Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-05-17
GENERAL NATuRE-N0. Sol

GENERAL NATuRE-ND. DOL
AN ACT relating to proposals and contracts for
transportation of the mails, and for other
purposes.
sentatireS cf the United States Of America ia Con-
gTssS assembled, That any person or persons bid
ding for the transportation the mails upon
any route which may be advertised to be let.
and receiving an award of the contract for such
service, who shall wrOngfdlly refuse or fail TO
enter into contract with the Postmaster Gem
eTal, in due form, and perform the service de-
ScTlbed in his or their bid proposal, sh all be
deemed guilty OF a misdemeanOr, and, on con-
viction thereof, be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding five thousand dollars, and by imprson-
ment for term not exceeding twelve months.
SIC. 2. That each bid for carrying the mail
shall hereafter have affixed to il the oath of the
bidder taken before an officer qualified to adj
minister Oaths, that he has the ability pecu-
niarily to fulfil his obligations, and that the bid
is made in good faith and with the intention to
enter into contract and perform the service, in
case his bid shall be accepted; aud that the sig
natures of his guarantOrs are genuine, and that
he believes said guarantOrs pecuniarily respon-
slbie Tor and able to pay all damages the United
falling to perform his obligations a. such bid
der.
SEC. 3. That any postmaster or other Off Ger
OF the Post Office Department who sh all affix
his signature to the certificate of suiiciency of
guarantors or sureties before the guaranty or
contract is signed by the gulrantors or sureties,
or shall knowingly make any false or illusory
certificate, shall be forthwith dismissed from
office and shall be deemed guilty OF a mis1e-
meanor, and shall, on conviction thereof, be
punished By a fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars, or by Imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or both.
SEC. 4. That no bidder for carving the mails
shall be released from his obligation under his
bid or proposal, notwithstanding an award made
to lower bidder, until a contract for the desiy-
mated service shall have been duly executed by
such lower bidder and his Sureties. and ac-
cePted, and the service entered upon By the
contractor 70 the satisfaction OF the Postmaster
General.
SEC. ;. That after any regular bidder or con-
tractor for the transportation of the all upon
any route shall have failed to enter into con-
tract, and commence the performance thereof
as herein provided, the Postmaster q eneral shall
proceed TO contract with the next lowest bid Ter
for such service, who will enter into a contract
and perform the same unless the Postmaster
General shall consider such bid too high; in
which case he shall re-advertise such service
And IN all cases OF Regular contracts hereafter
made, the contract may, In the discretion OF the
Postmaster General, be continued in force
beyond its eXpressterms for period not exceed
ing six months, until a new contract with the
same or other contractors shall be made by the
Postmaster General.
SEC. 6. That hereafter all bidders upon every
mail route for the transportation of the mails
! uTon the same, where the annual compensate
for the service on such route at the time exceeds
the sum of five thousand dollars, shall accom-
/ Pany their bids with a certified check or draft,
! payable u the order OF the Postmaster General,
& upon some solvent national bank, which check
or draft shall not be less than five per centum
/ on the amount OF the annual pay on said route
at the time such bid is made, and in case OF new
! service not less than five per centum OF the
amount OF one years pay proposed in such bid
| II the bid exceed five thousand dollars per an
/ mum. In case any bidder, on being awarded
| any such contract, shall fail TO execute the
same with good and sufficient sureties, accord.
, ing to the terms on which such bid was made
! and accepted, and enter upon the performance
of the service to the satisfaction OF the Post
master General, such bidder shall forfeit the
! amount so deposited IN the United States and
/ tres
! sury for the use of the PoSt-Ofice Department:
but if such contract shall be duly executed and
the service entered upon as aforesaid such draft
or check 80 deposited shall be returned TO the
| bidder.
| SEC. :. That in case of the sickness. or I'M
/ avoidahle absence from his office. of the post
| master or any money order pOst-Office, he may,
/ with the approval of the Postmaster General.
authorize the chief clerk, or some other clerk
I employed therein, to act in his place, and to
discharge all the duties required by law of sach
! postmaster Prorided. That the official bond
given by the principal of the office shall be held
TO cover and apply to the acts of the person ap-
I pointed TO act in his place in such cases: And
provided further, That such acting officer shall,
for the time being be subject to all the liabili-
ties and penalties prescribed by law for the
omclal misconduct, in like cases, OF the post
master for whom he shall act.
SEC. 8. That the Postmaster General, when
ever he may deem it consistent with the public
interest, may accept new surety upo any con-
tract existing, or hereafter made for carving
the mails, in substitution for and release of anT
existing surety.
SEC. 9. That the Postmaster General is hereby
authorized to cause to be placed to the credit OF
the Treasurer of the United States, for the
service of the Post Office Department, the net
proceeds OF the money-o order business; and that
the receipts of the Post Office Department,
derived from this source, during each quarter,
shall be entered by the Auditor of the Treasury
for the Post Office Department, in the accounts
of said Department, under the head of Reeve
nue. from money-or business"
Approved. April q, 1S12.