The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-22

usu1l post-office 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
withdrawal OF a bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal Is received TWEEN
ty-four hours previous TO the time liked for OPEN
ing the proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two respon-
sbe 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 5, 1872,
section 249)
l6. 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 5000 per annum and
upward must be accompanied by GER
titled check or draft on some solvent
Lave qo os to per ge ane
~ The contracts are 10 be erec,tted and returned
to The Department by or before the LIST day Of June,
1873 othereotse The accepted bidder ,oiH be consid
cred as havtug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed TO contract for the service 10Th other
| parties, according to lao.
Transfers of contracts, or of interests in con-
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.
49, Section 249 of the act of June 8, 1877 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
tta ttfxr ~
rity thereof" Under this law bids that p1 oppose
to transport the mails with celebrity, certainty,
and security" having been decided to be the only
legal bids, are construed as proufding Jor the
tire mail however large, and tohatere, may be the
mode Of conueydnce necessary to insure its "ce'
Ierity, certainty and security" and hare the pref
erence over 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 medify pre-
vious bid.
90. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufcieucy of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility
(See section 247, act of June s, 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; disregard
0fttiS instruction IN p0stnldsterS 11i subject them
TO Immediate removal and to Serere penalties,
Postmasters are also liable to dismissal from
office for acting 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
q. 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-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed. The certificate of suffciency must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. j. CRESWELL,
ia l9-6w Postmaster General.