The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-20

usu1l post-ofIice address,, aud the name of each
member of firm, where company offers,
should be distinctly stated.
Is. 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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 u bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal is received twen-
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 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 failing
contractors and bidders. (Act of June s, 1872,
le. 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 n GER
titled check or draft on some solvent
n nrunnn PPs s equal to per cent OF the
y. me contracts are TO be eEecuted and returned
to the Department By before the lst day Of June,
1873 otherwise Tie accepted bidder piu be consid
cred as hautug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the seJgice toih other
parties, according to laio
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 to perform the service
awarded to them through the whole contract
term.
Is Section 249 of the act of June s, 1872, pro-
vldes that contracts for the transportation OF
the mail shall be awarded to the lowest bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per-
Torrance, without other reference to the mode
Of such transportation than may be necessary to
ha Ina nttxy and
rity thereof" Under this law bids that propose
to transport the mails with "ceIerHy, certainty,
and security" haUfng been decided to be the only
legal bids, are construed as prouiding or the en-
tire mail however large, and 1ohatever may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure its zee
terity, certainty, and security" and haze the pre
erence oUer all others, and no others are consid-
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. modification of 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 new bid, with guarantee
and certificate, is the only way to modify pre-
vious bid.
20. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufiicieucy of guarantors without knowing
that they persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section 247, act of June g. lS72) 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
ofthis instruction By ostuaGSters sciU subject them
to imaediate REMOVAL and to seuere penalties.
Postmasters are also liable 10 dismissal from
office for acting as agents of contractors or bid
ders with or without compensation, In any bust
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 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. CRESWELL,
ia l3-6w Postmaster General