, 1858-01-15

contract to perform the service proposed, with good
aud sufficient sureties
This we do understanding distinctly the obligations
and liabilities assumed by guarantOrs under the 2ith
section Of the act of Congress OF July 2, 1886.
.. (signcd by two guarantors.)
CERTIFICATE.
The undersigned, postmaster Of --. State Of
-, certfes under his oath of office. that he is
quanted with the above guarantors, and knows them
to be men OF property and able u make good the
guarantee.
Dated IA
(Signed)
Is. Altered lids should not he submitted nor
should bids once submitted be withdraw.
Each bid must he 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 rigHto reject any
bid which may he deemed extrayagant, and also the
bids of failing contractors and bidders.
lG. The bid should be sealed, superscribed Mail
Proposals. State Territory Of (as the may be)
-" addressed "SecOnd Assistant Postmaster
General" Contract Office aud sent by mail not by OF
an aEsnt and postmasters will not enclose propo
sails Tor letters OF any kind) in their quarterly re
turns.
H. The contracts arc to he executed and returned
n the department by or before the lst Of August
1853 but the service must be commenced on the lsI
July or the mail day next after that date, whether
the contracts be executed or not No proposition ol
transfers will be considered until the contracts are
executed and received at 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. ls45 provides that contracts for the trans
portation of the mail shall be let "n every IA
the lowest bidder rendering sufficient guarantees fol
faithful performance, without other reference to the
mode Of such transportation than may be necessary
to provide for the due ceerty certainty and security
Of such transportation" Under this law a new des-
criptieA Of bids has been received They do not spe
city mode OF conveyance, but engage to take the
entire mail each trip with CELEBRITY certainty, and
curity, using the terms Of the law. These bids are
styled from the manner in which they are designated
on the books Of the department, Star bids" and
they will be construed providing for the convey
of the entire mail, however large, and whatever
may be the mode necessary TO insure its "celerty
certainty, and security"
49, In all cases where the lowest grade Of service
is believed to be sufficient, the lowest bid will be ac
cepted u duly guaranteed, in preference to star
or specific bid.
when the lowest bid is not star bid, and specific,
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 not specify mode OF convey
ance; also, when II proposes TO carry according "a
the advertisement" but without such specification, II
will be considered as proposal for horseback serv
| ice.
90 modification Of bid in any Of its essential
terms is tantamOunt 10 a new bid and cannot be re
ceived, 30 as to interfere with regular competition
after the last hour set for receiving bids
2l. Postmasers 10 be careful not to certify The
suiciency Of guArantors suretes without knowing
that they persons Of sufficient responsibility; and
all bidders guaTantors, and suretes distinctly no
titled that failure TO enter into or perform tho
contracts for the service proposed for in the accepted
bids, their legal liabilities will be enforced against
them.
70. Present contractors, and persons known at the
department must equally with others, procure guar
antors and certificates Of their suiicency substan.
TALLY in the forms above prescribed. The certificates
Of snficency must be signed by postmaster OF by
judge Of court Of record.
AARON V. BROWN,
Postmaster General
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
October %, 1851. Jan. ], 5S-f2w.