, 1854-01-14


persons or packages conveying mailablc matter out
of the Ioail.
! 7. The Postmaster General nav order an in-
crease Of service on the route by allowing there
: for pro rata increase on the contract pay. lie
may also order an increase of speed, he allowing
within tho restrictions Of the law, pro rata in
crease Of pay for the additional stock or carriers
y if any. Tie contractor may, however, in the case
of increase of speed rclinquish the contract by Civ
ing prompt notice to the Department that he pre-
iers doing so to carrying the order into effect
The Postmaster General may also curtaiI or dis
continue the service at pro rata decrease of paw,
it he allow one months extra compensation on
the amount dispensed with, whenever in his opin
ion the public interests do not require the same,
or in case he desires to supcrsede it by different
grade of transportation. He may also change the
times OF arrival and departure (prOvided he does
not curtail the running time) without increasing
the pay.
8. Payments will be made for the service
through drafts on postmasters, or otherwise, after
the expiration Of each quar'er-say in February
May, August, and November.
o. The distances are given according to the
best information; but no increased pay will be
allowed should they be greater than advertised, if
the points to he supplied he correctly stated.
10. The Postmaster General is prohibited by
law from knowingly making contract for trans
portation of the mails with any person who shall
have entered into, or proposed to enter into, any
combination to prevent the making of any bid for
mail contract by any other person or persons, or
or who shall have made any agreement, or
shall have given or performed, or promised TO
give or perform any consideration whatever or to
do or not to do any thing whatever in order to in.
duce any other person or persons not to bid for
mail contract. Particular attention is called to the
@Sth section Of the act og 1856, prohibiting com
binatlons to prevent bidding.
! II. bid received after time, viz. q. m. Of
the Sd April, 1854, or without the guaranty re-
qured by law, or that combines several routes in
one sum of compensation, cannot be considered in
competition with u regular proposal reasonable in
amount.
~. A bidder may offer, where the transporia-
ton called for by the advertisement is difficult or
mpracticahle at certain seasons, 10 substitute an
inferior mode Of convey ance, or TO intOrmit service
specified number Of days, weeks, or months. He
may propose TO omit an inaccessible olfce, or one
not on the stage or railroad, or at a steamboat
landing, as the case may be; or he may offer to
substitute inferior mode of supply in such ca
ses. lie may propose different times of arrival and
departure, provided no more running time is askeJ,
and no mail connexon prcjudiced. lie may ask
additional running time for the trip, during a spe
CITED number of days, in seasons of very bad
roads, but beyond these changes a proposal for
service differing from that called for by the advcr-
tisement will not be considered in competition with
regular bid reasonable in amount. Where a bid
contains any such alterations, their disadvantages
will be estimated in comparing it with other pro-
posals.
49, There should be but one route bid for in
proposal
Il. The route, the service the yearly pay, the
name and residence Of the bidder; and those Of
each member of firm, where a company offers,
should be distinctly stated, also the mode Of con
veyance, if higher mode than horseback be in
intended.
Is. The bid should be sent under seal, ad.
dressed to the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen
eal, supeTscIibed "Mail Proposals in the State
of -" 1t should be guaranteed, and the sui.
fciency of the guarantors certified, (see FORMS
and should be dispatch in time to be received by
or before A. VI. Of the ID of April, 1854.
l6. The contracts arc to be executed and re
turned TO the Department by or before the LIST of
July, 1854.
IL. Under the act of March 8, 1915, the routes
arc to be let to the lowest bidders rendering suii-
cient guarantees, without other references to the
mode Of transportation than may be necessary for
the due ceeTity, certainty, and security Of such
transportation. When the lowest bid proposes
mode Of conveyance inadequate to the due eeleri>
ty, certainty, and security Of the nails it will not
be accepted.
IS. When the bid does not specify a mode Of
Conveyance, also, when il proposes to carry sac
cordng to the advertisement" but without such
specification, it will be considered as a proposal
for horseback service.
10. Since the passage Of the act Of March 3, |
ls45, a new description OF bid has been received.
It does not specify a mode of conveyance, but en-
cages to take the entire mail each trip with celer.
ity, certainty, and security, using the terms ofth
law. These bids arc styled, from the manner in
which they are designated on the books Of the
Department, "slar bids" The experience Of the
Department enables it to lay down the following
rules, viz;
When the mail on the route is not so large s
to require two-horse coach conveyance, star bid,
it the lowest will always be preferred to the spe-
cifc bid.
When the mails arc Of such size and weight as
to render it necessary in TeieTance TO them alone,
to provide two-horse coach conveyance, the spec.
fic bid, though the highest, for coach service if
adiudged to be entirely sufficient for the route,
will be preferred to the star bid, in case the differ.
ence is not such as to interfere with the policy Of
the law Of iS45, which looks to q reduction in the
cost oftranspoHaton. Exceptions, however, may
be allowed where the star bid is made by the own.
er Of the stock now used on the route in the per
iormance Of coach service.
On routes of the highest class, where iour-horse
coach or steamboat transportation is required by
the size and importance Of the mails, and the spe.
cifc bid is adjudged sufficient for the route, the
preference for the specific bid will be, If neecssa
~, carried to greater extent Of difference than
on the inferior coach rouics
30. A modification Of a bid. in any Of its es-
sental terms, is tantamOunt TO a new bid and
cannot be received as 10 interfere with regular
competition, after the last hour set for receiving
bids.
q. Postmastsrs are 20 he careful not TO cer,i-
fy the suiciency Of guArantors or suroties with
out knowing that they are persons Of suficient
responsibility; and all bidders, guarantors, and
snfeties ore distinctly notified ihat on fhilnre 10