Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-22
Instructions TO Bidders and Post
masters.

Containng also conditions 10 be incorporated in the
contracts 70 the 'Tisni the DrparfmtHf may d''p
/. Seven minutes arc allowed to each intermediate
Office when not otherwise specified for asserting the
mails.
2 on routes whore the mode of conveyance adj
Nuts Of 1t, the special agents Of the Post Oce De-
partmont also post ONCE blanks, mail bags, locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
3. "Way bills" or receipts prepared by postmast-
ers, other agents Of the Department, viii accom-
pany the mails, specifyng the number aud dcstna-
uon oi the several bags to be examined by the post
masters to insure regularity i'll the delivery Of bags
No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each Of such omissions, If the failure be
by the fault Of the contractor carrier three
Ii the pay Of the trip will be deducted For arriv
ais far behind time to break connection with de-
| pending mails, and not sufficiently excused, one
fourth Of the compensation for the trip is subject to
| forfeiture For repeated denqutnri's Of the kind
herein specified enlarged penalties proportional to
the nature thereof, and the importance Of the mail
| may be made.
g. For leaving behind or throwing Of the mails, or
any portion OF them, for the admission of passengers,
or Tor being concerned iu setting up or running an
express conveying intelligence in advance Of the mail,
quarters pay may be deducted.
| 6. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquc cy
be promptly and satisfactorily cXplanoo by certificates
Of pustmasters the afdayits OF uner credible per-
sons, for failing to arrive in contract time for neg
leciing TO take the mail FROM deliver It into, post
Office: for suffering it to be wet injured, destroyed,
robbed, lost: and for refusing, after demand, to
convey the mail as frequently as the contractor runs
is concerned in running coach, car or steamboat
| T. The postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures to run agrceahy TO contract for
violating the post office laws diBobcying the in
structons of the Department; for rofu'ing to dis
charge a carrier when required by the Department to
do so; f running all express ~ aiorctaid; or for
transporting persons or packages conveying mailable
matter out Of the mail.
The Postmaster General may order an increase of
service route 10y allowing therefor a pro rata in
crease on the CONTRACT a; ne may ehauge sonedgIes
of departures and arrivals in all cases, and particular
ly to make them conform to connections with rail-
reads, without increase Of pay, provided the running
| time be not abridged. The Postmaster General may
also discontinue Cura the service, in whole in
part order place the route superior service,
Whenever the public interests, in his Judgment
shall require such dcontiluance or curtaimen mt for
any other cause he allowing as full indemnity to
| contractor one months extra Ray ON the amount of
service dispcni ed with, and pro rata compensation
for the amount Of service retained and continued.
! q Payments v i'll be made by collections from or
drafts on, postmasters otherwise, after the expira
ton Of each quartcr-say in November, February,
May and August, provided that required evidence Of
service has been received.
TO- The distances given are believed to be substan-
tally correct but no increased ray will be allowed
should they be greater than advertised If the points
to be supplied correctly stated. bidders must
form hsmsires on ms point, and also in reference
To weight of the mail, the condition OF hills roads,
streams &c, and all toll-hridges, turnpikcs plank
roads, ferries obstructiOLs of any kind by which
expense may he incurred. No claim for additional
pay, based On such ground, can be considered; nor
for alleged mistakes or misapprehensons as to the de-
gree of service nor for bridges destroyed, ferries
discontinued, or other distractions causing or in
creasing distance or expense occurring during the
contract term. ohces established after this adyer
tsemon is issued aud also during the contract term,
to be visited without extra pay If the distance be
not increased
H. Bidders are cautioned to mail their propos-
ais in time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named, @ p H. February 3, 1879 for lids
c,yed after that time tui not be considered in com
petition with bids Of reasonable amount, received in
time. Neither can bids be considered which with
out the guarantee required by law, and certiheae
Of the suihccncy of such guarantee and the oath Of
the bidder according to Section 24G, Act of June &,
Is according to the advertise meut, and then If they
desire, separately for different service aud If the
regular bid be the lowest offered for the advertised
service the other propositions may be considered.
l3 There sh uld be but one route lid for in pro-
uosal. Consolidated or combination bids cproposing
one sum for two or more routes cannot be consider
H. The route, the service, the yearly pay, the name
and residence of the bidder chat is hi usual post
Office address) and the name Of each member Of
firm where accompany offers, should be distinctly stat
10 Bidders are requested to use, far practi-
cable the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment, to write out IN fullth sum OF therbids, ando
retain copies Of them.
Altered bids should not be submitted nor should
bids once submitted be Withdrawn. No Withdrawal
Of a bidder or guarantor will be allowed unless the
Withdrawals received twentyfour hours previous to
the time fixed for opening the proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsible
persons. The bid and guarantee should be signed
plainly with the full name Of each person
The General reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed e&tra!Agah,i and aiso
to disregard the lids Of failing contractors and bid
ders. Act Of June s, 1872, section 2sg.)
i6 The bid should be sealed, supcrscribed Mail
Proposals. State OF Vermont addressed Second As
sisant Postmaster General Contract Once, ana rent
by mail not by or to agent Bids Of $1,000 per an
mum and upward must be accompanied by certified
check or draft on solvent National Bank, equal
to per cent Of the amount Nsee "a" OF congress OF
IL The contrac are to be executed and returned
TO the Department by before the 1T day Of JHiy,
1873: but the service must be begun that day,
the mail day next after it, whether the contracts be
executed or not
are forbidden by law and consequently cannot be al
lowed. Neither bids interest in bids be trans
90 fath ANTI tttn
therefore notice that they will be expected to per-
form the service accepted to them through the whole
contract tenn.
ia section 2i9 Of the act of June g. 1879, provides
that contracts transportation of the mail shall be
awarded to the lowest bidder rendering sufficient
guarantees for faithful performance, without other
reference to the mode Of such tIAnsp Ortation than
may be necessary toproNde Tor the que oieit!' ser
that propose to transport the mails win 'cfhIHg,
certainty and secHiih having been DECIDED 10 BE- me
only isqai bids construed as Prording for the en-
ire rlGiI hou Su6r large and Uhaferer may the mode
OF conueydnce necessary 10 insWs its ''cti'ry, Ger
fainty aud security, and hIue the preference ouer all
others and others considered, except for steam
10 Amodihcation Of n bid in any Of it's essential
terms is tantainount to bid and cannot be re-
ceived so as to interfere with regular competition
the only way to modify previous bid
90 Pustmasters are to be careful not to rertiiyto
the suniciency of guarantors without kh9whs tnas
they arc persons Of sufficient responsibility. (see
section 2l7 Of June 8, 1871 Ihey must not sign
the certificate until the sum Of the va Is inserted
and the hid aud guarantee are signed hy the bidder
ana 1.-Two, glarantors; disregard of this Instruction
bv posfmasters wu subject them 10 immediate T'mop-
al and 10 Sttsrs penalties.
for acting as agents OF contractors OF bidders with OF
without compensation, in any business, matter, OF
thing, relating to the mail service. lhey are ttus,1a
agent. of the Department, and cannot consistently
act in both capacities. .,-- a.
2i An bidders, guarantors, and surtties are dis
tnctly notinQd that failure to enter into or per-
form the contracts for the service proposed for In the
accepted bids, their legal liabilities VIII I've ehioreeu
against them. ,-.. -. A., =
% Present contractors, and persons known al the
Department, must, equally with others procure guar
y in the forms above prescribed. Tho cerihca'e OF
sufieiency must be sign d byA postmaster;
JNO. A. j. CRESWELI,
Postmaster General