, 1858-01-22

contract to perform the service proposed, with good
and sufficient surcties
This we do understanding distinctly the obligations
and liabilities assumed by guarantors under the 27th
section Of the act of Congress Of July 2, 1896.
(signcd by two guarantors.)
Dated
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, postmaster Of - State Of
--, certihes under his oath Of office that he is ac-
quanted with the above guarantors, and knows them
to he men OF property and able to make good the
guarantee.
Dated
(Signed)
Is. Altered bids should not he submitted; nor
should bids once submitted be withdrawn.
Each bid must I've guaranteed by two responsible
persons General guarantees cannot be- admitted
The bid and guarantee should be signed plainly with
the full name Of each person.
The department reserves the right to reject any
bid which may be deemed extravagant and also the
bids of failing contractors and bidders. .
lG. The bid should be sealed, superscribcd Mail
Proposals. State Territory Of (as the case may W.
-" addressed "Secoud Assistant POSTING \
General" Contract Office and sent by mail, not ~ :
To an a rent; and postmasters will not enclose prdt4
sas Tor letters Of any kind) in their quarterly re-
turns.
II. The contracts are to be executed aud returned
tn the department by before the lst OF August,
ISIS but the service must be commenced on the lst
July or the mail day next after that date, whether
the contracts be executed or not No proposition Tor
transfers will be considered until the contracts are
executed and receive&sst the department; and then
no transfers will be allowed unless good and sufficient
reasons therefor are given, to be determined by the
department.
is. Section IS Of an act of Congress- approved
March g. 1875 provides that contracts for the trans
pnrtatOn Of the mail shall be let "in every case to
the lowest bidder rendering sufficient guarantees for
faithful performance without other reference to the
mode of such transportation than may be necessary
to provide for the due CELEBRITY certainty and security
of such transportation" Under this law a new des
crpton Of bids has been received. They do not spe
city mode Of conveyance, but engage 70 take the
entire mail each trip with ceerity, certainty, and Sc
curity using the terms Of the law. These bids are
styled from the in which they are designated
on the books Of the department, "stdr bids" and
they will be construed as providing Tor the convey
may be the mode necessary to insure its "celerity,
certainty, and security"
10. In all cases where the lowest grade Of service
is believed to be sufficient, the lowest bid will be
cepted, IL duly guaranteed, In preference to star
or specific bid.
When the lowest bid is not star bid, and specifies
either 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 not specify mode Of convey
ance also, when II proposes to carry according TO
the advertisement" but without such specification, II
will be considered as proposal for horseback serv-
ice.
20. A modification Of a bid in any of its essential
terms is tantamount to lid, and cannot he re-
ceVed, so as 10 interfere with regular competition,
after the last hour set for receiving bids
2. Postmasters 10 be careful not 10 certify the
snciency Of guarantors sureties without knowing
that they persons OF sufficient responsibility; and
all bidders guarantors and suretes distinctly no
tilted that, q failure TO enter into perform the
contracts for the service proposed for in the accepted
bids their legal liabilities will be enforced against
them.
%. Present contractors, and persons known at the
department, must, equally with others, procure guar
antOrs and certificates Of their snicieney snbstan
TALLY In the forms above prescribed. The certificates
Of suficiency must be signed by postmaster or by
judge Of a court Of record.
Postmaster General.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
October ~, 1857. tJan. ..'5s-l2w.