Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-12-05
The manner in which proposals shall be
made, and The
LIABILITY OF rosrnAsrras.

Sgj 245 That every proposal for car
rying the mail shall be accompanied by
the bond of the bidder, with sureties APP
proved by u postmaster, and in cases
where the amount OF the bond exceeds five
thousand dollars, by a postmaster of the
FIRST, second, or third class, in sum to be
designated by the Postmaster General In
the advertisement Of each route; to which
bond q condition shall be annexed, that If
the said bidder shall, within such time
after his bid is accepted as the Postmaster
| General shall prescribe, enter into Il con-
tract with the United States of America.
| with good and sufficient suretes, 10 BIO
approved by the Postmaster General to
perform the service proposed in his said
bid, and, further, that he shall perform
the said service according to his contract,
then the said obligation to be void other
wise to be in fall force aud obligation in
law and in case Of failure of any bidder
10 enter into such contract to perform the
service, or, having executed a contract, in
case of failure TO perform the service ac-
cording to his contract, he and his sureties
shall be liable for the amount OF said bond
as liquidated damages, to be recovered in
an action of debt on the said bond. No
proposal shall be considered unless it shall
be accompanied by such bond, and there
shall have been affixed to said proposal the
oath of the bidder, taken before an officer
qualified to administer oaths that he has
the ability, pecuniarily, to fulfill his OBJ
legations, and that the bid is made in
good faith, and with the intention to enter
into contract and perform the service in
case his bid is accepted
SEC; 246. That before the bond of bid
der provided for in the aforesaid section is
approved, there shall be indorsed thereon
the oaths of the suretles therein, taken be.
fore an officer qualified to administer oaths,
that they are owners of real estate worth,
in the aggregate, a sum double the
amount of the said bond, over and above.
all debts due and owing by them, and all
Judgments, mortgages, and executions
against them, after allowing all exemp-
tons of every character whatever
SEC. 247. That any postmaster who shall
affix his signature to the approval of any
bond of bidder, or to the certificate Of
sufficiency OF sureties in any contract be-
fore the said bond or contract is signed by
the bidder or contractor and his sureties,
or shall knowingly, or without the exer-
SiOS W Wv NhibSh~ef "Hpio'O my uohn vi
a bidder with insufficient sureties, or shall
knowingly make any false or fraudulent
certificate, shall be forthwith dismissed
from Office, and be thereafter disqualified
from holding the Office postmaster, and
shall also be deemed guilty of misde-
mcanor, and, on conviction thereof, be
punished by fine notexceeding FIVE thou
sand dollars, or by imprisonment not ex-
cesding one year, or both.
Service to be a,oarded TO the lo,cest bidder.
Bids q. failing contractors may
not be considered.
SEC. 249. That all contracts for carry
ing the mail shall be in the name of the
United States, and shall be awarded to the
lowest bidder rendering sufficient guaran-
tees for faithful performance, without 9TH
er reference to the mode of transportation
than may be necessary to provide for this
due celebrity, certainty, and security there
of; but the Postmaster General shall nos
be bound to consider the bid Of any per-