The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-17

usual post-office address,, and the name of each
member Of firm, where company offers,
should be distinctly stated
10. Bidders are requested to use, as far as
practicable, the printed proposals furnished by
the department, 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should bids once submitted be withdrawn.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
withdrawal OF a bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal Is received twen-
ty-four hours previous to the time fixed for open
ing the proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two respon-
sible persons. The bid and guarantee should be
signed plainly with the full name Of each per-
son.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to
reject any bid which may be deemed extrava-
CANT and also TO disregard the bids of falling
contractors and bidders. (Act of June s, 1872,
10. The bid should be sealed, superscribed
Mail Proposals, State of - addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con-
tract Ofee,n and sent by mail, not by or to an
agent. Bids of $4,000 per annum and
upward must be accompanied by a Ger.
titled check or draft on some solvent
amount. (See law of Congress of June s, 1871
II. The contracts are TO be erecuted aud returned
to the Department by or before the LIST day Of June
1873 otherwise the accepted bidder ,oiu be consid-
cred as hdviug failed, and the Postmaster General
nay proceed 10 contract for the seruce loith other
parties, according to lao.
Transfers of contracts, or of interests in con-
tracts are forbidden by law, and consequsu ty
cannot be allowed Neither can bids, or inter-
ests in bids, be transferred or assigned to other
parties. Bidders will therefore take notice that
they will be expected to perform the service
awarded to them through the whole contract
term.
IS Section 249 of the act of June s, 1872, pro-
vides that contracts for the transportation oil
the mail shall be awarded 10 the lowest bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per.
formance, without other reference 10 the mode
of such transportation than may be necessary to
prOyidn the pnlnr r. v. certainty
rity thereof" Under this law bids that pr oppose
to transport the mails with "ceterity, certainty
and security" having been decided to be the only
legal bids, al construed as proufdtng or the en-
tire mail however large, and iohdtecer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure ITS zee
lerity, certainty, and security" and haze the pref
erence Ouer all Others, and no others are consid-
cred, except for steamboat routes
19. A modification of a bid in any of its essen
tial terms is tantamount to new bid, and can
not be received. SO as to interfere with regular
competition. Making new bid, with guarantee
and certificate, is the only way to modify pre-
vious bid.
~ Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufficiency of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section 247 act of June s, lS72) They must
sign the certificate until the sum of the bid is
inserted, and the bid and guarantee are signed
by the bidder and (two) guarantors q disregard
ofthts Instruction By postnaSters loil subject them
to Immediate removal and to severe penalties.
Postmasters are also liable TO dismissal from
office for acting as agents of contractors or bid
ders. with or without compensation, In any busi-
ness, matter, or thing, relating to the mail SER
vice. They are the trusted agents of the Depart
ment, and cannot consistently act in both capa-
cities
q. All bidders. guarantors, and sureties are
distinctly notified that failure to enter into
or perform the contracts for the service proposed
for in the accepted bids their legal liabilities will
be enforced against them.
% Present contractors and persons known
at the Department, must equally with others.
procure gurantors and certificates of their suffi-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed The certificate of sufficiency must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. J. CRESWELI.,
ia lS-6w Postmaster General.