The national Republican., 1867-12-23

other obstruotions increasing distance, occurring
during the contract torn. 0ficss established
after this advertisement 10 issued, and also dur
Ing the contract term, are to be visited without
extra pay, II the distance be not increased.
II. Bidders are cautioned TO mail their propo.
sails In time to reach the Department by the dsy
and hour named q p. m. March 4, 1868, for
bids received after that time will not be confid.
erod In competition with a bid Of reasonable
amount received In time. Neither eau bids be
considered which are without tho guaranty re-
quired by law and q certificate Of the sunlolency
Of such guaranty.
IL. Bidders should nrst propose for service
strictly according to the adverti..nent, and
then, II they desire separately for different ser
fice; pnd II the regular bid be the lowest offered
for the advertised service, the other propositions
may be considered.
IS. There should be but one route bid for In .
proposal. Consolidated or combination bids
(''proposing one sum for two or moro routes'o
are forbidden by Law, and cannot be considered.
II. Tho route, the service. the yearly pay, the
name and residence Of the bidder, (that 10, his
usual post Office address, aud the name Of each
member offs 6rm, where company offers, should
be distinctly stated.
Is. Bidders are requested 10 use, as far a.
practicable, the printed proposals furnished by
the Department, to write out 10 full the sum Of
their bids, and to retain copies Of ,hem.
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor
should bids once submitted be withdrawn. No
withdrawal Of Q bidder or guarantor will be al
lowed unless the withdrawal 10 dated and 70.
oeiyed before the last day for receiving proposals
Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsi.
bic persons. The bid and guaranty should bo
signed plainly with the full name Of each person.
Tho Department reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed extravagant, and
also to disregard the bids Of failing contractors
and bidders.
16. The bid should be sealed, supersoribed
" Mail Proposals. State Of Maryland, 4" addressed
"Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con.
tract Office" aud sent BY mail, not by or TO an
AGENT and postmssters will not enclose pro.
posals Tor letters Of any kind) In their quarterly
returns.
II. Tho contracts are to be executed and 70.
turned to the Department BY or before the 1,t
day Of July, 1885, but the service must bs be-
gun on that day, or on the mail day next aftsr
IT, whether tho contracts bo executed or not.
Transfers Of contracts, or Of interest 10 con-
tracts are forbidden by law, and consequently
cannot be allowed. Bidders will therefore take
notice that they will be expected to perform
the service accepted to them through the whole
term Of the contract.
18. Postmasters at Offices on or near railroads,
but more than eighty rods from a station, will,
Immediately after the 4th Of March next, report
their exact distance from tho nearest station,
and how they are otherwise supplied with the
mail, to enable the Postmaster General to d.
rect q nail.mefsenger supply from the 1st Of
July next.
10. Section eighteen Of On act Of Congress ap-
proved March 8, 1915, provides that contracts
"in every case, to the lowest bidder tepderiug
sufficient guarantees for faithful performance,
without other reference to tho mode Of such
transportation than may DO necessary to provide
for tho due celebrity, certainty and security of
such transportation. Under this law bids that
propose to transport the mails with celebrity,
certainty, and security" having been decided
to be the only legal bids, are construed as pro.
viding for the entire mail, however large, and
whatever may bo the mode Of conveyance
necessary to insure Its celebrity. certainty, and
security" and have the preference over all
others, and no others arc considered.
20. A modification Of Q bid In any Of its es.
sential terms Is tantamount to q new bid, and
cannot be received, so as to interfere with reg
ular competition, after the last hour set for re-
ceiving bids. Making q new bid, with guar.
anty and certificate, Is the only way to modify q
previous bid.
81 Postmasters are to be careful not to Ger.
tify the su1iciency OF gusrantors or sureties
without knowing that they are persons Of tuiIi.
cient responsibility disregard Of this instruc.
tion BY postmasters is q violation Of their oath
Of Office, subjscting them to immediate removal
All bidders, guaTantors, and sureties arc dis
tinotIy notified that on failure to enter into or
perform the contracts for the service proposed
for In the accepted bids their legal liabilities
will DO enforced again Il them.
%. Present contractors, and person. known at
the Department, must, equally with others, pro.
cure guarantors and certificates Of their SUN
cheney substantially In the forms above pro-
scribed. The ceatifcate Of sufhciepcy must be
signed BY a postmaster, or by judge Of court
Of record. No other will be admitted.
ALEX. W. RANDALL,
del6.6t Postmaster General.
N