The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-17

usual post-office address,, aud the name of eacl
| member of q firm, where a company offers
| should be distinctly stated.
10. Bidders are requested to use, as far Ms
| practicable, the printed proposals furnished by
| the Department, to write out in full the sum o.
their bids, and TO retain copies of them,
Altered bids should not be submitted mol
| should bids once submitted be Withdrawn. Nc
withdrawal of a bidder or guarantor will be
allowed unless the withdrawal is received TWEEN
ty-four hours previous TO the time fixed for open
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. (Act of June 8, 1872
l6. The bid should be sealed, superscribed
Mail Proposals, State of e." addressed
Second Assistant Postmaster General, Con-
tract Office" and sent by mail, not by OF to an
agent. Bids of $1,000 per annum and
upward must be accompanied by Ger.
titled check or draft on some solvent
national bank, equal to . per cent of the
II. The contracts are to be egecuted and returned
TO the Department By before the LIST day Of June,
1873, otherwise the accepted bidder soill be consid:
cred as hdutug failed, and the Postmaster General
may proceed to contract for the Serptce with other
parties, according to lao.
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 them through the whole contract
term.
Is. Section 249 of the act of June g. 1872, pro-
yides that contracts for the transportation OF
the mail shall be awarded to the lowest bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful per-
formance, 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 celebrity, certainty,
and security having been decided to be the only
legal bids, are construed as prouidtng or the en-
tire natl, ho,ceuer large and tolateuer may be the
mode Of conveyance necessary to insure its Gee
Ierity certainty, and Securiy' and have the pref.
erence over 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 cam
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-
yious bid.
90 Postmasters are to be careful not to certify
to the sufIicieucy of guarantors without knowing
that they are persons of sufficient responsibility.
(See section 247, act of June 5, 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
QfdtS instruction by posndsterS aoill subject them
to tnimediate removal, and to sepere penalties.
Postmasters are alsO llanle 10 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 consistently act in both capa.
cities.
81. All bidders, guarantors, and sureties are
distinctly notified that q 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 sulIl
cheney substantially IN the forms above pre-
scribed. The certificate of sufficiencY must be
signed by postmaster.
JNO. A. J. CRESWELL,
in l3-6w Postmaster General