The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-14

usual post-ofiiee address,, and the name of each
member of a 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 ont 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn. Mo
withdrawal of bidder guarantor Will be
allowed unless the withdrawai is received iwen-
ty-four hours previous 10 the time fixed for open
ing the proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two respon-
sible persons. The bid aud 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 failing
contractors and bidders. tAct OF June 3, 1877,
section 249.l Us
i6. The bid should be sealed, superscribed
mail Proposals, State of - addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con-
tract Office" and sent by mail, not by or to an
agent. Bids of $4,000 per annum and
| upward must be accompanied by GER
| titled check or draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to per cent of the
amount (See law of Congress Of June s, 1871
H. The contracts TO be executed and returned
to the Department By or before the LIST day Of June,
1879 othetoise the accepted bidder ,oiL be consid-
cred as haufug failed, and The Postmaster Gezaerot
may proceed 10 contract for Che service acith other
Transfers of contracts, or of interests in con-
| tracts are forbidden by law, and consequsn thy
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 24s of the act of June s, 1872, pro-
yides that contracts for the transportation oil
| the mail shall be awarded TO the lowest 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 p1 oppose
10 transport the mails with "celerity, certainty,
and security haUing been decided to be the only
legal bids, construed as lroriding for The en-
tire mail ho1oeper large and lchatecer may be the
| mode Of conveyance necessary to insure It's zee
lerity, certainty and security and hare the PREF
| ereace 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 q 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 pre-
yious bid 9sts
, co. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufiiciency of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility
(See section 247, act of June s, lS72) They mus
not sign the certificate until the sum of the bid i
inserted, and the bid and guarantee are signet
, by the bidder and (two) guarantors; dtsregdrt
oftiis instruction By postrndsters DtH SUBJECT meh
TO immediate removal, and to severe penalties,
Postmasters are also liable to dismissal iron
office for acting as agents of contractors OF bid
ders, with or without compensation, IN any bus
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
Z | cities 4
81. All bidders, guarantors, and suret1es ar
distinctly notified that on failure to enter int
or perform the contracts for the service propose
for in the accepted bids, their legal liabilities wi
o be enforced against them.
e % Present contractors, and persons know
n at the Department. must, equally with other
n procure gurantors and certificates of their sun
Q cheney substantially IN the forms above pr
J, scribed The certificate of sufiiciency must |
g signed by q postmaster. -
ii JNO. A. 7. CRESWELL,
n ia l3-6w efl Postmaster General.