The Portland daily press., 1872-11-22

the contracts to the ertent the Department
may deem proper.
I. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermedi-
ate office, when not otherwise specified, for asserting
the mails.
2. On routes where the mode Of conveyance admits
of it, the special agents of the Post Office Depart
ment, also post office blanks mail bags locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
8. sway bills or receipts prepared by postmast-
ers, other agents Of the Department, will accom-
pauy the mails, specifying the number and destina-
ton of the several bags, to be examined by the post
masters, to insure regularity in the delivery Of bags
4 No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and fol each Of such omissions, the failure be
times the pay of the trip will be deducted. For
rivals far behind time to break connection with
depending mails, and not sufficiently excused, one
fourth Of the compensation for the trip Is subject
forfeiture. For repeated delinquences Of the kind
herein specified enlarged penalties proportional to
the nature thereof aud the Importance Of the mall
5. For leaving behind or throwing of the mails
or any portion Of them, for tn admission of passen
gers, fol- being concerned in setting up running
express conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mail, quarters pay may be deducted.
8. Fines viii be imposed, unless the delinquency
Gates of postmasters the adavs OF other credible
persons for failing to arrive in contract timc for
neglectieg to take the mail from, deliver 1t into,
post oice 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 a route
I. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for Violating the post office laws, or dsobeyine thc
instructions 81 the Departments for refusing to dis
charge carrier when required by the Department to
do so; for running an express as Aforesaid; or r
transporting persons or packages conveying mall
able matter out OF the mail.
8. The Postmaster General may order increase
Of service route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase on the contract pay. He may change sched
ues of departures and arrivals in all cases. and par
railroads, without increase pay, providing the run
ming time be not abridged. The Postmaster Gener-
al may also discontinue curtai the service, In
whole or in part, in order to place the route
peror service, or whenever the public interests in
bis Judgment, shall require such discontinuance or
curtailment for any other cause he allowing full
amount of service dispensed with, and pro rata
compensation for the amount Of service retained and
3. Payments will be made by collections from, OF
drafts on postmasters or otherwise after the expira
May and August, provided that required evidence q
| service has been received.
TO- The distances given believed to be substan.
they be greater than advertised If the points to be
supplied are correctly stated Bidders mast inform
Themselves on this point and also in reference to the
| weight of the mail the condition Of hills, roads
streams &C., and all tol-bridges, tprnpikes, plank
roads, ferries, or distractions Of any kind by which
expense may be incurred No claim for additional
for alleged mistakes Interpretation to the de-
gree of service; for bridges destroyed ferries dis
distance or expense occurring during the contract
term Offices established after this advertisement ID
issued and also during the contract term, to be
visited without extra pay 1t the distance be not In
creased.
II. Bidders are cautioned to mail their proposals
In time to reach the Department BY the day and
hour named p M, February g. 1879, for bids
ceved after that time pi not be considered in CON-
petition with bids of reasonable amount, received in
time. Neither can bids be considered which are
without the guarantee required by law and certif-
cate Of the suficiency Of such guarantee, and the
oath Of the bidder according to Section 24e Act Of
II. Bidders should first propose for service strictly
according to the advertise men and them If they de-
uar bid be the lowest offered for the advertised ser
vice, the other propositions may be considered.
10. There should be but one route bid for in pro-
posal. Consolidated or combination bids Cproposing
cred.
H. The route, the service, the yearly pay, the
post Office address, and the name Of each member Of
firm, where company offers, should be distinctly
stated.
IS. Bidders requested to use, a. far as pract-
CABLE the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment to write out in full the sum of their bids, and
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor should
bids once submitted be withdrawn. No withdrawal
of bidder or guarantor will be allowed unless the
the time fixed for opening the proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsible
plainly with the full namo Of each person.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed extr.vagant; and also
to disregard the bids Of failing contractors and bid
ders. (Act Of June g. 1872, section 249.)
10. The bid shonld be sealed, superscribed 'sMail
Proposals, State Of Maine," addressed "Second As
sistant Postmaster General, Contract Office," and
sent by mail, not by to agent. Bids of $4,000
per annnm and upward must be accompanied by
certified check or draft some solven. National
Bank, equal to per cent Of the amount. (See law
of Congress Of June 8, 1922
to the Department by before the 1st day of July
1873; but the service must be begun that day,
on the mail day next after it, 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 or interest In bids be trans
ferred or assigned to other parties. Bidders will
therefore take notice that they will be expected to
perform the service accepted to them through tho
whole contract term.
49, Section 249 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
than may be necessary to provide for the due CELEBRITY
certainty, and security thereof" Under this law
bids that propose to transport the mails with seller
~, certainty and security" having been decided to
DC the only legal bids, are proriding
the entire mail, however large, and waatever may
Oe tee mode OF c0nregdnce necessary to insure its
celebrity, certainty, and security" and hare the
preference crer all Others, and no others consd-
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. modification of bid in any Of its essential
terms is fantamount TO new bid, and cannot be
ceived so as to interfere with regular competition
Making new bid with guarantee and certificate, Is
the only way to modify previous bid.
20. Postmasters to be careful not to certify to
the suficiency of guarantors without knowing that
they persons of sufficient responsibility. (See
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 are signed by the bidder
and wo) guarantors; disregard Of this instruction
by postmosters tciU subject them to immediate re-
nsoual, and to severe penalties.
Postmasters are also liable to dismissal from Office
for acting as agents of contractors bidders with
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.
e. Present contractors, and persons known at the
Department, must, equally with others, procure
guarantors and certificates Of their sufciency SUBJ
stantialy in the forms above prescribed The certif
cate OF suffciency must be signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. j. CRESWELL,
nov1dlaw6t Postmaster General.