Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-06

IfUhLlC-NO. ~
officers intrusted with making OF contracts Tor the
Government
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentAtiTes Of the United States Of America in Con
gresS assembled, That IL shall be the duty Of the Sec
rstary OF War; Of the Secretary Of the Nsyy and or
the Secretary Of the Interior, immedntely alter the
passage OF ts act. to cause and require every con-
tract naie by them, seTeraIy on behalf OF the Gov
eminent, Or by their officers under them appointed
to make such contracts to be reduced to writing aud
signed by the contracting parties with their names
at the end thereof copy OF which shall be filed by
the officer making and signing tho slid contract in
the Returns Oce Of the Department of the Interior
hereinafter established for that purpose as soon az
the contract is made possible and within thirty
da- together with all bids offers, and proposals 20
him made 10y persons to obtain the same, as also
COPY OF any advertisement he may have Published in
Titing bids, offers, proposals for the same, all the
said copies and papers In relation TO each Contract to
be attached together by ribbon and seal and num-
beIei in regular order numerically according to the
nIm6es Of pGpers composing the WhO:e return.
Sec. 2. And be It further enacted That It shall be
the further duty of the said officer before makiBg
his RETURN according to the first section Of this act
toatnN - the same his affidavit In the fOoWng FORM
sworn to before some magistrate having authority to
administer Oaths: :" I do sOlemnly swear or affirm
that the copy OF the contract hereto annexed is an
exact copy OF contract madeby me personally with
I--; that made the same fairly without any
benent or advantage TO myself or allowing any suLh
/ beneut or advantage eorruptIy TO the said -
any other person; and that the papers acecmpying
include all those relating 70 the said contract s re-
quired by the statute In such case made and prOVi-
I
rupty swearing TO such affidavit shall be subject to
all tho pains and penalties by law inflicted for
wilful and corrupt perjury.
Sec. 8. And be It further enacted That any officer
making ontraclH as Aforesaid, and hiling Urnogset-
ing to m1ke returns of the same according to the ro-
visions Of this act unless from unavOIdabie accident
and not within his CONTROL shal be deemed in every
case OF such failure neglect to be guilty Of mis-.
demeanor, and on conviction thereof shall b. pun
ished by fine not less than one hundred doIIars nor
more than hTe hundred dollars, and be Imprisoned
for not more than six months At he discretion Of the
court trying the same, - =
Sec. And be it further enacted, That Il shall be
the duty OF the Secretary OF the Interior Immediate
ly amer the passage OF this act to provide ft and
proper apartment In his Department. be called the
Returns Ohlce, within which to file the returns re-
quired by this act to be Med and to appoint clerk
TO attend te the who shall to an annu
1l salary OF twelve hundred dollars and whose duty
u shAI be to nile all returns made to said Office %
that the same may be easy Of access filing all re-
turns made BY the same oficer In the same place
and numbering them as they arc made in numerical
order He shall also provide aud keep index book
with the names OF the contracting parties and the
number Teach and every contract opposita to tha
said names and hs shall submit the said index book
and returns to any person desiring TO inspect the
same and he shall also furnish copies of said returns
any person paying for said copies to said clerk AZ
the rate Of five cents tor every hunered words to
which said copies certificates shall be appended in
every case by the clerk making the same attsstinR
their correctness and that each copy 80 certified Il
full and complete copy Of said return; which return
50 certified under the seal Oft Department, Ehai
be evidence in all prosecutions under this act
Sec 5. And be it further enacted, That It shall
be the duty the Secretary OF War, the Secretary
of the Navy and Of the Secretary Of the Interior i'm
mediatey AFTER the passage of this act, to furnish
each and every s1icer BeYerally appointed by them
with author1ty to mako contracts behalf Of the
Government, with printed letter OF instructions
setting forth the duties such ocer under this act
and also TO furnith Herewith forms printed in blank
OF contracts to be made and tho Gddavt OF returns
required to be fixed th0reto that all the instru-
ments may be rs nearly uniform as possible
Approved June ?, 1852