The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-08

usual post-ofice address,, and the name of each
member of a 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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 l. received twen-
y-four hours previous TO the time fixed for open
/. Each bid must be guaranteed by two respon-
sble 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 ex rava-
CANT and also to disregard the bids of failing
contractors and bidders. Act of June 8, 1872,
section 249.D
is. rhe bid should be sealed, superscribed
Mail Proposals, State of -" addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster G%eneral, 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 a GER
TILED check or draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to 8 per cent. of the
amount. (See law of Congress of June s, 1921
IL. The contracts are TO be erecuted and returned
to TIE Department 6y or before he list dry Of June,
cred as having failed, and the Postmaster General
mny proceed to contract for the service 10Th other
parties, according to ldto.
Transfers of contracts, or Of interests In con-
tracts are forbidden by law, and conse lusn 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 249 of the act of June s, 1872, pro-
yides that contracts for the transportation OF
the mail shall be "awarded 10 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
nTnVida for the dina Oplpr tV. Qprtaintv and cpan.
rlty thereof" Under this law bids that propose
to transport the mails with "celerity, certainty,
and security" having bsea decided to be the only
legal bids, a, e construed as providing for the en-
tire mail, holceuer large, and lohdteueT' may be the
mode Of Conveyance necessary to insure ITS "ce
terity, certainly, and security" and haze the pref
erence 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 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 n pre-
vious bid.
20. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the suficiency of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section 247, act of June s, 1871 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
Of Thu instruction by postmasters 1oiH 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 busr
ness, matter, or thug, 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
notified that on a failure to enter into
or perform the contracts for the service proposed
tor in the accepted bids, their legal liabilities will
be enforced against them.
% Present contractors, and persons known
ut the Department, must, equally with Others.
procure gurantors and certificates of their sufi-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed. The certificate of sufficiency must be
signed by q postmaster.
JNO. A +. CRESWELL.,
ia I3-6w Postnnster General.