The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-04
instructions to Bidders and Post
masters:

md1NCAos
Contqintug also conditions to Be Incorporated
in The contracts to the extent the Depart
meHt may deem proper.
I. Seven minutes are allowed to each in
! termediate office, when not otherwise speci-
/ ned, for asserting the mails but on railroad
I and steamboat routes there IL to be no more
delay than is sufficient for an exchange OF
the mail pouches.
.. On railroad and steamboat lines, and
other routes where the mode Of conveyance
admits Of it, the special SCENTS Of the Post
Office Department, also post Office blanks,
| mail bags, locks and keys, are 10 be con-
veyed without extra charge.
3. On railroad and steamboat lines the
route agents of the department are to be con-
veyed without charge, and Tor the use Of the
agents a connexions car, or apartment in
the centre of a car, properly lighted,
warmed, and furnished, and adapted to the
[ convenient separation and due security Of
Z the mails, is % be provided by the contrae-
tor, under the direction of the department.
Railroad and steamboat companies are
| required 10 take the mail from and deliver
it into the post offices at the beginning and
end of their rOutes, and to and from all
I offices not more than eighty rods from a sta
ton or landing. Proposals may be submit
ted by the companies for the performance Of
all other side service-that is, for offices over
eighty rods from a station or landing.
There will be "way bills" prepared by
postmasters, or other agents Of the depart
ment, 10 accompany the mails conveyed on
railroads and steamers, specifying the mum
Der and destination Of the several bags.
| On other principal routes, likewise, receipts
will be required and way-bills forwarded
| the latter 10 be examined by the several
pOstmasters, to insure regularity in the de-
livery Of mails.
4. No pay will be mad for trips not per
! formed and for each Of such omissions,
not satisfactorily explained, three times the
pay Of the trip msy be deducted. For ar
rivals 80 far behind time as 10 break con-
nection with depending mails, aud not suf-
fciently excused, one fourth Of the COM
pansat,ou of the trip is subject 10 forfeiture.
For repeated delinquencies ofthe kind here
in specified, enlarged penalties, proportion
ed 10 the nature thereof and the Importance
Of the mail, may be made.
5. For leaving behind or throwing off the
nails, or any portion Of them, for the ad-
| mission Of passengers, or Tor being con-
cerned IN setting up or running an express
conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mail, a quarters pay may be deducted.
q. Fines Will be imposed, unless the de-
~iiuquency be promptly and satisfactorily ex-
planned by certificates Of pO.tmasters or the
att davits Of other credible persons. for fail
ing TO arrive in contract time for NEGLECT
ing to take the mail from, or deliver it into.
a post Office for suffering il to be wet. in
Jursd, destroyed, robbed, or lost and for
refusing, after demand, 10 convey the mail
as frequently as the contractor runs, or IS
concerned IN running, scosch, car, or steam
boat on o route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the
contract for repeated failures to run agree
ably to contract; for violating the post
oihce laws, or d~isobeying the instructions Of
the department; for refusing 20 discharge q
carrier when required by the department 70
do so for running an express as Aforesaid
or for Transporting persOns or packages con-
VeyiuE mailable matter out Of the mail.
8. The Postmaster General may order an
increase Of service on a route by allowing
therefor 8 pro rata increase on the contract
pay. He may ehapge schedules OF depar-
lures and arrivals in al cases, and particu-
larly 10 make them c~Ouf0rfa 70 connections
with railroads, without increase Of pay, /
provided the running time be not abridged.
lie may also order an increase Of speed, /
allowing, within the restrictions Of the law, /
q pro rata increase Of pay Cor the additional
stock or carriers, If any. The contractor
sgecd, r~eiinquish the contract, by giving
prompt notice 20 the department. that he
prefers doing 50 to carrying tbs order into
effect. The Postmaster General may also
discontinue or curtail the service, IN whole
or in part, in order 70 place on the route a
greater degree Of service, or whenever the
public interests, in his Judgment, shall re-
quire such discontinuaRce OF curtailment
for any other cause; he allowing as a full
indemnity 10 contractor n months extra
pay on the amount Of service dispensed
with, and a pro rata compensation Tor the
amount Of service retained and continued.
9. Payments viii be made BY collections
from OF drafts on postmasters, or otherwise,