The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-13
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS. ts


Containing also conditions to be Incorporated in the
contracts to the ectent the Department may deem
proper. e,s--5 .I5Icr :. 800
|. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermediate
office, when not otherwise specified, for asserting the
mails; but on railroad and steamboat routes there
is to be no more delay than is sufficient Tor an ex
change OF the mail pouches I'D p
Q. On railroad and steamboat lines, and other
routs where the mode Of conveyance admits OF 1t,
the special agents of the Post 0ice Department al
post office blanks mail bags, locks and keys, al
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, conveyed without charge; and Tor the
use of the United States agents a commodious car,
nished and adapted the convenient separation and
due security of the mails s to be provided by the
contractor, under the direction OF the Department.
Railroad and Steamboat companies required
to take the mail from and deliver 1t into the post
nee at the beginning and end Of their routes and to
and from all Offices not more than eighty rods from
a station or landing. Proposals may be submitted
by the panies for the performance Of all other
side servicethat is, for offices over eighty rods from
There will be sway bills' prepared by postmas.
ters or other agents of the Department, to accom-
specifying the number and destination of the sever
al bags. On other principal routes, likewise, re-
ceipts will be rqured eand way bills forwarded; the
latter TO be examined by the several postm to
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
Quoted. For arrivals far behind time to break
connexion with depending mails, and not sufficiently
excused onefourth of the compensation Tor the trim
Is subject to forfeiture. For repeated delnque
of the kind herein specified enlarged penalties pro-
portioned to the nature thereof and the
of the mail, may be made.
s. For leaving behind or throwing Off the malta
or any portion of them for the admission of
gers, or for being concerned In setting up or
an express conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mail, a quarters pay will be deducted
o. Fines Will be imposed, unless, the delnouencv
De satisfactorily explained by certificates OF post
masters or the afidavts of other Credible persops
Tor falling to arrive in contract time: for negectin
70 take the mall from, deliver it into post office;
or suneIihg TO be wet injured destroyed, robbed,
OF iose ana Tor refusing, after demand, TO convey
se man as frequently as the contractor runs, or Is
route.
T., The Postmaster General may annui the con-
tract Tor repeated failures to run agIeeao'y " Son
tract for violating the post office laws OF olsooey
ing the instructions of the Department LOT
to discharge carrier when required Dy the Oepart-
ment to do SO; Tor running an express as aloresau
or for transporting persons or packages conveying
maable matter out OF the mail.
g. 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
niles of departures and arrivals in all cases. and
particularly to make them conform to connexions
with railroads, without increase of pay, provided
the running time be not abridged. He may also or
der an increase of speed, allowing, within the re-
strctions of the law, pro rata increase Of pay for
tractor may, however, In the case Of Increase of
speed relinquish the contract by giving prompt no.
tce to the department that he pre- doing SO 10
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