Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-18

| Mail Proposals, State of ----fbaddfesr :.
Second Assistant Postmaster. aeneral, i,
tract Office" and sent brz3aail, not by or .ss
an agent; and postmasters" wiil not zenct n
proposals Tor letters OF any kindl ID th-.,
quarterly returns.
! II. The contracts: are to be executed ni,l
returned to the department by or before | -.
lSt lay Of July 1864, but the service mr /
be commenced on that day, or on tile M.
day next after il, whether the contracts t.
executed or not. a ,s.~,5ssf -
Transfers of contracts, or OF interest ~
contracts, are forcbiddcn by law, and COM
quentiy cannot be allowcd.s Bidders ri 7
therefore take notice that they will be G.,
pectcd to perform tic Service accepted -
them through the whole term Of the co...
tract. "a 81
10. p stmasters at offices on or near rail,.
roads, but more than eighty rods from I,
station, will Immediately after 31st of Mar, Z
next, report their exact distance from 4!
nearest station, and how they are otherw,
supplied with the mail, to enable the Pos
master General to direct mail>mcsseng
supply from the 1st OF July next. =.
10. Section eighteen vf an act of Congress
approved March 8, 1845, provides that col-
tracts for the transportation of mail shall lie
let, Sin every case, To the lowest bidder tel
dering sufficient guarantees for faithful PEI !.
fnrmance, without other reference to Il :
mode of such transportation than may h.
necessary t. provide for the due celerity
certainty. and security of such itrapsporta
ton 3" Under this lar, bids that propose t,
transport the mails piM "celeriiy, certaint,
and security" haring been decided to be n Il
only legal bids, are construed as proridis.
for the entire mail, ho,cerer large, and wha.
erer may be The mode OF conveyance necessa5 s
10 insure its "celeri'y; certainty, and securitt
and miH hare the preference orer all othes;,
and no others piH be considered.
90 A modification Of bid in any Of IL
essential terms is tantamount to new ti
and cannot be received, so as to infcre wilr
regular competition, after the last hour f.,
for receiving bids. Making a new bid, will.
guarantee and certificate, is the only way t,
modify previous bid :,
81. Postmasters are to be careful not tr
certify to the sufficient responsibility; dis .
regard Of his instruction by postmasters as a
riolation Of their oath Of office, suljectinu
them 10 immediate remoral All bidder.
guarantors, and sureties are distinctly mott,
fed that on failure to enter into or perforn,
the contracts for the service proposed for irl
the accepted bids, their legal liabilities vii.
be enforced against them.
%. Present contractors, and persons known.
at the department, must equally with other
procure guarantors and certificates of their
sullicicncy substantially in the forms above
prescribed. The certificate of eficienc,
must be signed by postmaster or by
judge of court of record, and must have
affixed to it five.cent revenue stamp, can.
cclle'l, as required by law. No other certir-
catcs will be admitted.
M. BLAIR,
Postmaster General.
BY The 42d section Of act of Congress.
"to amend the laws relating to the Post
O0ice Department" approved March 8.
1868, aH communications addressed T..
either Of the erecutire departments ,of H.
government "must be prepaid by posta3a
stamps" Proposals. shpuld. therefore,
DC. thhps prepaid, nafeas from persons N
mhons authority to franh mail matter as
conferred by .he same law.
Jan. II, lsG4-6t.