Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-18
General Nature, No. SOL

AN ACT relating to proposals and contracts for trans
portation of the mails, and for other purposes.
Be II enacted by tho Senate and House of Represent
atyes Of the United States Of America ina Congress as
sembed That any person or persons bidding for the
transportation OF the mans upon any route which may
ice advertised To- be let and receiving award of the
contract FOR such service who shall WTOngfully refuse
OF ai 70 cutter INTO contract with the Postmaster
eral In due form, aud perform tho service described in
his or their bid or proposal, snail be deemed guilty Of
mlsdemeanor and ON conviction thereof be punished
By ne not exceeding five thousand dollars aud by
imprisonment for torn not exceeding twelve months
SIC That each bid for carrying the mail shall here.
alter have Affixed To the oath of the bidder, taken
before an officer qualified 10 administer 0aths that he
has the ability pecunary 10 fulfil his lgations aud
that tho bid Is made la good faith and with the Inten-
ton ~ enter into contract and perform the service in
case his bid shall be accepted and that the signatures
Of his guarantOrs are genuine and that he believes said
guaantors pecunianly responsible for and able 10 nav
all damages the United States shall suffer by reason Of
| bidder
SEC. g. That any postmaster or other oflrer Of tho
Post Office Department who shall aix his signature To
the certificate Of suciency Of guarantors surees be-
fore the guaranty OF contract signed by the guarant-
usory certificate, shall DO forthwith dismissed nom
Office and shall DO deemed guilty of misdsmcapOr and
shall, on conviction thereof be punished BY Zine not
exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprisonment
npt exceeding one year both.
SEC T. That no bidder for carrying the mails shall be
released from his obligation under his bd or proposal
notwithstanding an award mado TO lower bidder until
contract for the designated service shall have been
duly executed by such lower bidder and his surotes
and accepted and the service entered upon by the
tractor 70 the satisfaction Of tho Postmaster General
contractor
for the transportation Of the mail upon any route shall
have milod 10 enter into contract and commence tho
performance thereof as herein provided tho Postmaster
General shall proceed 10 contract with tho lowest
bidder for such service who will enter into contract
and perform the same, unloss the Postmaster General
shall consider such bid too high In which he shall
re-adyetise such service. And In all Of regular
contracts hereafter made, the contract may, in the dis
erection Of the Postmaster General be continued Ia force
beyond It's express terms for period not exceeding
months, until new contract with the or other
contractors shall be made by tho Postmaster General
SEC o, That hereafter all bidders upon every mail
route for tho transportation Of the mails upon the same
route exceeds the sum Of five thousand dollars shall
accompany their bids with certified check or draft
payable 10 the order Of the Postmaster General upon
some solvent national bank, which check draf shall
not be less than yo per centum on the amount Of the
annual pay said route ut the time such bid Is made
and Ia Of service not less than per centum
Of the amount Of years pay proposed In such bid
the bid exceed five thousand dollars per Rnnum. In
case any bidder being awarded any such contract
shall fall 10 execute the same with good and sufficient
sureuos according 10 the terms which such bid was
ade ana accepted, and enter upon the performance Of
te service 70 the satisfaction Of the Postmaster Gener
~ s1en bidder shall forfeit the amount deposited to
he uhed states and the shall forthwith be paid
mo he treasury Tor the OF the Post Ooo Depart
heht put such contract shall be duly executed and
VIZ service entered upon Aforesaid such draft or
Vheoh ~ 9eposlte shall he returned to the bidder
DE-, T. IhAl IN ESQ OF the sickness or unavoidable
absence nom his 9hoe Of the postmaster Of any money!
order posoee no may with the approval of the Post