The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-21

usual post-ofIice address,, and the name of each
member of firm, where company offers,
should be distinctly stated.
Is. Bidders are requested 10 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 witndrawn. No
withdrawal of n 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 ex tr9,y,
contractors and bidders. (Act of June 8, 1877,
section 249.) . ,
I6 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 draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to per cent. OF the
amount. (See law of Congress Of June s, ls72.l
II. The contracts are TO be erec,fed and returned
1873, otheroise the accepted bidder otu be consid.
cred as hdutug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the service Nth other
parties according to lao.
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 8, 1872, pro.
vdes 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
provide for the due CELEBRITY, certainty and secu-
rity thereof" Under this law bids that propose
to transport the mails with "cetertty, certainty,
and security hdutng been decided to be The only
legal bids, are construed as providing for the en-
tire mail, however large, and aohatecer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure IT'S "ce-
lerity, certainty and security" and hare the pref
erence oper 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 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 sufficiency of guarantors without knowing
that they persons of sufficient responsibility
(See section PAT, 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
20 to seusre , pees
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
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.
Nptr.a ntn,. md mr.
at the Department, must, equally with others,
procure gurantors and certificates of their sufii-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed The certificate of sufficiency must be
signed by q postmaster.
JNO. j. CRESwELL,
ia l3-6w Postmaster General.