The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-11-26

EXT RAGTs FROM Laws, ETC.
do solemnly swear Tor affirm

| OATH OF MAIL CONTRACTORS AND CARRIERS.
REQUIRED BY ACT OF CONGRESS, JUNE s,
/ 1872.
| T., do solemnly swear Tor affirm that
will faithfully perform all the duties required
of me, and abstain from everything for
Eidden by the laws in relation to the estab-
| lshment Of post offices and post-roads with
the United States; and that will honestly and
truly account for and pay over amy money be-
longing to the said United States which nav
come into my possession OF CONTROL, So help
me God. ~
By section le 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 oath or
affirmation or not.
90 s{@gY
SECTIONS OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS ITO RE-
| WISE, CONSOLIDATE. AND AMEND THE STAT
UTES RELATING TOO THE POST OFFICE DE-
| PARTOfENT, = APPROVED JUNE 8, 1872.
TIE POSTMASTER GENERAL requests that
bidders gulrontors, stIretes, and all persons
concerned, or intendingto be concerned. i'll mail
contracts, will carefully read and critically ex-
anime the abstract Of laws here presented, and
also the forms and Instructions ats tile end of
1his advertisement.} in order that bids may be
maue anu liabilities assumed Understandings,
and that all nlisapprehensiols or canse Of com
plant hereafter may be avoided. sas'S2
| PosTMAsTERs are required to- make them
selves familiar with these laws and Instructions
Gl at they may be able to inform and direct
| Others.
Postmasters, clerks, Sc, cannot be contractors,
| SEC. IS. That no postmaster, assistant
| postmaster or clerk employed in any post Of
rice snail be u contractor Or concerned in con-
| tract for carrying the mail.
Persons IN the employ ofMe Post O6eece De-
portment (including postmzsters) cannot be-
cone interested IN mail contract, nor act rs
agent of contractors or bidders.
SEC. r. That no person employed in the
Post Office Department shall become interested
| III any contract Tor carrying the mail, or act as
agent, with or without compensation, for any
contractor or p rson offering to become a con-
flctOr in amy business before the u, pa tment;
and any person so offending shall be lmmcdi-
.tely dismissed from Office, and shall be liable
pay so much money as would have been re-
zed from said contract, to be recovered in an
elton OF debt, for the use OF the Post Office
department..
BY regulation Of the Department, no carrier
,ilollid be employed who is under sixteen years
age; and no bidder will be accepted who is
nCer twenty one years Of age, Or who is a
married woman. a
Conveyance Of letters ont oft the mail. Pirate
expresses, SC.
SEC. 227. That any person concerned in
carrying the mail who shall C, lie t, .ec i've, or
carry any letter or packet, caus, procsr,
| the same to be done. contrary to law, SHALL, on
conviction thereof, for every such o1tense, for
felt and pay not exceeding fifty dollars.
SEC. 228. 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, or place to any other
city, town, or place between which the mail is
regularly carried; and every person so Offend
ing. OF aiding or assisting therein, shall, for
each offense, forfeit and pay one hundred and
fifty dollars.
SEC. 800. That the owner Of every stage
coach, railWay-car. steamboat, or other vehicle
or vessel. which shall, with the know ledge OF
any owner, in whole. or i'll 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 a private express for the conveyance
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 offense, for
felt and pay one hundred and fifty dollars.
SEC. $50. That no person shall transmit by
private express or other unlawful MEANS or
deliver to any agent Of such unlawful express,
or depo sit, or cause to be deposited. at any APP
pointed place, for the purpose Of being trans
mitted any letter or packet. and for every
such otfense the party so offending shall forfeit
and pay fifty dollars.
SEC. 23l. That no stage-coach, railway-car,
Steamboat, or other vehicle or vessel which
regularly pei forms trips at stated periods on
any post-route, or from any city, town, or place
to amy other city, town, or lace between which
the mail is regularly carried shall carry other
wise than in the mail, any letters OF 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, isliway-car, or other vehicle, eX-
ce, t as provided in section two hundred and
thirty-nine and for every such otfense tue
owner of the stage-ceach, railway-car, stean-
boat, or other vehicle vessel shall forfeit and
pay one hundred dollars: and the driver coll-
ductor. master, or other person having thirge
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 oifense fifty dollars.
Section SO permits conveyance of letters in
stamped envelopes otherwise than by ma.)
The manner IN echicb proposals shall be made,
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 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 q
sum to be designated by the Postmaster GEN.
which bond a condition shall be annexed. tl.at
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 sniff
Gent sureties to be- approved by the Postmas-
ter General to perform the service proposed in
his said bid, and further, that he shall perform
the said service according to his contract, then
the said obligation to be voiu, otherwise to 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