The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-28

usull post-of1lce address,, aud the name Of each
member of firm, where Il 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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-
tyfour 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 extraya-
CANT and also TO disregard the bids OF failing
contractors and bidders. (Aet OF June g. 1877
L. The bid should be sealed, superscribed
mail Proposals, State of -" addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster General, " 0o M,
tract Onlce," and sent by mail, not by or to an
agent. Bids of $4,000 per annum anu
upward must be accompanied by a Ger.
titled check or draft on some soiVe en-
amount. (See law of Congress of June 8, lS7Z'l
II. The contracts are TO be erecuted and returned
to the Department By or before the LIST dry Of June,
1873, other,oiSe the accepted bidder WiH be constd-
cred hduiug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the Serpice lDih other
parties, according to lao.
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 will be expected 10 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-
Torrance, without other reference to the mode
of such transportation than may be necessary TO
r1royiua for the due Cplpr,ty. certainty SeCu-
rity thereof" Under this law bids that pr oppose
to transport the mails with "ceLertty, certainty,
and security" having been decided to De ne only
legal bids, aie construed as proridtng for ne en-
tire mail ho0ever large and tohateuer may be the
mode Of Conveyance necessary TO insure ttS &c
lerity, certainty, and security and hare me PREF
erence orer 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 new bid, ana cam
not be received, as to interfere with regular
competition. Making new bid, with guarantee
and certificate, is the only way to modify pre-
vious bid.
90. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufficiency of guarantors without knowing
(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; a disregard
ofthts instruction By postasters aotH subject them
to inlnediate 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 DOM capa'
cities
81 All bidders, guarantors, and sureties are
distinctly notified that on failure to enter into
or perform the con 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 suf-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scrbed The certificate of suffciency must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. 7. CRESWELL,
in l3-6w Postmaster General.