The Washington times., 1917-09-15
WAR BUYING
FACTS MUST
Be FILED FOR
PUBLIC VIEW
~ BILL PRICE.

OF deep interest in washington and
throughout the country, in view Of
all sorts Of intimations going the
rounds as to the letting OF contracts
for war supplies. viii be the eivlI
war time law, still as effectivs as at
that time, providing for the Ming Of
all bids. contracts, and papers in the
returns Office OF the Interior Depart
ment, to which any one may havs
access at any time.
In the deficiency appropriations act
or June Is, 1917, Congress recognized
the wisdom OF the law, passed June 2,
1852, by amending Il so that the NJ
ing OF all papers In any purchase by
the Government might be delayed
ninety days. the original law calling
for hling within thirty days.
DistrlbutiaE Reporta.
Reports are being scattered wide
spread that the spirit and letter Of
another law providing that bids shall
be advertised for before contracts are
made are daily violated.
No responsible authority has un-
dertaken to investigate the reports
ahoat. some taking It for granted that
bottom OF the stories
Regardless OF the foundation for
the stories. which officials take for
granted will continue to the end q
the war. everybody win want to read
section 3744 OF the act OF June 2,
1862. It Is as follows:
What Act Provides.
''It shall be the duty Of the Secrs-
tary OF War, OF the Secretary OF the
Navy, and OF the Secretary OF the In
terror. to cause and require every
contract made by them severally on
behalf Of the Government, or by their
officers under them appointed to make
such contracts, to be reduced to writ
Ing, and signed by the contracting
parties with their names at the end
thereof; q copy OF which shall be nled
By the officer making and signing the
in the return office Of the
Department OF the Interior, as soon
after the contract Is made as pos
,ible, and within thirty days, together
with all bids. offers. and proposals
10 him made by persons to obtain the
same, and with a copy Of any adver-
.isement he may have published inVit.
ng bids, offers, or proposals for the
Iame.
"All the copies and papers in rela-
ion to each contract shall be attach
ID together by q ribbon and seal, ana
marked by numbers in regular order.
to the number OF papers
the whole return"
Afndnvit Required.
Section 3745 of the same act pre-
rides:
'It shall be the further duty oe
he officer. before making his re-
urn, according to the preceding ssc-
Ion, to affix to the same his affis
iavit in the following form, sworn u
before some magistrate having az
hority to administer oaths: 7 Dc
swear Tor affirm) that tha
;opy Of contract hereto annexed IL
N exact copy of q contract made
made the same fairly without any
,enefit or advantage to myself, %
any such benefit or adA
'antage corruptly to the said -p
II any other person; and that the
'apers accompanying include an
hose relating to the said contract
y required by the statute. in such
ase made and provided
The penalty for failure to hle an
'apers as provided in sections sT4A
nd S746 is q nne of not more than
500 and Imprisonment for not more
han six months.
The Secretary Of the Interior Is re-
Iuired to provide q proper apart
nent, "to be called the returns Of
ice,' in which all returns shall be
made" The clerk OF the office ia
equired to file all returns $50 that
he same may be OF easy access
.eeping all returns made by the same
fficer in the same place. and num-
ering them In the order in which
hey are made"
The clerk is furthermore required
o keep an index book, with the
ames of the contracting parties, ana
he number OF each contract opposite
o the names: and shall submit the
ndex-book and returns to any per-
on desiring to inspect them"