed

TPUBLIc-No 26.l
AN ACT to prevent frauds upon the Treasury Of the
United States.
Be enacted y the Senate and House of Representatives Of
the United States Of Aaericd Congress assembled That
all transfers and assignments hereafter made Of claim
upon the United States any part share thereof or
interest therein whether absolute conditional and
whatever be the consideration therefor and all
of attorney, orders other authorities for receiving
payment of such claim, any part share thereof
shall be absolutely null and void unless the same shall
be freely made and executed in the presence of at least
esng witnesses after the allowance Of such claim,
the asceranment of the amount DUE and the issuing OF
a warrant for the payment thereof.
Sec p And be further enacted That any officer of the
United States, person holding any place Of trust or
profit discharging any official function under, or in
connexion with, any executive department OF the Govern
Of the United States under the Senate House
Representatives Of the United States, who after the
passage of this shall act agent attorney for
prosecuting any claim against the United States shall
in any manner by any means otherwise than IN the
discharge of his proper official duties aid assist in the
prosecution support Of any such claim or claims or
shall receive any grauy any share OF or interest IN
any claim from any claimant against the United States
with intent TO aid assist consideration OF having
aided assisted in the prosecution Of such claims shall
be liable to indictment, for misdemeanor, in any
court Of the United States having jurisdiction thereof
and, conviction shall pay fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars, suffer Imprisonment in the peniten
tary not exceeding year. both, as the court IN its
discretion shall adiudge
Sec 3. AHd BE- frthSr enacted That any Senator or
VINO, the OF this
act SHALL for compensation paid to be paid certain or
contingent act agent attorney for prosecuting any
claim claims against the United States shall in any
manner or by any means for such compensation aid or
assist IN the prosecution support Of any such claim
claims shall receive any gratuy, any share Of
interest in any claim from any claimant against the Uni
ted States with intent aid assist in consideration
Of having aided assisted in the prosecution of such
claim, shall be liable to indictment for misdemeanor
in any court of the United States having jurisdiction
thereof and, conviction shall pay fine not exceeding
i've thousand dollars, suffer Imprisonment in the peni
tentary not exceeding year. both, the court in
its discretion shall adudge.
Sec A. And be further enacted That any person who
with intent to steal destroy shall wfuy and knowingly
destroy attempt destroy shall and carry away
any record paper orproceedng ofa justice filed
deposited with any clerk officer Of such court, or
paper document record filed or deposited in any
public Office or with any judicial public officer, shall,
without reference the value Of the record paper docu
men proceeding taken be deemed guilty offeiony
and conviction in any court Of the Unied States hay
ing jurisdiction thereof shall pay hne not exceeding
two thousand dollars suffer imprisonment IN peni
tentary not exceeding three years boh as the court
in its discretion shall adudge.
Sec s. and Jc further enacted That any officer having
the custody any record document paper or proceed
ing specified in the preceding section Of this act who
shall fraudulcntly take away, withdraw or destroy
any such record document paper or proceeding filed in
his office or deposited with him. or IN ms custody shall
be deemed guilty of felony, and on conviction in any
court Of the United States having jurisdiction thereof
saai, pay a 6nc exceeding two thousand dollars,
suffer Imprisonment in apenlienary not exceeding three
years or both as the in its discretion shall adjudge
and shall forfeit his office and be forever afterwards dis
qualified from holding any Office under the Government
Of the United States
Sec G. And b further enacted, That if any person or
persons SHALL directly or indirectly, promise, eer or
give or cause procure to be promised offered or given
any money goods right in action, bribe present
ward or any promise contract undertaking obligation
security for the payment delivery of any money
goods right in action, bribc present reward any
other valuable thing whatever to any member Of the SEN
House Of Representatives of the United States
after his election such member, and either before or
after he shall have qualified and taken his seat or to any
officer Of the United States, person holding any place
Of trust profit dscharging any official function
under or in connexon with any department Of the Gov
enmeut of the United States under the Senate or
House OF Representatives Of the United States after the
passage Of this act with intent to influence his vote
decision on any question, matter cause proceeding
which may then be pending may by law under the
constitution Of the United States be brought before him
u his official capacity, in his place Of trust profit
and shall be thereof convicted such person persons
offering, promising, giving causing procuring to
be promised, offered given any such money, goods,