AUCTIONS OF BARK, ETC. 167 



Art. 22. Any disputes which may arise during auctions 

 either as to their validity, or as to the solvency of those making 

 bids or giving securities, shall be decided immediately by the 

 official presiding at the auction. 



Art. 23. The following are not allowed to take part in sales, 

 either personally, or by persons acting for them directly or 

 indirectly, either as principal bidder, or as a partner or surety: 



1. Officers and employees of the Waters and Forests Serv- 



ice throughout the RepubHc, the officials charged 

 with presiding or taking part in the sales, and the 

 collectors of the felled products throughout the terri- 

 tory where they exercise their functions. In case of 

 conviction of an offence they shall be punished by 

 a fine which shall not exceed a quarter or be less 

 than a twelfth of the total amount obtained by the 

 auction, and they shall be liable to imprisonment 

 and the prohibition contained in Art. 175 of the 

 Penal Code. 



2. The relations and connections in direct Hne, the brothers, 



brothers-in-law, uncles, and nephews of the officers 

 and employees of the Waters and Forests Service 

 throughout the territory for which officers and em- 

 ployees are commissioned. 



In case of infraction of rules and regulations they shall be 

 subject to a fine equal to that laid down in the preceding 

 paragraph. 



3. The counsellors of the tribunal, the judges, the officers 



of public departments and recorders of district courts 

 in the entire area (arrondissement) in their jurisdiction. 



In case of conviction, they shall be liable to all damages 

 should any occur. 



Any auction that shall be made contrary to the provisions 

 of this article shall be declared null and void. 



Art. 24. Any secret association or negotiation between 

 dealers in wood, cork, or other forest products, tending to 

 lower or disturb the biddings, or to obtain the products at 

 a lower price, will lead to the apphcation of the penalties cited 

 under Art. 412 of the Penal Code, in addition to all damages, 



