The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-13
usull Dost-eface addre.s', and the name Of each

usu1l post-of1ce address,, md the anne Of each
member of u firm, where q 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 fulI the sum OF
their bids, and to retain copies of them,
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor
should bids oace submitted be withdrawn. No
withdra wal OF a bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal l. 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-
sou.
The Postmaster General reserves the right to
reject any bid which may be deemed exi rava-
gsnt; and al.o 10 disregard tho bids of fail ing
contractors and bidders. (Act Of June s, 1872,
70 rhs bid should be sealed, superscribed
Mail Proposals, State Of ---," addressed
.Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con-
tract OiIice,n and sent by mail, not by or to an
agent. Bids of $1,000 per annum and
upward must be accompanied by a GER
Iihed eheck or daft on some solvent
amount. (See law of Congress of June &. 1872
II. The cont acts ars TO be executed aud returned
to the Department by or before he lst dry Of June,
cred as haoiug failed, and the Postm tster General
may proceed to contract for the service 10Th other
parties, according to tdto.
Transfers of c ntracts, or of interests In con-
tracts are forbidden by law, and conse lusn 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 949 of the act of June s, 1872, pro.
yides that contracts for the transportation oil
the mail shall be awarded TO the lowe st bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per.
formancp, without other reference to the mode
Of SUCH transportation than may be necessary to
nrOyidn for The dina collar ~. nnrtltntv and gpan-
rity thereof" Under this law bids that Pr opose
TO transport the mails with "cetertty, certainty,
and security hautng been decided to be the only
legal bids, q; e construed as pr0Uiding for the en-
tire mail, ho,1ever large, and aohateuer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure ats zee
terity, certainty, and security" and haze 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
tfal terms Is tantamount TO q 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 a pre-
vious bid.
%. Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufficiency of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility
(See section 247, act of June s, 1874 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
Vthis instruction by postmasters tofU subject them
to Immediate remouah and to serere 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 thiag, 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
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 suffi-
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed. Tho certificate of suficiency must be
signed by a postmaster.
JNO. A.. J. CRESWELL,
ia l3-6w Postmaster General.