The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-05

usu1l Dost-o6lce address), and the uaue Of eaot
member Of a firm, where a company offers
should be distinctly stated.
10. Bidders are requested to use, as far a,
practicable, the printed proposals mrnisbed by
the department, to write out in lull the sum oil
their bids, and to retain copies of them,
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor
should bids once submitte be withdrawn. M @
withdra wal OF a bidder or guaranior will be
allowed unless the withdrawal 1. received TWEEN.
ty-four 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 fun 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 failing
contractors and bidders. (Act of June S, 1872,
10. The bid should be sealed, superscribed
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
tined check or draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to 8 per cent. of the
amount. (See law of Congress of June 8, 1921
IL. The contracts are to be erecuted and returned
to the Department By or before The LIST Dig Of June,
1873. othertofSe the accepted bidder tciI be constd.
cred as hapfugJ failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the service 10Th other
parties, according to ldtc.
Transfers of contracts, or of interests in con.
tracts are forbidden by law, and conselusn 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 Wiii De expected to perform the service
term.
is. Section 24a of the act of June 3 1879. pro.
yides that contracts for the transportation oil
the mail shall be awarded TO the lowe ST bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per
formance, 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 Pr oppose
to transport the mails with '~ceterfty, certainty,
and security" having been decided to be the only
legal bids, a; e construed as providing Jor the en-.
tire mail, ho,oeuer large, and Dhdteper may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure ITS "ce
lerity, certainty, and security and have the pref
efence ouer 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 anew bid, with guarantee
and certificate, Is the only way to modify a pre-.
vious bid.
20. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the suffciency of guarantors 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
inserted, and the bid and guarantee are signed
by the bidder and (two) guarantors; q disregard
Of this instruction by poStmdsters t1iI 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 surelies are
notified thai on a failure to enter into
or perform the contracts for the service proposed
for in the accepted bids, their legalliabilities will
be enforced against them.
% Present contractors, and persons known
at the Department, must, equally with Others,
gurantors and certificates of their suffi-