CHAPTER 343.
An Act to distribute public books, &c.
WHEREAS, The Secretary of State has exhausted all the means within his power to have the public books and documents of this State distributed in accordance with the present law, and in consequence of the present military difficulties existing in this State; and whereas, the said public books and documents are likely to become ruined, and are now damaged in consequence of being in so large a bulk; therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
SEC. 1. That the Secretary of State be authorized to advertise in the two papers of this city, and also in the Louisville Journal and Democrat, for bids to distribute the aforesaid books and public documents to the different districts, as heretofore laid off and apportioned; said advertisements to be continued and bids received till the 1st of January, 1862, and the contracts to be awarded to the lowest and best bidder.
SEC. 2. That in the event no bids are made for distributing the aforesaid books, &c., throughout the whole State, and certain districts are not bid for, or the bids are too high in the opinion of the Secretary of State, then the Secretary is hereby authorized to have said books and public documents distributed to such counties as he reasonably can, requiring bond and good security of the contractor to faithfully perform his duties, furnishing vouchers to the General Asembly of his action in the premises.
SEC. 3. That the Secretary of State be authorized to procure a suitable room for storing away and keeping safely the aforesaid public books and documents, &c., and that he make report of the amount and number of books, &c., left on hand, undistributed, to the General Assembly.
SEC. 4. That the Secretary of State be authorized to draw his warrant on the Auditor for paying off the persons employed to transport the books, public documents, &c., in accordance with the provisions of this act: Provided, That the amount so drawn does not exceed in the aggregate, for the whole State, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.
SEC. 5. That the Secretary of State be authorized to furnish to such counties as he can, the books and public documents, &c., aforesaid, contiguous to the county of Franklin: Provided, That the cost of transportation, &c., shall not exceed the sum of five dollars for each county.
SEC. 6. This act to take effect from its passage.
