The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-22
Councilman and Contracts.

Councilman and Contracts.
THE HOUSE BILL AS IT PASSED THE SENATE
MEMBERS OF COUNCILS AND CITY OFFICERS
PROHIBITED FROM SELLING THE CITY ANY
THIEG-PUBLICATIoNs OF PROPOSALS AND
AwARDs-A SEARCHING BILL.
The bill introduced in the House by ex-
Governor Smith, and adopted by that body
about the Sd of January, was passed by the
Senate yesterday with amendments, and
now reads as follows:
1. Be it enacted, That it shall not be law
ful for any member Of the Council or Board
OF Aldermen, or any other officer or agent,
including commissioners appointed for the
opening Of streets, OF any city or other in
corporated town, to be contractor with
the said corporation for any work or labor
ordered to be done, or goods, wares, or
merchandise, or supplies of any kind order
ed by the said corporation to be purchased,
OF in any manner, directly or indirectly, in
terested in the profits OF any such contract
Every contract made in violation Of this
act shall be utterly void, and the officer or
agent making it shall forfeit and pay to the
State the full amount OF money stipulated
for by said contract, to be recovered by mo-
tion in the Circuit Court having Jurisdiction
2. Everything needed for the use OF the
city or town for construction, consump-
ton, or any other purpose which can be
purchased or supplied by contract shall be
furnished in the following manner: The
proper officer or officers Of such city or
town government shall advertise for pro-
posals for furnishing such supplies, articles,
or things as are needed, properly describing
them. This advertisement shall be insert
ed In newspaper, il one be published in
such city or town; and il not, then by notice
duly posted. The proposals shall be in
writing, signed by the party making them,
sealed in an envelope. At the time specified
for opening the proposals. they shall be
opened in the presence of the public, and
the contract shall be awarded to the lowest
reliable bidder. TIE substance of each pro-
posal, with the prices offered to be taken,
and the names OF the parties making them,
shall be published Immediately after the
award and contract is undertaken, in the
manner provided for publishing adver-
tisements for proposals.
8. Articles which cannot, from the nature
OF them, be furnished by contract, or which
may be needed in such manner that they
capnot be advertised for as hereinbeforc
provided, may be purchased at private sale
in such manner as shall be prescribed by
ordinance; and all such purchases at pri-
vate sale on any account whatever, and all
expenditures which are not made by virtue
the preceding section, shall be published
quarterly in newspaper, II one be pub
lished in the town; and IL not, then to be
duly posted. The statement of such pur-
chases and expenditures which is published
oh oil 1cho ho oIa bo 90
Of those from whom purchased, the cause of
the expenditure, and the parties to whom
money expended was paid. This statement
shall be certified by the mayor Of the city or
town to be correct, as appears by the books
or vouchers OF the proper city or town Off
GERS.
4. But no officer, member, or employe Of
any city or town government shall receive
any part Of any money paid under contract,
or at private sale, by such city or town to
any other person whatever. Nor shall any
such officer, member, or employe have any
interest, direct or indirect, in any contract
with, purchase by, or dealing with his city
or town.
A councilman shall not be the agent or
director of a gas company contracting with
the city. .-..l-
ANY officer, member, or employe OF any
city or town government who receives
any money, or part thereof, paid to any
other person by the city, or has any
other interest in any contract with, purchase
by, or dealing with his said city, shall be
deemed guilty Of a mlsdemeanor, and shall
be fined not less than $500.
This act shall be in force from its passage.
This bill now goes to the House for con-
currence in Senate amendments. Sections
2. 3, and were offered by General Bradley
T. johnson. The provision in relation to
gas companies was suggested by Mr.. New
berry.
The following provision, offered by GEN
eral johnson as part Of section 4, was re-
jected: ....
"Any officer, member lof a council] or
employee OF any city or town government
may contract with or sell to such city or
town anything; provided such city or town
has provided by ordinance for advertising
for proposals for contracts for published
awards thereof, and for publishing all pri-
vate purchases and expenditures as provid-
ed for in the I'd and Sd sections Of this act"