The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-17
EXTRACTS FROM LAWS, ETC.

OATH OF MAIL CONTRACTORS AND CARRIERS
REQUIRED BY ACT OF CONGRESS, JUNE s.
1872.
l., do solemnly swear Tor affirm that
will faithfully perform all the duties required
! Of me, and abstain from everything for
hidden by the laws in relation to the estab-
| lshment of post offices and post-roals within
| the United States; and that will honestlya I'd
truly account for and pay over any money be-
| longing to the said United States which nay
| come into my possession or control. So help
me Cod
! By section l6 of the act OF June s, 1872, ev-
cry person employed in the postal service is
subject to all the pains, penalties, and forfeit
ures for violation of the laws relating to such
service. whether he has taken the above oatli or
| affirmation or not.
SECTIONS OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS ITO RE-
WISE, CONSOLIDATE, AND AMEND THE STAT
UTEs RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE DE-
PARTMENT, " APPROVED JUNE 8, 1872.
The POSTMASTER GENERAL requests that
bidders guarontors, sureties, and all persons
concerned, or intending to be concerned, in mail
contracts, will carefully read and critically ex-
anime the abstract of laws here presented, and
also the forms and Instructions at the end of
TINS advertisement, i'll order that bids may be
made anu liabilities assumed understandingiy
| and that all misapprehensions Or cause of com
plant hereafter may be avoided.
| POSTMASTERS are required to make them
selves familiar with these laws and instructions.
others.
Postmosters, CLERKS, &c., cannot be contractors,
SEC. 70. That no postmaster, assistant
postmaster, or clerk employed in any post Of
flee shall be Il contractor or concerned ina con-
tract for carrying the mail
Persons IN the employ Of the Post Obfece De-
| pa1tment (inc1mdtng postmssters) cannot BE-
| come interested IN q mail contract, nor acf as
| agent Of contractors or bidders.
| SEC II. That no person employsd in the
| Post Office Department shall become interested
in any contract for carrying the mail, or act as
agent, with Or without compensation, for any
| contractor or person offering to become con-
| tractor in any business before the DIX pa tmrnt;
and any person so offending shall be immad-
ately dismissed from office, and shall be liable
| to pay so much money as would have been re-
allied from said contract, to be recovered in an
,ction Of debt, for the use of the Post Office
Department.
By regulation of the Department., no carrier
should be employed who is under sixteen vars
under twenty one years OF age, or who is a
married woman.
| Coaueyaace of letters out ofthe mail. Private
expresses, &c.
| SEC. 227. That any person concerned in
carrying the mail who shall c. lie t, O. ,iy, OF
carry any letter Or packet, or cause or prooar4
| the same TO be DONE contrary TO law, snail, on
conviction thereof, for every such offense, for-
felt and pay not exceeding fifty dollars.
| SEC. 22S That no person shall establish an Y
private express for the conveyance of letters or
| packets, or in any manner cause Or provide
for the conveyance of the same by regular
trips or at stated periods, over any post
route which is OF may be established by law,
or from any city, town, OF place to any ether
city. town, or place bet ween which the mail is
regularly carried; and every person so effend-
inc. or aiding or assisting therein, shall, for
each offense, forfeit and pay one hundred and
| fifty dollars.
SEC. 229. That the owner of every stage
coach, raiway-car. steamboat, or other vehicle
or vessel. which SHALL with the knowledge Of
any owner in whole Or in part or with the
knowledge or connivance OF the driver con-
ductor, master, or other person having charge
OF the same, convey any person acting or en-
! ployed as private express for the convey lnce
of letters or packets, and actually in possession
OF the same for the purpose of conveying them
contrary to the spirit, true intent, and meaning
of this law, SHALL for every such otfense, for
felt aad pay one hundred and fifty dollars.
SEC. 230. That no person shall transmit by
private express or other unlawful means, or
deliver to any agent Of such unlawful express,
or tlepo sit, or cause to be deposited. at any APP
pointed place, for the purpose of being trans
mtted, any letter or packet, and for every
such otfense the party so offending shall forfeit
and pay fifty dollars.
aoI
Steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel hch
regularly performs trips at stated periot,s OH
any post-lpute, or from any city, town, Or place
to any other city, town, or Llace between which
the mail is regularly carried, shall carry, other
wise than in the mail, any letters or packets,
except such as relate to some part OF the cargo
Of such steamboat Or other vessel, Or to some
article carried at the same time by the same
stage coach, railway-car, or other vehicle, eN-
cept as provided in section two hundred and
thirty-nine and for every such offense the
owner OF the stage-ceach, railway-car, steam
boat, other vehicle or vessel shall forfeit and
pay one hundred dollars: and the driver. con-
ductor, master, or other person having charge
thereof, and not at the time owner OF the whole
or any part thereof, shall in like manner for
felt any pay for every such otfense fifty dollars.
(Section l39 permits conveyance Of letters in
stamped envelopes otherwise than by matl
me WNHftef Nv eottc" PtOpoSUcS she.to oe H''4e,
and the
LIABILITY OF POSTMAsTERS.
| SEC. 245. That every proposal for carrying
| the mail shall be accompanied by the bond Of
| the bidder, with sureties approved by a post
master, and in cases where the amount Of the
bond exceeds five thousand dollars, by post
master OF the first, second, or third class, in %
sum to be designated by the Postmaster Gen
eral in the advertisement of each route ; to
which bond a condition shall be annexed. that
II the said bidder shall, within such time after
his bid is accepted as the Postmaster General
shall prescribe. enter into contract with the
United States of America, with good and sutfi-
cient sureties, to BE- approved by the Posmas-
ter General. to perform the service proposed in
his said bid, and further, that he shall pc, form
the said service according to his contract, then
the said obligation to be void, otherwise 70 be
IN full force and obligation in law; and in case
Of failure Of any bidder to enter into SUCH con-
tact to perform the service, or. having exc
cuted Il contract, in case of failure to perform
the service according to his contract, he and
his sWeties shall be liable for the amount Of
said bond as liquidated damages, to be recov err
ed in an action of debt on the said bond. No
proposal shall be considered unless it shall be
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