Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25
Instructions to Bidders and Post
masters.


masters.
Containing also conditions 10 he incorporated in the
contracts 10 The crttnt the DEPARTMENT may deem
proper.
|. seven minuics are allowed to each intermediate
Office, when not otherwise specified for asserting the
= On routes where the mode Of conveyance adj
mits Of II, the special agents Of the Post Once De-
paTtment also post Office blanks mail bags, locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge.
.. Way bills" or receipts prepared by postmast-
ers, or other agents Of the Department, will
phny the mails, specifying the number and destna-
ton of the several bags to be examined by the post
masters 70 insure regularity in the delivery Of bags
and pouches
No pay will be made for trips not performed ;
and for each Of such omissions II the failure be occa
stoned by the fault Of the contractor carrier three
u,es the pay Of the trip will be deducted For arriy-
ais 20 far behind time to break connection with de-
pending mails, and not sufficiently excused, one
fourth Of the compcnsaon for the TIP ia subject to
forfeiture For repeated delinquencies Of the kind
herein specified enlarged penalties, proportional to
the nature thereof, and the Importance of the mail
may be made.
o. For leaving behind or throwing Of the mails or
any portion Of them for the admission of passengers
or for being concerned in setting up running an
express conveying intelligence in advance Of the mail
quarters pay may be deducted.
G. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certificates
Of postmasteIs or the adavts Of other credible per-
sons, for failing to arrive in contract time for neg
Letting to take the mail FROM deliver It into, post
Office for suffering 1t to be wet, injured, destroyed
robbed, or lost and for refusing after demand, to
convey the mail frequently az the contractor runs
or is concerned in running COACH car, or steamboat
on u route.
7. The Postmaster General may nnnu the contract
for repeated failures to agreeaby to contract for
violating the post Office laws, diHoboying the in
struetons Of the Department; for refusing TO dis
charge carrier when required by the Department to
do SO; for running an express As aforesaid; 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
sch 80
Of departures and arrivals in all cases. and particular
ly to make them conform to connections with rail-
time be not abridged. The Postmaster General may
also discontinue or curta the service in whole or in
part in order to place on the route superior service
or whenever the public interests, in his Judgment
shall require such discOntnuanco curtailment for
any other cause; he allowing az full indemnity to
contractor one months extra pay on the amount Of
service dispensed with, and pro rata compensation
for the amount Of service retained and continued.
o. Payments will be made by collections from or
drafts on postmasters otherwise after the oxpira-
ton Of each quartcr-say in November, February,
May and August, provided that required evidence Of
service has been received.
TO- The distances given believed to be substan-
TALLY correct but no increased pay will be allowed
should they be greater than advertised, IL the points
to be supplied are correctly stated. bidders must in
form themselves on This point, and also in reference
to the weight Of the mail the condition Of hills roads,
streams, &C. and all toll-bridges turnpikes plank
roads, ferries distractions Of any kind by which
expense may be incurred. No claim fo- additional
pay based on such ground, can be considered; nor
gree of service nor fer bridges destroyed, ferries
discontinued, other distractions causing or in
creasing distance expense occurring during the
contract term. Offices established after this ndver-
sement is issued, and also during the contract term
are to be visited without extra pay if the distance lie
not increased
II. Bidders cautioned to mail their propos-
ais in time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named, % p m, February g. 1881 for bids re-
ceycd after that time rH not be considered in COM
petition with hide, Of reasonable amount, received In
time. Neither bids be considered which are with
out the guarantee required by law and a certificate
Of the sufciency Of such guarantee, and the oath Of
the bidder according to Section 24G, Act Of June &,
1872.
H. Bidders should frat propose for service strict
y according to the advertisement, and then If they
desire, separately for different service and IL the
regular bid be the lowest offered for the advertised
service, the other propositions may be conside- ed.
l3 There sh, ud be but enc route bid for in pro-
posal. Consolidated or combination bids ('proposng
sum fer two or more routesD cannot be consider
H. The route the service, the yearly pay, the name
and residence of the bidder Chat is his usual post
Office address) and the name OF each member of
hrm, where company Offers should be distinctly stat
cd
IT, Bidders are requested to use as far as practi-
cable the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
men to write out in full the sum of therbids and to
retain copies Of them.
bids once submitted be withdrawn. No withdrawal
Of a bidder or 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
persons. The bid aud guarantee should be signed
plainly with the full name of each person.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to reject
any bid which may be deemed eItravagant; and also
ders. (Act Of June g. 1872, section 249)
10. The bid should be sealed superscribed "Mail
Proposals, State Of Vermont" addressed "Second As
sstan Postmaster General, Contract Office" and sent
by malt not by TO agent. Bids Of IS 600 per an
mum aud upward must be accompanied by certified
check draft on some solvent National Bank equal
to per cent. Of the amount see law Of Congress Of
June 3, 1871
II. The contrac to be executed and returned
TO the Department by or before the LIST day Of mr.
1873 but the service must be begun on that day. or
the mail day next after it, whether the contracts be
executed or not.
are forbidden by law, and consequently cannot be al
lowed. Neither bids interest in bids he trans
ferrCd assigned to other parties. Bidders will
therefore take notice that they Will be expected to per-
form the service accepted to them through the whole
contract tenn.
IL. Section 249 Of the act Of June g. 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 toprovide for the due CELEBRITY,
tainty and security thereof" Under this law bids
that propose to transport TIE mails with 'esisrity
certainty aud security" hGuing been decided 10 be ne
only legal bids are construed pTOuidng for the en-
tire mail hOwsrer large, and uhGteuer may the mode
OF conveyance necessary 10 insure its 'ceIuitV, Ger
tanty and security and hare the pr,fere orsr all
Others aud no others are considered except for steam
boat routes.
10 mobilization Of bid in any Of its essential
terms ia tantamount to new bid, and cannot be re-
ceyed, so as to interfere with regular competition.
Making new bid, with guarantee and certificate, IL
the only way to modify previous bid.
40 Postmasters to be careful not TO certify to
the sutheiency OF guarantors without knowing that
they arc persons Of sufficient responsibility (see
section 247, act of June g. 1921 They must not sign
the certificate until the Of the bid is inserted
and the bid and guarantee are signed by the bidder
and two) guarantora: disregdrd Of thus instruction
by Postmasfers wH subject them 10 immediate rtmou-
al, and 10 ssrere penalties.
POatmagtprR n ipn 10 fro,
for acting as agents Of contractors bidders with or
without compensation, 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.
81. All bidders, guarantors aud suretes are dis
nctly 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 enforced
against them.
20. Present contractors, and persons known at the
Department. must, equally with others, procure guar
antors and certificates Of their suciency substantial
ly in the forms above prescribed. The certificate Of
suficiency must be signed by "A postmaster.
JNO. A. j. CRESWELI,