The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-02-16

doing So 10 carrying the order into fleet. The
Postmaster General may also curtal or dIscoIitin-
ue he service, al pro rata decrease of pay, allow
ing month 'sextra compensation on the amount
dispensed with, whenever, in his opinion, the pub.
lie interests do not require the anne, in case
he desires TO supersede j, by different grade OF
transportation.
! O. Payments will be made for the service by
collections from, or drafts on, postmasters, or
otherwise, after the expiration Of each quarter
say in February, May, August and November.
10. The distances given according 10 the
| best information but no increased pay will be al
lowed should they be greater than advertised. il
the points 10 be supplied be- correctly stated Bid.
| ders must inform themselves on this point.
! IL. 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 INTO
| 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 shall have given performed, or promised to
give perform. TO do, or not TO do, any. thing
whatever in order to induce any other person or
persons not to bid for mail contract. Particular
attention is called TO the 2sh section Of the ACT of
1886 prohibiting combinations to prevent bidding.
H. A bid received after time-viz 8 p. m. of
the 9th Of April, ls55-or without the guaran-
tee required by law, or that combines several
routes in sum Of compensation, cannot be con.
sidercd in competition with a regular proposal
reasonable in amount.
Is Bidders should, in all cases, first propose
for service strictly according to the advertisement,
and then il they desire, separately for different
service and if the regular bid be the lowest Of
ered for the advertised service, the other bids may
be considered, il the alterations proposed are re:
commended by the postmasters and citizens in
terested, or if they shall appear manifesty right
and proper.
IA. There should be but one route bid for in
proposal.
Is. 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 be distinctly stated. also the mode OF con-
veyance, if higher mode than horseback is in
tended. The words "wilh due celebrity, certain.
ty and security" inserted to indicate the mode OF
conveyance, will constitute ''Star Did,"
IS. Bidders requested to use, as far prac-
ticable, the printed form of proposal furnished by
The department, to write out in full the sum Of
their bids, and TO retain copies of them.
No altered bids can be considered, and no bids
once submitted can be Withdrawn.
Each biz. must be guaranteed by two respon.
sible persons. General guarantees cannot be ad-
mitted.
IT. The bid should be sealed superscribed
" mail proposals, State of North Carolina" adj
dressed g Second Assistant Postmaster General
Contract Office, and sent by MAIL not by, or TO,
an agent, and postmasers will not enclose proPo-
sails Tor letters Of any knd) in their quarterly re-
turns.
Is. The contracts are to be executed and return.
ed to the department by or before the lst Of July,
1855 bun the service must be commenced The
mail day mex: after that date, whether the contracts
be executed or not. No proposition for transfers
will be considered until the contracts executed
in due form and received at the department; and
then no transfers will he allowed unless good and
sufficient reasons therefor given, to be deter
mined by the department.
10. PostmasteIs at offices on or near railroads.
but than eighty rods from station, will, i'm
mediaely after the 9th April next, report their
exact distance from The nearest station, and bow
they are otherwise supplied with the mall to cna-
bic The Postmaster General to direct mail mes
senger supply from the lst OF July next.
20. Section Is of an act of Congress approved
March 3, l645, provides that contracts for the
transportation Of the mail shall be let, in every
case, to the lowest bidder rendering suhiclen: guar.
antees for faithful performance, without other re-
ference to the mode Of such transportation than
may be necessary to provide for the due CELEBRITY,
certainty, and security of such transportaticns."
Under this law new desert ton OF bids has been
received. 1t does not specify mode Of convey
ance, but engages to take the entire mail each trip
with CELEBRITY, certainly, and security, using the
terms of the law. These bids styled. from
the manner in which they designated on
the books of the department, "star btdS," and
they will be construed providing forthe entire
mail, hoacever large, and aohatever may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary TO insure ats celera
ty, certainty, anu securety.'
In all cases where the lowest grade OF service
is believed 10 be sufficient, The lowest bid will be
accepted il duly guaranteed, in preference to a
star " or specific bid.
When the lowest bid is not a star bid, and spe.
cities either no mode or an inadequate mode OF
conveyance, it will not be accepted, but set aside
for specific bid proposing the necessary service.
When the bid does specify mode Of con.
veyance, also when it proposes TO carry "accor-
ding to the advertisement" but without such spc-
cifcation, it will be considered as proposal for
horseback service.
81. A modification of bid, in any OF its cs-
senal terms, is tantamount TO a new bid, and can.
competition, after the last hour set for receiving
bids.
%. Postmasters are to be careful no, to certify
the sufficiency OF guarantors sureties without
knowing that they persons Of sufficient re-
sponsibty; and all bidders, guarantors, and
suretes distinctly notified hat, on failure t..
enter into perform the for the service
proposed for in The accepted bids, their legal liza.
bilities will be enforced against them.
%. The contracts will be substantially in tn e
forms heretofore used 10 this department, except