The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-11-19
EXTRACTS FROM LAWS, ETC.

OATH OF MAIL CONTRACTORS AND CARRIERS,
! REQUIRED BY ACT OF CONGRESS, JUNE 8,
1872.
L.. do solemnly swear Tor affirm that 1
will faithfully perform ali the duties required
OF me, and abstain from everything for
| hidden by the laws in relation to the estah-
| lishmcnt of post offices and post-roatls within
the United States; and that | will honestly 4 I'd
truly account for ahdpay over any money be-
longing to the said United States which my
come into my possession or control. So help
me God.
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 oath or
affirmation or not.
SECTIONS OF THE ACT OF CONGRESS '1ro RE-
WISE, CONSOLIDATE. AND AMEND THE STAT
! uTEs RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE DE-
fARTMENT,' - APPROVED JUNE 8, 1872.
The POSTMASTER GENERAL requests that
Ddders guarOntors, suretes, and all persons
concerned, OF lntending 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
| this advertisements, i'll order that bids may be
made and liabilities assumed Understandings :,
and that all misapprehensions or cause OF com
plaint hereafter may be avoided.
| POSTMASTERS are required to make them
selves familiar with these laws and Instructions
CT at they may be able to inform and direct
others.
Postmasters, clerks, &c., cannot be contractors,
SEC. Is. That no postmaster assistant
postmaster, or clerk employed in any post of
M 81 am Rfn ri Iy,
tract for carrying the mail.
Persons IN the employ Of the Post O6ssce De-
partment (including postmasters) cannot be-
come interested IN q mail contract, nor act as
agent of contractors or bidders.
SEC. II. That no person employed 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 p, rson Offering to become a con-
tractor in any business before the d. pa tmcnt;
and any person so offending shall be imniedi-
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 wars
under twenty one years of age, or who is a
married woman.
Conveyance Of letters ont ofthe mail. Private
expresses, SC.
SEC. 227. That any person concerned in
carrying the mail who shall c lie t, g. i've, or
carry any letter or packet, or cause TT procure,
the same to be done. contrary to law, shall, ole
conviction thereof, for every such Otfense, ior-.
felt and pay not exceeding fifty dollars.
SEC. 22S. That no person shall establish an Y
private express for the conveyance Of letters OF
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 or may be established by law,
or from any city, town, OF place to any Their
city, town, or place bet Ween 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. 229. That the owner of every stage
coach, railway-car. steamboat, or other vehicle
Or vessel. which shall, with the Knowledge Of
any owner. in whole. or in palt OF with the
knowledge Or connvance of the driver. con-
dnctor, master, or other person having charge.
Of the same. convey any person acting OF en-
ployed as private express for the conveyance
OF letters or packets, and actually in possession
OF the same for the purpose Of conveying them
to the spirit, true intent, and meaning
of this law, shall, for every such offense, for
felt aad 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 OF 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 performs trips at stated periods oil
any post-route, or from any city, town, OF place
to any other city, town, or place 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 OF other vessel, or to some
article carried at the same time by the same
stage coach. railway-car, or other vehicle, ex-
eept as provided in section two hundred and
thirty-nne; and for every such offense the
owner of the stage-ceach, railway car, steam--
boat or 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.
tSection 80 permits conveyance Of letters in,
stamped envelopes otherwise than by mail.)
The manner in acAich proposals shall be maae,
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
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
shah prescribe. enter into contract with the
United States Of America, with good and suffi-
cient sureties, to be- approved by the Postmas-
ter General to perform the service proposed in
his said bid, and further, that he shall Pc torm
the said service according to his contract, then
the said obligation to be void, otherwise to be
III 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 contract. in case of failure to perform
the service according to his contract, he and
his s,reties shall be liable for the amount Of
said bond as liquidated damages, to be recnv er
ed in an action Of debt on the said bond. No
shall be considered ,nlacs n ab.l no