The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-15

Containing also conditions to be incorporated in
the contracts to the ertent the Department
may deem proper.
l. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermedi-
the mails.
@ On routes where the mode Of conveyance admits
ment, also post office blanks, mail bags, locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
g. sway bills or receipts prepared by .postmast-
ers, other agents of the Department. Will accom-
pany the mails, specifying the number and destna-
ton Of the several bags to be examined by the post
masters to insure regularity in the delivery of bags
A. No pay will be made for trips not performed
and fol each of such omissions, If the failure be occa
stoned by the fault of the contractor carrier three
times the pay of the trip will be deducted. For
rivals far behind time as to break connection with
depending mails, and not sufficiently excused, one
fourth of the compensation for the trip Is subject to
forfeiture For repeated delinquences of the kind
herein specified, enlarged penalties, proportional to
the nature thereof, aud the Importance OF the mail
may be made.
g. For leaving behind or throwing off the nails
any portion Of them, for tn admission of passen-
GERS or fol being concerned in setting up running
an express conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mail, quarters pay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certif-
Gates of postmasters the adavs of other credible
persons for failing to arrive in contract time; for
neglectieg to take the mail FROM deliver it into,
post office; for suffering it to be wet injured destroy
ed, robbed, lost; and for refusing, after demand
to convey the mail as frequently as the contractor
steamboat on route.
T. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeaiea failures to run agreeapy to contract,
instructions of the Department. for refusing to dis
charge carrier when required by the Department to
do so; for running an express as aforesaid or Tor
transporting persons or packages conveying mall
able matter out Of the mail.
8. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase on the contract pay. He may change sched
ules Of departures and arrivals in all cases. and par
railroads. without increase Of pay providing the run
ming time be not abridged. The Postmaster Gener-
al may also discontinue or cqrtal the service, in
perior service, whenever the public interests in
bis Judgment shall require such discontinuance OF
curtailment for any other cause he allowing full
indemnity to contractor months extra pay the
amount of service dispensed with and pro rata
compensation for the amount of service retained and
ontinued. 4..
9. Payments will be made by collections from, or
drafts on postmasters 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.
49, The distances given believed to be snbstan-
TALLY correct no increased pay will be allowed should
they be greater than advertised if the points to be
supplied are correctly stated Bidders must inform
themselves this point and also in reference to the
weight Of the mail, the condition of hills, roads,
streams, &c., and all to-bridges, turnpkes, plank
roads, ferries or obstrucions Of any kind by which
expense may be incurred. No claim for additional
pay, based on such ground, can be considered;
for alleged mistakes misapprehension to the de-
gree OF SeTVlCe destroyed,
continued other distractions causing increasing
distance or expense occurring during the contract
term Offices established after this advertisement is
issued and also during the contract term to be
creased.
II. Bidders are cautioned to mail their proposals
in time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named q p. m February g. 1879, for bids re-
ceived after that time scu mot be considered in COM
petition with bids of reasonable amount, received in
time. Neither can bids be considered which
without the guarantee required by law. and certif
cate q TN the nH 81 such and the
June 8, 1872.
r. Bidders should first propose for service strictly
SIRE Separately for diiferent service and If the req
war bid be the lowest offered for the advertised ser
vice, the other propositions may be considered.
Is. There should be but one route bid for in pro-
posal. Consolidated or combination bids ('proposng
one sum for two or more routes'o cannot be consid
cred.
a. The route the service, the yearly pay the
name and residence Of the bidder chat is his usual
firm where company offers, should be distinctly
stated.
r. Bidders are requested to use, far as practi-
cable, the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment, to write out in full the of their bids and
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
withdrawal received twenty -four 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
pldlLiy Will the 1ul name OF each person,
The Postmaster General reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed extravagant; and also
to disregard the bids of failing contractors and bid
ders. Act Of June 8, 1872, section 249.)
Is. The bid should be sealed, superscribed "Mail
Proposals, State of Maine" addressed sSecond AS
sistapt Postmaster General, Contract Office" and
sent Dy matt not by or to agent. Bids of $4,000
per annum and upward must be accompanied BY
certified check or draft on some solven: National
OF Congress of June s, 1922
H. The contracts are to be executed and returned
1875 but the service must be begun on that day, or
on the mall day next after 1t, whether the contracts
be execteud or not.
Transfers of contracts or of interest In contracts
are forbidden by law and consequently cannot be al
lowed Neither can bids interest in bids be trans
fsrred or assigned to other parties. Bidders will
therefore take notice that they will be expected to
perform the service accepted to them through the
whole contract term.
49, Section $40 of the act of June g. 1872 provides
that contracts for the transportation of the mail
shall be awarded to the lowest bidder rendering suf
fcient guarantees for faithful performance without
other reference to the mode of such transportation
certainty, and security thereof" Under this law
bids that propose to transport the mails with seller
De the only legal bids construed as providing for
the entire mail horever large, and whateper may
Celebrity, certainly, and secarity,s and hare tie
preference oUer all Others and no others are consd-
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. modification of bid in any Of its essential
terms Is fantamount to new bid, and cannot be re-
ceiyed SO as to interfere with regular competition
Making new bid with guarantee and certificate, is
the only way to modify previous bid.
TO- Postmasters are to be careful not to certify to
the sufiiciency Of guarantors without knowing that
they are persons of sufficient responsibility (Sec
section 247 act Of June g. 1872 They must not sign
the certificate until the of the bid is inserted
and the bid and guarantee signed by the bidder
and two guarantors; disregard oft6is instruction
By posfmosfers tciu subject them 10 immediate re-
moral, and to severe penalties
Postmasters are also liable to dismissal from Office
for acting agents Of contractors bidders with or
without compensation, In any business matter, or
thing relating to the mail service They are the |
trusted agents Of the Department. and cannot con-
sistently act in both capacities.
81 All bidders, guarantors, and sureties are dis
tinctly notified that failure to enter into or per-
form the contracts for the service proposed for in
the accepted bids their legal liabilities will be en-
forced against them.
~ Present contractors and persons known at the |
department, must, equally with others, procure |
guarantors and certificates Of their suficency sub
stantiaily in the forms above prescribed The certif
cate OF suffciency must be signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. j. CRESWELL,
novld1aw6t Postmaster General.