The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-10-25
INSTRUCTIONS,

, stance of whteh wW be Incorporated /,
the contracts, so, for as the Department
ShaH deem erpcdieat.
/. Seven minutes are allowed 70
opening and closing the males at all in
termediate Offices where no partcula
time is specified but on railroad ant
steamboat routes there is to be no more
delay than is necessary to deliver ane
receive the bags.
.. Post Office blanks, mail bags, anc
the special agents Of the Department or
the exhibition of their credentials, are tc
b. conveyed without further charge, on
NATL lines admitting Of such convey.
ance.
3. Mail or route agents are to be con
veyed without charge on railroad and
steamboat lines, when required by the
Department; and, in that case &ppa-
rate apartment for the exclusive Use OF
the Department and agent, and for the
asserting and safe-kccriag of The mail is
TO be provided by the contractor, under
the direction OF the Department.
| 4. In all cases there is to he for
fixture Of the pay of the trip when the
trip is not run; and of not more than
three times the pay of the trip when the
trip is not run, aud no sufficient excuse
for the failure is furnished forfeiture
OF at least onessfourth part Of it when
the running or arrival is SO far behind
time as to lose the connection with de-
pending mail; and forfeiture Of due
proportion OF it when grade Of service
i. rendered inferior to that in the con-
tract. These lurteitnres may be lncrca-
sea into penalties Of higher amount, &C
cording to the nature or frequency of the
failures and the importance of the mail.
). Whenever il is satisfactorily shown
that the contractors, their carrier or
agent, has LEFT or put aside the mail or
any portion Oft, for the accommodation
of passengers, they shall forfeit not e4-
ceeding quarters Fay.
&. Fines will be imposed unless the
delinquency be satisfactorily explained
in due time, for falling to take from, or
deliver at, a posi- Office, the mail, or any
part Of it: for suffering it to be wet IT.
iured, lost or destroyed; for conveying
it IN place or manner that exposes it to
depreciation, loss, or injury: for refusing
after demand to convey mail bY any
coach, railroad car or steamboat, which
the contractor regularly runs, or is con-
cPrned in running, on The route beyond
the specified number of tri ps in the con-
tract, and for not arriving at the time
set: and for setting up or running an eN-
press TO transmit commercial intel!-
gence in advance of the mail, penalty
will be exacted equal to quarters pay.
!. The Postmaster General may an
nul the contract for repeated failures;
for violating the post office laws; for dis
obeying the instructions Of the Depart
mrnt; for refusing to discharge Il carrier
when required by the Department; for
asst gning the contract without the con-
sent of the Postmaster General, or los
setting up or running an.cXpress as a:ore-
said, or for transporting persons con-
veying mail matter out Of the mail
s. The Postmaster General may alter
the contract, and alter the schedule, he
pro rata increase of coHlprn-
sation, within the restrictions imposed
by law, for the additional service re-
quired, or for the increased speed, il the
OF additional stock or car
riers is rendered necessary; but the con-
tractor may, in the case OF increased ex-
petition, relinquish the contract, on
timely notice, if he prefers it to the
change. The Postmaster General may
annul the contract, or discontinue or
curtaiI the service and pay, when he
wishes to dispense with the service, in
whole or in part, or 10 place higher or
different grade of service on the route,
or whenever the public interest require
such diScont!nuance or curtalment for
any other cause, he allowing one months
extra pay on the amount OF service dis
rensed with.
9. The payment will be made through
drafts on post Offices or otherwise, after
the expiration Of each quaater--say in
February, May, August and November.
10. The distances are given accord
ing to the best information; but no in
creased pay will be allowed, should they
prove to be greater than is advertised.
II. The Postmaster General is pro-
hiblted by law from knowingly making
a contract tor the transportation ofthe
mail with any person who shall have en-
tered into, any combination, or proposed
to enter into any combination, to pre-
vent the making Of any bid for a mail
contract by any other person Or persons,
OF who shall have made any agreement,
or shall have given or performed, or
promised to g We or perform, any consd-
Grafton to do, or not TO do, any thing
whatever to induce any other person not
to bid for mail contract. Particular
is called to the 2Sth section of
H..