, 1858-01-01

contract, to perform the service proposed, with goo
and sufficient suretles.
This we do understanding distinctly tie obligations
and liabilities assumed by guarantors under the 27tl
section OF the act OF Congress Of July ., 1896.
, 49,, (Sgncd by two suaantors.)
CERTIFICATE.
The undersigned, postmaster of ---, state 0
=, certihcs, under his oath Of office that he is ac
quainted with the above guarantorS and knows then
to be men of property and able u make good The
guarantee.
Dated
(Signed)
Is. Altered bids should not lie submitted; no.
should bids once submitted be withdrawn.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsible,
persons General guarantees cannot be admitted
The bid and guarantee should be signed plainly witt
the full name of each person.
The department reserves the right to reject any
bid which may be deemed eXtrayagant, and also thu
bids of failing contractors and bidders.
lG. The bid should be sealed, surerScribcd mai
Proposals, State or Territory Of (as the case may be
-" addressed "Second Assistant Postmaste
General" Contract Office, and sent by mail not by o
to an AGENT and postmastels will not enclose propO
sails Tor letters Of any kiuD in their quarterly re
turns.
II. The contracts are to he executed and returned
to the department by or before the lst of August
1858, but the service must be commenced on the ii
July, the mail day next after that date, whether
the contracts be executed not No proposition TO
transfers will be considered until the contracts ar
executed and received at the department; and thei
no transfers will be allowed unless good and suiicien
reasons therefor given, to be determined by thu
department.
is. Section Is of an act of Congress, approved
March s. 1885, provides that contracts for the trans
portation of the mail shall be let Sin every t.
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 CELEBRITY certainty and security
e. ITt.1n l.sv
crption 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 Sc
curity, using the terms Of the law. These bids
styled from the manner in which they are designated
on the books Of the department, "star bids" ant
they will be construed providing for the convey
ance Of the entire mail, however large, and whatever
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 he ac
cepted, il duly guaranteed, in preference to star
or specific bid.
When the lowest bid is not a star bid, and specific,
either no mode or an inadequate mode Of conveyance
II will not be accepted, but set aside for specific bic
proposing the necessary service.
When the bid does not specify mode of convey
ance; also when it proposes to carry according tC
the advertisement" but without such specification IL
will be considered as proposal for horseback serv
ice.
90 A modification Of a bid in any of its essential
beIns Is ttutiuOunI 10 new Diu, ana cannot be re-
ceiVed so as to interfere with regular competition
after the last hour set for receiving bids.
81 POstmasters to be careful not to certify the
suihcency OF guarantOrs or suretes without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility and
all bidders, guarantors and suretiCs, are distinctly
tilted that, on failure to enter into perform the
contracts for the service proposed Jr in the accepted
bids, their legal liabilities will be enforced against
them.
y. Present contractors, and persons known at the
department, must, equally with Others procure guar.
antors and certificates Of their sniicienoy substan
tally in the forms above prescribed The certificates
Of suiiicency must be signed by postmaster or by
judge Of court Of record
AARON V. BROWN,
Postmaster General
POsT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
October %, 1851. IJan. l, '5s-l2w