Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-08
Instructions to Bidders and Post
masters.

Instructions to Bidders and Post
masters.
Containing al,o conditions 10 he in,oryosa',tia fAe
contracts u The 'Tf'Ht ne Dfmfm'Ht may dt'm
PiOpfr.
office when not otherwise specified, for asserting the
mails.
\ On routes where the mode Of conveyance ad-
mts ct it, the special agents q the Post Once De-
pafmeut, also post Office blanks, mail ags locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
.. way bills" receipts prepared by postmast-
crs or other agents Of the Department. will accom-
pany the mails, specifying the number and destina-
ton OF the several bags 10 be oxanined by the post
masters To insure regularity in the delivery OF bags
and pouches.
No pay will be made flr tips not performed;
aud for each Of such omis sipns II the failure he nca
stoned by the fault Of the contractor turrr three
IL cs the pay Of the trip will he deducted For arty-
ais far behind time as 90 brock come elton with de-
pending mnil. and not sufficiently excused, one
fourth Of the compensation for the Tip is subject to
forfeiture For repeated dclinquonri's Il the kind
herein specified, enlarged ptnulief, proportoncd to
the nature thereof, and tue Importance Of the mail
may be made.
any portion Of hem for the admission Of passengers
or Tor being concerned in setting up or running an
express conveying intelligence il advance Of the mall
quarters pay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinque cy
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certificates
Of postmasters or the athdauts Of other credible per-
sons, for failing to arrive in contract time for neg
lecting to take the mail from deliver it into, post
Office; for suffering II n he wet, injured, destroyed
robbed, lost; and for refusing, after demand to
convey the mail as frequently the contractor runs
ia concerned in running, coach, car or steamboat
on a route.
I. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures to agreeaby to contract for
violating the post office laws, or disobcying the in
structious of the Department; for rcfu-ing to dis
charge carrier when required BY the Department to
do so; running al express as aforesaid; or for
transporting persons or packages tnveying mailabe
matter out Of the mail.
Z The Postmaster General may order an increase of
service route by allowing therefor pro rata in
the contract Fay. He may change schedules
Of departures and arrivals in all cases, and particular
ly to make them conform to connections with rail-
roads without increase f pay provided the running
time be not abridged The Postmaster General may
also discontinue curta the service in whole or in
part order to place the ute superior service,
ur Whenever the public interests, in his judgment,
shall require such disco niuuance curtaiment for
any other cause he allowing as full indemnity to
contractor one months extra pay on the amount Of
service dispcm ed with and pro rata compensation
for the amount Of service retained and CONTINUED.
9. Payments Will be made by ELECTIONS from. or
drafts on, postmastess otherwise, after the expira
tiun Of each quartcr-say in November, February,
May and August provided that required evidence Of
service has been received.
10. The distances given believed to be substan-
TALLY correct but no increased pay will be allowed
should they be greater than advertised il the points
to be supplied are correctly stated Biddtrs must M
form hcmstheS on this poH', and also in reference
to the weight of the mall the condition of hills, roads,
streams &c, and all toll-lridges, turupikes, plank
roads, ferries Instructions 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 mapprohonsons as to the de-
a.
DISCONTINUED or other distractions causing or in
creasing distance expense occurring during the
contract term. Offices established after this tdNer-
tisemeut il istued and also during the contract term,
to be visited without extra pay if the distance he
not increased.
IL Bidders are cautioned to mail their propos-
ais in time to reach the Department 10y the day and
hour named, @ p M, February 3, 1881 for lids
ccyed after that time raj not be considered in COM
petition with lids OF reasonable amount, received in
time. Neither bids be considered which with
out the guarantee required 10y law, and certiheato
.F "a f1taR lf
the bidder according to Section 2i6 Act of June 3,
1879.
IL Bidders should first propose for service strict
y according to the advertisement ard then If they
desire sspdrattiy for different service and il the
regular bid be the lowest offered for the advertised
service the other propositions may be considered.
49, There sh' ud lie but route lid for in pro-
posal. Consolidated or combination bids proposing
sum for two or more routosD cannot be consider
H. The routc, the service, the yearly pay the name
and residence Of the bidder, that s, hi usual post
ofi.e address,) and the name Of each member Of
firm where accompany offers, should be distinctly stat
ed.
Is. Bidders are requested to use, far practi-
cable the printed proposals. furnished by the Depart
ment, to write out in full the sum Of heirbds andto
retain copies Of them.
Altered bids should not be submitted: nor should
bids once submitted be Withdrawn. No withdrawal
Of bidder or guarantor will be allowed unless the
Withdrawals received tweny-four hours previous TO
the time fixed for opening the proposals.
| Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsible
| persons. The bid aud guarantee should be SyHod
| plainly with the full name Of each person.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed extrayagant and also
to disregard the bids of failing contractors and bid
| d6rs. Act of June T. 1872, section 20.)
l6 The bid should be sealed, superscribed Mail
Proposals. State Of Vermont" addressed Second As
sisant Postmaster General Contract Office, and sent
by mail not by or to agent. Bids of s5,000per an
mum and upward must be accompanied by certified
check or draft solvent National Bank, equal
to per cent. Of the amount See law e Congress Of
| June 8, 1871
/ O the by before the LIST ddu Of Juiy,
1879 but the service must be begun on that day,
the mail day next after it, whether the contracts be
| executed or not
Transit ~ Of contracts or Of interest in oonrsots
are forbidden by law and consequently cannot be al
lowed. Neither bids, or interest In bids, he trans
| ferrCd or assigned to other parties. Bidders will
therefore take notice that they will be expected per-
form the service accepted to them through the whole
is' section 249 Of the act of June 8, 1872 provides
that contracts for transportation of the mail shall he
| awarded 10 the lowest bidder rendering sufficient
guarantees for faithful performance, without other
| reference TO the mode Of such transportation than
may be necessary toprovde for the due celebrity, err
tainty and security thereof Under this law bids
that propose to transport the mails with "ctifTHg,
ceTfdinv and securif" hating been dscidcdt 10 be ne
only legal bids construed pToriding for the 'n
| ire mail horSuer large, aud uhaterer may the mode
| OF conveyance necessary 10 insure ats 'ctirHg, Ger
frintg and security and hare the preference Ortr all
ohTs and no Others considered except for steam
boat routes.
10. modification Of bid in any of its essential
terms ia tantalnoun to new bid, and cannot he re-
ccived, as to interfere with regular competition.
Making new bid with guarantee and certificate, is
the only way to modify previous bid.
90 Postmasters to be careful not to certify to
the suihciency Of guarantors without knowing that
| they persons Of sufficient responsibility. (Sce
section 9i7, act Of June 1879 They must not sign
the certificate until the Of the bid ia inserted
aud the bid and guarantee are signed by the bidder
! and two guarantors: disregard Of ms Instruction
| by posfmGst6rs UW subject them 10 immediate Ttmor-
| al, and 10 sersrs penalties.
Postmasters also liable to dismissal from Office
for acting agents Of contractors bidders with
without compensation, in any business matter, or
thing, relating to the mail service They are trusted
agents of the Department, and cannot consistently
| act in both capacities.
81. All bidders, guarantors, and sureties are dis
tincy notified that a failure to enter into per-
form the contracts for the service proposed for in the
accepted bids, their legal liabilities will be enforced
| against them.
~. Present contractors, and persons known at the
Department, must, equally with others, procure guar
antors and certificates Of their sulciency substantial
ly in the ferns above prescribed Tho certificate Of
sufhcency must be signed by postmaster
| JNO. A. j. CRESwELL,
Postmaster General.