Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-09
INSTRUCTIONS,

contracts 10 Ue eTteHt tHe department V'e.y
deem proper.
l. Seven minutes are allowed to each interlne-
date office when not otherwise specified, for as
sorting the mails; but on railroad and steamboat
routes there is to be no more delay than is suffl-
cient for an exchange of the mail bags.
9. On routes where the mode ofconveyance ad
mits of it, the special agents of the Department,
also post office blanks, mail bags, locks and keys,
are to be conveyed without extra charge.
8. No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each OF such omissions not satisfactorily en-
planned three times the pay of the trip may be de-
Quoted. For arrivals 50 far behind time as to break
connexion with depending mails, and not srffi-
GENTLY excused, one fourth ofthe compensation for
the trip is subject to forfeiture. Deduction may
also be ordered for grade of performance inferior
to that specified in the contract. For repeated de-
linquencies of the kind herein specified, enlarged
penalties proportional to the nature thereof and
the Importance of the mail, may be made
1. For leaving behind, or throwing off the mails,
or any portion of them for the admission of pas
sengers, or for being concerned in setting up or
running an express conveying commercial inteli-
peuce ahead Of the mail, a quarters pay may be
deducted.
5. Fines will be imposed, unless the Delinquent
tiicates Of postmasters, the aftidavits of other
creditable persons for falling to arrive in contract
time for neglecting to take the mail from, or de-
liver it into, post Office for suffering ii lowing
either to the unsuitabenesS of the place or man
ner of carrying it) to be injured, destroyed, robbed,
or lost and for refusing, after demand, to convey
the mail as frequently as the contractor runs, or is
concerned in running, coach, car, or steamboat,
on route.
6. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to run agreeaby to con-
tract; for disobeyng the post office laws, or the
instructions of the Departments for refusing to dis
charge carrier when required by the Department
to do so for assigning the contract without the
assent of the Postmaster General; for running an
express as aforesaid or for transporting persons or
packages conveying mailable matter out of the
mail
7. The Postmaster General may order an in
prease of service on route by allowing therefor
Gro rata increase on the contract pay. He may
also order an increase of speed, he allowing, with
in the restrictions of the law, pro rata increase
of paw for the additional stock carriers, if any
The contractor may, however, in the case OF In
crease of speed. relnquish the contract by giving
prompt notice to the Department that he prefers
doing SO to carrying the order into effect. The
Postmaster General may also curail or discontinue
the service, at pro rata decrease OF pay, II ne al
low one months extra compensation on the amount
dispensed with, whenever in his opinion, the pub
lie interests do not require the same, or In case ne
desires TO supersede it by electromagnetic OF trans
poraton.
8. PAYMENTS will be made for the service by
collections or of drafts posnasters or otherwise,
after the expiration of each quarter-say In Febru-
airy, May, August, and November.
g. The distances are given according to the best
information but no increased pay will be allowed,
should they be greater than advertised the points
to be supplied be correctly stated.
10. The postmaster General is prohibited by
law from knowingly making contract for the
transportation of the mails with any person who
shall have entered into, or proposed to enter nto
any combination to prevent the making OF any bid
for mail contract by any other person or persons,
or who shall have made any agreement, or Snail
have given or performed, or promised TO give OF
perform, any consideration whatever, or to DO, or
not to do, any thing whatever, in order to induce
any other person or persons not to bld i'r man
contract Particular attention is called to the Zcth
section of the act of 1886 prohibiting combinations
to prevent bidding. =,
il. A bid received after time, viz: the 4th Of
April 1853, at a IN or without the guaranty re-
ouired by law. or that combines several routes IN
one compensation, cannot be considered In compe'
ttion with regular proposal reasonable In amount
u A bidder may offer, where the transportation
called for by the advertisement is difficult or I'M
practicable at certain seasons, TO substitute an lleri
or mode of CONVEYANCE or to intermit service speci
fled number ofdays, weeks, or months. lie may pro-
pose 10 omit an inaccessible Office or one not on the
I otn cfa ohpat Tor
case may be or he may offer to substitute an nte
rior mode of supply in such cases. lie may pro
pose different times OF arrival and departure, pro
vided no more running times Is asked, and no NAL
connexion prejudiced. He may ask additional
running time for the trip, during specified num-
Der Of days. in seasons Of very bad roads but be-
yond these changes, proposal for service differ,
ing from that called for by the advertisement will
not be considered in competition with regular
| bid reasonable in amount. Where bid contains
any such alterations, their disadvantages will be
estimated in comparing it with other proposals.
13. There should be but one route bid for in a
proposal: ~.
Ia. The route the service, the yearly pay, the
name and residence of the bidder, and those OF
each member of firm, where company offers,
should DO distinctly stated also the mode of con-
veyance, if higher mode than horseback be In
tended.
Is. The bid should be sent under seal, address
sod to the Second Assistant Postmaster General,
subscribed email Proposals in the State of -"
It should be guaranteed, and the suficiency of the
guarantors certified, (see forms.) and should be
dispatched in time 10 be received by or before
A. NJ, Of the 9TH April, 1853.
l6. The contracts are to be executed, and re-
turned to The Department by or before The lst Of
July, 1853.
II, Under the act Of March Sd 1886, the routes