The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-16

usual post-office address), aud the name of each
/ member of firm, where a 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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 q bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the Withdrawal is received twen-
ty-four hours previous TO 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. (Aet of June s, 1879,
10. 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. tSee law of Congress of June s, 1871
IL. The contracts are to be erecuaed and returned
to The Department By or before the LIST day Of June,
1873, otherwise the accepted bidder ioill be consd-
cred as hGufug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed TO contract for the serUice toi other
parties, according to ldto.
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 thsm through the whole contract
term.
IS. Section 249 of the act of June s, 1s72 pro-
vldes that contracts for the transportation oil
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
provide for the due CELEBRITY, certainty and secu-
rity thereof" Under this law bids that propose
to transport the mails with "ceIerity, certainty,
and security" hdptng been decided to be the only
legal bids, are construed proutdfng for the en-.
tire mail however large and ,ohaterer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure its Gee
terfty certainty, and security and hare the pref
erence ouer all others, and no others are consid-
cred, except for steamboat routes.
10. A 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 a 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 suftciency of guarantors without knowing
that they 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 disregard
or his instruction by postnidsters totU 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 bust
ness, matter, or thing, relating to the mail SER
vice. They are the trusted agents of the Depart
ment, and cannot consis tently act in both capa-
cities
81. All bidders, guarantors, and sureties are
notified that 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
Mt the Department. must, equally with others,
procure gurantors and certificates of their suffi-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed. The certificate of sufTiciency must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. J. CRESWELL,
ia l3-6w Postmaster General.