The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-11-01
Instruction. t. Bidder. and Postmaster.


Containing also conditions to be Incorporated in
the contracts to the ertent the Department
may deem proper.
1. 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.
3. Way bills" or receipts prepared by postmast-
ers, or other agents Of the Department win
pany 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
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 ar
rivals far behind time to break connection with
depending mails, and not sufficiently excused, one
forfeiture For repeated delinquencies of the kind
herein specified enlarged penalties, proportional to
the nature thereof, aud the Importance Of the mail
5. For leaving behind or throwing off the mails,
or any portion of them, for tn admission of passen
an express conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mail, quarter pay may be deducted.
s. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certf-
Gates of postmasters the adavts Of other credible
PERSONS for failing to arrive in contract tme for
negeceg to take the mail FROM or deliver it into
post office; for suffering it to be wet injured DESTROY
ed, robbed or lost; and for refusing, after demand
to convey the mail as frequently as the contractor
II,
steamboat route. :
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures TO agreeably to contract
for violating the post Office laws or dsobeying the
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
transporting persons or packages conveying mall
able matter out of the mall
8. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service on route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase on the contract pay. He may change scbed
ues Of departures and arrivals in all cases. and par
lorlu nlaf
railroads. without increase of pay providing the run
ming time be not abridged The Postmaster Gener-
al may also discontinue or curtail the SERVICE in
whole OF in part, in order to place the route SUI
perior service or 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 paw on the
amount of service dispensed with, and a pro rnta
continued
g.. 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, :
10. The distances given believed to be substan-
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
weight of the mail, the condition of hills roads.
streams, &c. and all tol-bridges, turnpikes, plank
roads, ferries, Instructions Of any kind by which
expense may be incurred. No claim for additional
pay, based on such ground can be considered; nor
for alleged mistakes misrepresentation to the de-
continued or other distractions causing increasing
distance or expense occurring during the contract
term. Offices established after this advertisement IL
issued and also during the contract term are to be
creased
H. Bidders are cautioned to mail their pronosa,s
IN time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named g p M, February 3, 1879, for bids re-
eeyed after that time 'ei NOT be considered in COM
petition with bids of reasonable amount received in
time. Neither can bids be considered which are
without the guarantee required by law and certifi
nf fha iaia Afo oh,
oath Of the bidder according to Section 2ie Act Of
H. Bidders should first propose for service strictly
according to the advertise ment and them if they
sire, separately for different service and if the req
ular bid be the lowest offered for the advertised ser
vice, the other propositions may be considered
49, There should be but one route bid for in a nro
posal Consolidated or combination bids ('sproposing
one sum Tor two or more routeso cannot be conside
a. The route the service the yearly paw. the
name and residence of the bidder Chat is his usual
pVSu ono1 uuIessl anu tne name OF each member of
stated. ~ "'''''''i!
l5 Bidders are requested to use as far as practi-
cable the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment to write out in full the sum of their bids And
to retain copies of them. ~
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor should
bids once submitted be withdrawn No witbdrawai
OF bidder or guarantor will be allowed unless the
withdrawal received hours previous to
Each bid must be guaranteed BY two respon.ible
persons. The bid and guarantee should be- sioned
pitlhty Will INC Iul name OF each person.
The Postmaster General reserves the RIGHT to reac.
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 2499
1G. The bid shonld be sealed, superscribed email
Proposals, State of Maine," addressed ssSecond AS
sstant Postmaster General, Contract Office" and
sent by mail, not by or to an agent. Bids of 600
per annrm and upward must be accompanied bv =
certified check or draft on some solven. National
narn, equai 70 per cent OF the amount. See law
4. The contracts are to be executed and returned
70 tne department by or before the LIST day Of july
1873; but the service must be begun that day or
ON the mail day next after it, whether the contracts
be execteud or not.
Transfers Of contracts or of interest In contract.
are forbidden by law, and consequently cannot he Al
lowed Neither can bids, interest in bids be trans
TERED 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. Wv
that contracts for the Transportation of the mail
shall be awarded to the lowest bidder rendering snf
ncient 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
olas mat propose to transport the mails with eele
Dc the only legal bids, construed proriding for
the entire mail, ho,cerer large, and ,ehatever may
Celebrity, certainty and security. and hare the
preference ocer all Others, and no others consid
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. A modification of a bid in any Of Its essential
terms Is fantamount to new bid, and cannot be re-
ceived, as to interfere with regular competition
Making new bid, with guarantee and certificate is
the only way to modify previous bid.
90 Postmasters to be careful not to certify to
the suficiency of guarantors without knowing that
they are persons of sufficient responsibility. (See
section 247, act of June s, 1879 They must not sign
the certificate until the sum of the bid is inserted
and the bid and guarantee are signed by the bidder
and two guarantors disregard Of this Instruction
By postmdsters ,oiH subject them to immediate re-
moral, and to SeUere penalties.
Postmasters are also liable to dismissal from office
for acting agents of contractors or bidders with or
without compensation, in any business, matter. or
thing, relating to the mail service. They are the
sistently act in both capacities N-o' '0''-
n: All bidders, guarantors, and suretes are dis
tncty hotned That on failure to enter into or per-
the accepted bids, their legal liabilities will be en-.
Department, must, equally with Others nrocnre
and certificates Of their sufficiency sub
stantlay IN the forms above prescribed The certif