The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-08-10
[Yol. 26

"ia"Seu ;Scoruing 10 their sew
eral objects as for wrapping paper,
:" office furniture" " advertising,' mail
bags, " blanks" mail locks, keys, and
stamps" mail depredations, and spec
iai agents" clerks for Offices, +" miscel-
ianous," showing the sum paid under
each head of expenditure. and the names.
OF thepersonstQ whom paid, except only
u" The names persons employed in
detecting depredaiions on the mail, and
other confidential agents, need not be
disclosed in said report.
Fourth. A report Of the finances of the
Pos, Office Department for the year en-
ding on the thirtieth day of June proce-
ding, showing the whole amount Of bal.
ances due to the Department at the begin.
ming of the year, from postmasters and
all others, the whole amount of postage
that accrued within the year, the whole
amount Of the engagements and liabili.
ties OF the Department for mail transpor-
'ation during the year, the amount &C.
tuai'y paid during The year, for and on.
account of mail transportation, and 9th.
erwise, stating separately so much of tho
sand amount rs may have been paid on.
account of the transportation of the mail,
and tor other debts Cor the same object,
in preceding years.
fym. A report Of all fines imposed,
and deductions from the pay of contrac-
tors made during the preceding year, for
failures to deliver the mail, or for any
other cause, stating the names of the de-
iInquent contractors, the naturn Of the
delinquency, the rout on which it occur.
red, the time when it occurred, the time
when the fine was imposed, and whether.
the fine has been remilted, or order for
deduction rcscinded, and for what rea-
s)n.
SECTION %. A1d be it further enacted,
'Iha, 1t shall be the duty of the Postmas--
ter General, before advertising for pro-
posals for the transportation of the mail,
to form the best judgement practical le as
to the mode time, and frequency of trans
portatlon on each route, and to advertise
accordingly. No consolidated or caunbi-
nation bid shall be received, and no ud-
d'tional compensation shall be made to.
any mail contractor, so as that the COM
pensatlon for additional regular service
shall exceed the exact proportion which
the original compensation bears to the
original services stipulated to be perform
ed and no extra allowance shall be
made to any contractor, by the Postmas-
ter General, for all increase of expedi-
ton in the transportation of the mail, un.
less thereby the employment of additional
stock or carriers, by the contractor, shall
be rendered necessary and, in such case
the additional compensation shall never
bear n greater proportion to the additional
stock or carriers rendered necessary, than
the sum stipulated in the original con.
tract bears to the stock and carriers nec-.
essarily employed in its execution, and
when any extra service shall be ordered,
the amount of the allowance therefor, in
dollars and cents, shall be signiiied in the
order for such service, and be forthwith
entered upon the books Of the Post Office
Department, and no additional compen-
sation shall be paid for any extra regular.
service rendered before the issuing of such
order, and the making Of such entry, and
every order, entry, or memorandum what
ever, on which any action of the DEPART
ment is to be had, allowance made, or.
money paid, and every contract, paper
or obligation down up in said office, by
any officer thereof, shall have affixed, to
it It's true date and every paperrela,ing
to contracts or allowances filed in said
office, shall have the date of its filing en-
'lorsed thereon. And whenever it shall
become necessary to change the terms OF
any existing contract IN any other man
ner than that designated IN this act, or
to enter into contract for the transport
tation of the mail at any other time than
at the annual letting, the Postmaster
General shall give notice in one newspa-
per published at Washington City, and in
one newspaper published as near as may
be to the route on which the services are
to be performed for at least four weeks.
before changing or making such contract,
inviting proposals therefor; which pro-
posaIs shall be received and opened, and
such proceedings thereon bad, in all
things, as at the annual lettings, Prvri-
ded howeUer, That the Postmaster Gen.
eral may make temporary contracts un-
I'll a regular letting can take place.
Src. "a. And be it further enafted,.
That proposals for mail contracts shall
be dclivcsed to the Department sealed,
and shall be kept sealed nntil the bid.
dings are closed, aud shall then be OPEN
ed and marked in the presents of tho
Postmaster General and Of one Of the as.
sistant Postmaster General, or in the pres
encc of two Of the Assistant Postmasters
General. And the contracts in all cases
shall be awarded to the lowest bidder, ex-
cept when his bid is not moro than FIVE
per centum below that ofthe last contrac-.
tor, on the route bid for, who shall have
faithfully performed his contract: Pre-
vi led ho,cerer, That the Postmaster