Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-01
Instructions TO Bidders and Post
masters.

InSlFUtIlOHS W DluutIS anu Uot-
masters.
Costaining also conditions 10 he incorporated in the
contract, 10 The ,dt,nt The Department may dem
proper.
Office when not otherwise specified, for asserting the
p On routes where the mode Of conveyance adj
mits Of it, the special agents q the Post Office De-
pattmeIa, also post office blanks mail lags, locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
8. Way bills or receipts prepared by postmast-
crs, or other agents Of the Department. will accom-
pany the mails specifying the number and destina-
tion Of the several bags to be examined by the post
masters to insure regularity in the delivery OF bags
and pouches.
No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each Of such omissions, the failure be oeca
ond 10y the fault of the contractor or carrier three
Il les the pay Of the trip will be deducted For arrv-
ais 70 far behind time as to break connection win ue-
pending mails, aud not sufficiently excused, one
fourth Of the compensation for the tIp is subject TO
forfeiture. For repeated dcluqucnci,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 in setting up or running an
express conveying intelligence in advance Of the mall
u quarters pay may be deducted
G. Fines will be imposed, unless the dehnque ey
be promptly and satisfactorily eypainCo by certificates
Of posmaHters or the aihdavh Oh otner credible per-
sons for failing to arrive in contract time; for neg
ecng to take the mail from, or deliver It into post
othce for sulring 1t to be wet injured destroyed,
robbed lost; and for refusing, after demand, to
convey the mali frequently the contractor runs,
is concerned in running COACH car, or steamboat
on a route.
I. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures to agrctaby to contract for
violating the post Office laws, or disoboying the in
structons of the Department; for refusing to dis
charge carrier when required By the Department to
| do SO; fr running an express as aforetad; or for
transporting persons or packages conveying maiable
matter out Of the mail.
The Postmaster General may order an increase OF
service route BY allowing therefor pro rata in
crease the contract pay. 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 Of pay, provided the running
| time be not abridged. The Postmaster General may
also discontinue or cirtail the service in whole or in
part in order to place the route superior service
or whenever the public interests, in his judgment
shall require such dscontinuance curailment for
any other cause; he allowing as ht ind, unity to
contractor one months extra pay on the amount Of
service dspens ed with, and pro rata compensation
| for the amount Of service retained and continued
| 0. Payments will be made by collections from. or
drafts on, posmasters or otherwise after the expra
ton Of each quarter-say in November, February,
May, and August, provided that required evidence Of
service has been received.
10. The distances given believed to be substan-
italy correct but no increased pay will be allowed
should they be greater than advertised, IL the points
to be supplied correctly stated. bidders in
form fhfnselreS on this poin and also in reference
TO the weight of the mail the condition of hills roads,
streams, &c, and all toll-bridges turnpkes, plank
roads, ferries or obstructioIs Of any kind by which
| expense may be- incurred. No claim for additional
pay, based on such ground, can be considered nor
for alleged mistakes or Iisapprehensions to the de-
discontinued, or other obstrnetions causing or in
creasing distance or expense occurring during the
contract term Offices established after this sdyer-
tiseient is issued and also during the contract term
to be- visited without extra pay If the distance be
! not increased.
II. Bidders arc cauioned to mail their propos-
ais in time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named % p. M February 3, 1879 for Lids re-
ceived after that time WiH not be considered in
petition with bids, of reasonable amount, received in
time Neither can bids he considered which with
ont the guarantee required by law and a certificate
Of ent iria of al n
the bidder according to Section 24G, Act OF June s.
1872.
ly according to the advertisement, 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
10. There sht uld be but enc route bid for in pro-
posa Consolidated or combination bids c'proposing
one sum for two on more routes cannot be consider
H. The route the service, the yearly pay, the
and residence of the bidder chat it, hi. usual post
| Office address,) aud the name Of each member OF a
firm, where accompany offers should be distinctly stat
| cd.
cable the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ent, to write out in full the sum Of their bids and
retain copies Of them.
Altered bids should not be submitted nor should
| bids once submitted be Withdrawn. No Withdrawal
| Of "a bidder 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
! person. The bid and guarantee should be siyhtd
| 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 lids of failing contractors and bid
dcrs. Act of June &, 1874 section 249)
| lG. The bid should be sealed, supcrscrbed mail
Proposals. State Of Vermont" addressed "Second As
sstant Postmaster General, Contract Ofhce, and sent
by mail not by or to an agent. Bids Of $1,000 per an
| mum and upward must be accompanied by certified
check or draft solvent National Bank, equal
to per cent Of thu amount. tSee law Of Congress OF
| June 4, lSI2)
| II. The contrac are to be executed and returned
to the Department by before the lSt day Of Jniy
1873 but the service must be begun on that day,
the mail day next after II, whether the contracts be
| executed or not.
Transfers Of contracts, Of interest in contracts,
are forbidden by law and consequently cannot be al
lowed Neither bids, interest in bids he trans
! ferrtd assigned 10 other parties. Bidders will
therefore take notice that they will he expected to per-
form the service accepted to them through the whole
contract tenn.
10, Section 24o Of the act Of June 8, 1872, provides
that contracts for 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 transportation than
may be necessary toproyde for the due CELEBRITY
tainty, aud security thereof" Under this law bids
that propose to transport the mails with csierty,
certainty and secur" hauing been decided 10 Be the
only legal bids, construed proudiRg for the
tire mail hOuSuer large, and uhdierer may the mode
gSf SaS SnS Sape he or ali
Others and no others are considered except for steam
| boat routes.
| terms is tantamount to a bid and cannot be
ceived, to interfere with regular competition
| the only way TO modify previous bid.
90 Postmasters are to be careful not to certify to
the suficiency OF guarAntors without knowing that
| they are persons Of sufficient responsibility. tSee
section 247 act of June 8, 1921 They must not sign
the certificate until the sum OF the ma IL inserted
| and the bid and guarantee signed by the bidder
and (two) guarantors; disrfgard Of his instruction
by pOsfasfers tGiH subject them 10 immediate Ttmop-
| al and 20 ssrsTs penalties
PostmAsters also liable to dismissal from office
for acting agents Of contractors or bidders with or
without pensation, 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.
II. al bidders, guarantors, and sureties are dis
tnctly notified that on failure to enter into or 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 suoency substantial
y in the forms above prescribed. The certificate OF
suftciency must be signed by postmaster.
JNO A. j. CRESwELL
| Postmaster General.