The Portland daily press., 1869-02-27
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS.

Containing also conditions to be Incorporated In the
contracts to the ertent the Department may deem
proper.
1. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermediate
office, when not otherwise specified for asserting the
mans y put on railroad and steamboat routes there
Is to be no more delay than Is sufficient tor an ex-
change of the mail pouches.
g.. On railroad and steamboat lines, and other
the special agents ofthe Post Office Department. al
post office blanks, mail bags locks and keys, ale
to be conveyed without extra charge.
8. On railroad and steamboat lines the route
agents Of the Department. also the British and Can.
ada mails, when offered and the agents accompany
ing them are conveyed without charge; and for the
use of the United States agents a commodious car,
part of a car, properly lighted, warmed and fur.
nshed and adapted to the convenient separation and
due security of the nails is to be provided by the
contractor under the direction OF the Department.
Railroad and Steamboat companies are required
to take the mail from and deliver 1t into the post Of
nee At the beginning and end Of their routes and to
station or landing Proposals may be submitted
BY the companies for the performance of all other
side is for offices over eighty rods from
There will be sway bills" prepared by postmas-
ters, or other agents of the Department, to accom-
pany the mails conveyed railroads and steamers,
specifying the number and destination of the sever
al bags. On other principal routes, likewise, re-
latter to be examined by the several posm astsrs o
insure regularity In the delivery of malls.
4. No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each of such omissions not satisfactorily ex
pained three times the pay of the trip will be de-
ducted For arrivals SO far behind time as IN hreak
connexon with depending mails, and not sufficiently
excused, onefourh Of the ior the trjp
is subject to forfeiture Far repeated delinquences
Of the kind herein specified, enlarged penalties pro-
portoned to the nature thereof, and the importance
Of the mail, may be made.
5. For leaving behind or throwing off the mails,
or any portion of them for the admission of passe
gers or for being concerned In setting up running
an express conveying intelligence in advance of the
mail, quarters pay will be deducted.
D. Fines will be imposed, unless, the delinquency
be satisfactorily explained by certificates Of post
masters or the afidavits of other credible persons
for failing to arrive In contract time; for negecting
to take the mail from deliver it into, post office;
or lost; and for refusing, after demand, to convey
the mail frequently the contractor runs, is
concerned in running, coach, car, or steamboat on
a route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to agreeaby to con-
tract; for violating the post office laws, or dsobey-
ing the instructions of the Department for refusing
to discharge carrier when required by the Depart-
ment to do SO; for running an express aforesaid
or for transporting persons or packages conveying
mailable matter out OF the mail.
8, The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service on route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase on the contract pay He may change sched
ules of departures and arrivals in all cases and
particularly to make them conform to connexions
with railroads, without increase OF nav provided
the running time be not abridged. He NAV also or
der an increase OF speed, allowing, within The re-
strictions OF the law, pro rata increase Of pav far
tractor may, however, IN the case Of increaso Of
speed, relinqush the contract by giving promnt ny
tice to the department that he pre- ers doing 40 10