National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-19
Dated
INSTRUCTIU Ms TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS:

CONTAINING ALSO CONDITIONS TO BE INCoRPo-
RATED IN THE CONTRACTS TO THE EXTENT THE
DEPARTMENT MAY DEEM PROPER
!. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermedi-
ate office, when not otherwise specified, fer as
sorting the mails.
.. on routes where the mode of conveyance ad-
mits OF il, the special agents Of the Post Once De-
partmGnt, also post Office blanks, mail bags,
locks and keys, are TO be conveyed without extra
charge.
5. way bills" or receipts, prepared by pOstmas-
tiers or other agents Of the Department, will &C
company the mails, specifying the number and
destination Of the several bags, to be examined
by the pOsmasteTs, to insure regularity in the de-
livery Of bags and pouches.
!. No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each Of such omissions, if the iailuresOe
occas Oned by the fault OF the contractor or car
rier, three times the pay of the trip will be de-
Quoted For arrivals SO far behind time as to
break connection with depending mails, and not
sufficiently excused, One-IOurth Of the compenss-
tiOn for the trip is subject to forfeiture. For re-
peated delinQuencIes OF the kind herenispecined,
enlarged penalties prOpOrtiOned to the nature
thereof and the Importance of the mail, may be
made.
5. For leaving behind or throwing of the mails,
or any portion Of them, for the admission OF pas
sengeTS, or for being concerned in setting up or
running an express conveying intelligence in ad-
vance OF the mail, quarters pay may be de-
Quoted.
g. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by GER
tificates of pOstmasters OF the aftaVits Of other
credible persons, for failing to arrive in contract
time; for neglecting to take the mail from, or de-
liver it into. post Office; for suffering it to be
wet injured destroyed robbed or lost: and for
refusing, after demand, TO convey the mail as fire.
qUently the contractor runs, or is concerned in
running, a coach, car. or steamboat on a route.
:. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to run agreeably to
contract; for violating the post office laws, or dis
Obeying the instructions Of the Department; for
refusing TO discharge a carrier when required by
the Department TO do so for running an express
as aforesaid or for transporting persons or pack
ages conveying mailahle matter out Of the mail.
s. The Postmaster General may order an in
9 h,., II V11ar No.
pro rata increase on the contract pay. He may
change schedules Of departures and arrivals in
all cases, and particularly 70 make them conform
10 connections with railroads, without increase OF
pay, provided the running time be not abridged.
The Postmaster General may also discontinue or
curtai the service, in whole or in part in order to
place on the route superior service, or whenever
the public interests IN his judgment shall require
such discOntinuancc or curtailment for any other
cause; he allowing. as full indemnity TO con-
tractor, one months extra pay on the amount Of
service dispensed with, and pro rata compensa-
ton for the amount OF service retained and con-
unued.
3. Payments will be made by collections from,
or drafts on, pOstmssters or otherwise, after the
expiration Of each quarteT-say in November,
February, May and August, provided that re-
quired evidence Of service has been received.
10. The distances given are believed to be sub
st2ntlaily correct; but no increased pay will be
allowed should they be greater than advertised,
If the points to be supplied are correctly stated.
Bidders must in form HemgelUeS on his point,
and also in reference to the weight of the mail,
the condition Of hills roads, streams, &c, and all
tOllbrdges, turnpikeS, plank roads, ferries or
distractions Of any kind by which expense may
be incurred No claim for additional pay, based
on such ground, can be considered: nor for al
legged mistakes or Misrepresentation as to the de-
gree OF service; nor for bridges destroyed ferries
discontinued, or other distractions causing or in
creasing distance or expense occurring during
the contract term. OflCes established after this
advertisement is Issued, and also during the con-
tract term are 10 be visited without extra pay
if the distance be not increased.
II. Bidders are cautioned to mail their propO-
sells in time to reach the Department by the day
and hour named in the advertisement, as bids re-
CeiYed after that time JriH not be considered in
competition with bids OF reasonable amount re-
CeiVed in time. Neither can bids be considered
which are without the bond, oath and certificate
required by section 2l5, act OF June 3, 1874.
u. Bidders should hrst propose for service
strictly according to the advertisement, and then,
il they DESIRE separately for different service; and
Cthe regular bid be the lowest offered for the ad
vertised service, the other propositions may be
Is. There should be but one route bid for in
proposal. Consolidated or combination bids
r'PrOpOsing one sum for two or more routes }
a. The route, the service, the yearly pay, the
name ana residence OF the bidder. (that Is, his
usual post office address, and the name oil each
member OF hrm where company OHers, should
be distinctly stated.
10. Bidders are requested TO use, as far as prac-
ucable- the printed proposals furnished Dy the
Department, to write out In full the sum Of their
bids, and TO retain copies Of them.
Altered bids should not be submitted. No
withdrawal Is received ty-iOuT hours previous
to the time fixed for opening the proposals.
10. In case Of lgiluTe OF the accepted bidder to
execute contract, or Of the abandonment or ser
vice during the contract term, the service will be
TeadveTtised and relet at the expense Of the fail
ing bidder or contractor.
l.. The Postmaster General reserves the right
TO reject any bid which may be deemed eXtTIy-
aEant; and also TO disregard the bids OF failing
contractors and bidders. (Act Of June s, 1872
section 249.)
IS. The bid should be sealed, supsrscrlbed
Mail Proposals, State OF -" a idressed
second Assistant Postmaster General, Contract
Office"
10. Every proposal slust he accompanied by
bond with tureIies approved BY pOstmas5e r, and
in cases where the amount OF the bond exec sis
five Thousand dollars (Sj,OO0) by pOstm tster Of
the first, second or third class. Bids T
service, the pay for which at the time Of
advertisement exceeds five thousand do
lars. (s5COO,) must be accompanied by
certified check, or draft, payable to the order OF
the Postmaster General on some solvent na-
tional bank, Of not less than Eve per centun on
the amount OF the annual pay on such route, ard
in case Of new or modified service, not less than
I'VE per centum Of the amount OF the bold accom-
panying the bid, IL the amount Of said bond eK-
ceeds CS5,COO) FIVE thousand dollars.
The amount Of bond required with bids, and
the present pay when it exceeds (S5o)J) i've thou