The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-22
[GRNRRA1 MATURING. sol

An Act relating to proposals and contracts for
transportation of the mails, and tor other puf-
poses. ........ ...
| BE il enacted 6y Tie Senate and House of Repre-
se,ttives of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That any person persons
bidding for the transportation of the mails upon
any route which may be advertised to be let, and
receiving award of the contract for such
service, who shall wrongfully refuse or fail to
| enter into contract with the Postmaster Gen
| raj, i'll due form, and perform the service de-
scribed in his or their bid or proposal, shall be
| deemed guilty of Il msdemeanor, and, on con-
yiction thereof, be punished by fine not exceed.
| ing five thousand dollars, and by Imprisonment
for term not exceeding twelve months. -
| Sec. 2. That each bid for carrying the mail
shall hereafter have affixed to it the oath of the
| bidder, taken before an officer qualified to adj
minister oaths that he has the ability pecuniari-
| ly to fulfil his obligation, 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; and that the
| signatures OF his guarantors are genuine, and
that he believes said guarantors pecuniarily
| responsible for and able to pay all damages
the United States shall suffer by reason of the
bidders failing to perform his obligations as
| such bidder. fa-.. 4 -.t .. .a.# ......"H
sac. s. That any postmaster or other officer of
the Post Office Department who shall afix his
signature to the certificate OF sutcency Of guar
antors or sureties before the guaranty or con-
tract is signed by the guarantors or sureties, or
| shall knowingly make any false or illusory GER
tificate shall be forthwith dismissed from office
and shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
| q fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by
imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.
SEC 4. That no bidder for carrying 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 desig-
mated service shall have been duly executed by
| such lower bidder and his sureties, and accepted,
and the service entered upon by the contractor
to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General.
SEC. 8. That after any regular bidder or con-
tractor for the transportation of the mail upon
any route shall have failed TO enter into con-
, tract, and commence the performance thereof
as herein provided, the Postmaster General
shall proceed to contract with the next Lowest
bidder for such service, who will enter into Q
, contract and perform the same, unless the Post
master General shall consider such bid too high
in which case he shall re-advertise such service
And in all cases of regular contracts hereafte
made, the contract may, in the discretion of TIL
Postmaster General, be continued in force be
yend its express terms for a period not exceed
Z, ing six months, until new contract with thu
same or other contractors shall be made by tn,
a Postmaster General 49, ... .. . -.-..
SEC. 6. That.hereafter all bidders upon every
5 | mail route for the transportation of the mail
. upon the same, where the annual compensation
for the service on such route at the time exceed
l the sum of five thousand dollars, shall accom-
/. pany their bids with a certified check or draft
, payable to the order of the Postmaster General
= | upon some solvent national bank, which chez
draft shall not be less than five per centum OF
q the amount of the annual pay on said route a
- the time such bid is made, and in case of new
= service not less than five per centum of tn
|
= if the bid exceed five thousand dollars per an
: mum. In case any bidder, on being awarded an.
such contract shall fail to execute the same witt
good and sufficient sureties according to TIN
G terms which such bid was made and accepted
= and enter upon the performance of the service
| to the satisfaction of the Postmaster General
such bidder shall forfeit the amount so deposited
i | to the United States, and the same shall forth
with be paid in 10 the treasury for the of tn
Post Office Department; but if such contrac
:, shall be duly executed and the service entered
S upon aforesaid, such draft or check de
n posted shall be returned to the bidder
: SEC. 7. That in the case of the sickness, III,
, avoidable absence from his office. of the post
t | master of any money order post-ofice, he may
f with the approval of the Postmaster General
! authorize the chief clerk, or some other clerl
employed therein, to act in his place, and to dis
/. charge all the duties required by law of sucl
- postmaster: Provided, That the official bont
= given by the principal of the Office shall be hell
to cover ana apply to the acts of the person ar
pointed to act in his place in such cases; Al,
n IrOvided FURTHER That such acting officer shall
= for the time being, be subject to all the habilite
&c and penalties prescribed by law for the oificis
- misconduct, in like cases. of the postmaster fo
III whome he shall act. 20
SEC. s. That the Postmaster General, whei
ever he may deem it consistent with the publ
q interest may accept new surety upon any co,
= tract existing, hereafter made for carryn
=. the mails, in substitution for and release of an
. existing surety.
II SEC O. That the Postmaster General is hereb
y authorized to cause to be PLACED to the credit
the Treasurer of the United States, for til
service of the Post Office Department the n,
proceeds of the money order business; and tbs
the receipts of the Post Office Department
= derived from this source during each qua
=. ter, shall be entered by the Auditor of tt
'e Treasury for the Post Office Department, in Il
accounts of said Department, under the head
"Rovenue from money. order business"
Approved, April 81, 1872. Sd. ....... .a ..... .th