The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-04

usual post-of1cea ddress), and the name of each
member OF a firm, where 8 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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 Ruarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal L. received twen-
flour hours previous TO the time fixed for OPEN
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-
giant; and also to disregard the bids of failing
contractors and bidders. (Act of June s, 1872,
10. The bid should be sealed, surerscribed
mai Proposals, State OF --," addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con-
tract once 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
national bank, equal to 8 per cent. of the
amount. (See law of Congress of June s, 1871
IL. The contracts are 10 be executed and returned
to the Department BY or before The LIST day of June,
1873, otherwise the accepted bidder ioilL be co1tsid-
cred as hdpiug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the serUice 10Th other
parties, according to taD.
Transfers of contracts, or of interests in con-
tracts are forbidden by law, and consequsn tly
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 VIII be expected to perform the service
awarded to them through the whole contract
term.
is. Section 24s of the act of June 8. 1879. pro.
yides that contracts for the transportation oil
the mail shall be awarded 10 the lowest bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per.
Torrance, without other reference to the mode
OF such transportation than may be necessary to
provide for the due CELEBRITY, certainty and secu-
rity thereof" Under this law bids that propose
to transport the mails with "cetertty, certainty,
and security" hdpf1q been decided TO be the only
legal bids, al construed as prouidfng for The en-
tire mail hotoeUer large, and ,1hdteuer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary TO insure ITS zee.
erence Oper all others, and no others are consid-
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. A modification of a bid in any of Its essen
tial terms is tantamount to a new bid, and can.
not be received, so as to interfere with regular
competition. Making a new bid, with guarantee
and certificate, is the only way to modify a pre-
vious bid.
90. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
TO the suf1ciency OF gnarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section 247, act of June s, 1S72) They must
not sign the certificate until the sum of the bid is
by the bidder and (two) guarantors; a disregard
Of this Instruction by postmasters aotll 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
81. All bidders, guarantors, and ~sureties are
distinctly notified that on a 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 sufi-