The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-23

usual post-ofice address,, and the name of eacf
member of firm, where a 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should bids once submitted be Withdrawn.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 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, 1872,
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 $1,000 per annum and
upward must be accompanied by GER
titled check draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to per cent. of the
amount (See law of Congress of June s, 1872
IL. The contracts are TO be erecuted and returned
70 ne Department by or before the LIST day Of June
1873 otherwise the accepted bidder iofH be consid.
cred as haoiug failed and the Postmaster General
may proceed TO contract for the serpice loith other
parties, according to Ideo.
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.
Is. Section 249 of the act of June s, 1872, pro-
vdes 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 "celerity certainty,
and security" haUtag been decided to be the only
legal bids, are construed as prouidiag for the en-
tire mail however large, and l1hdteuer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure its zee
terity, certainty 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 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.
90. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the suiiicieucy of guarantors without knowing
that they persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section PAT, act of June s, lS72) They must
not sign the certificate until the sum of the bids
inserted, and the bid and guarantee are signed
by the bidder and (two) guarantors; disregard
othts instruction by postmnsters ioiU 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 bush
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
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.
20 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 sulIiciency must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. J. CRESWELL,
ia 13-6w Postmaster General.