The Portland daily press., 1874-12-30

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS.

Containing also conditions to be incorporated in the
contracts to the ertent the Department may deem
proper.
1. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermedi-
ate Office, when not otherwise specified, for assort-
ing the mails.
E On routes where the mode of conveyance ad-
ms of it, the special agents OF the Post Office De-
partment, also post office blanks, mail bags, locks
and keys are to be conveyed without extra charge.
3. sway bills'' or receipts, prepared by postmas-
ters or other agents of the Department will accom-
pany the mails, specifying the number and destina
tion of the several bags to be examined by the post
masters, to insure regularity in the delivery of bags
4. No pay will be made for trips not performed;
and for each of such omissions, if the failure be
casioned by the fault of the contractor or carrier,
three times the pay of the trip will be deducted For
arrivals so far behind time to break connection
with depending mails, and not sufficiently excused,
one fourth of the compensation for the trip is sub
ject forfeiture For repeated deinquencies OF the
kind herein specified, enlarged penalties. proper
toned to the nature thereof and the importance Of
the mail, may be made.
any portion of them, for the admission of passen-
gers for being concerned in setting up running
an express conveying intelligence in advance Of the
mall quarters pay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certif
Gates of posmasters or che afidavs of other cred
ibe persons, for failing to arrive in contract time;
for negectng to take the mail from, or deliver it in
to post office; for suffering it to be wet, injured,
DESTROYED robbed lost and for refusing after de-
mand to convey the mail frequently as the con-
tractor runs or is concerned in running COACH car
or steamboat on q route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to agreeably to con-
tract for violating the post Office laws, or disobey
ing tile instructions of the Department. for refusing
to discharge carrier when required by the Depart
ment to do so for running an express as aforesaid;
or for transporting persons or packages conveying
maable matter out of the mail.
s. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service on route by allowing therefor pro rata
on the contract nG pay lie @ change sehed
ticuarly to make them conform to connections with
railroads. without increase of pay provided the
ming time be not abridged. The Postmaster General
NAV also discontinue curta the service, in whole
or in part, in order to place on the route superior
service whenever the public interests in bis Judg
ment shall require such discontinuance curtail-
ment for any other cause he allowing as full indem-
nifty to contractor, one months extra pay on the
amount Of service dispensed with, ana pro rdtG
COMPENSATION for the amount of service retained and
continued.
O. Payments will be made by collections from,
drafts on pOsmasters or otherwise alter the expra
tion of each quarter-say in November, February,
May, and August, provided that required evidence
of service has been received.
TO- The distances given are believed to be sub
stantially cOrrect but no increased pay will be al
lowed should they be greater than advertised II the
points to be supplied correctly stated Bidders
must inform themselves this point, and also in
reference to the weight of the mall the condition of
hill, roads, streams, &C.. and all to-bridges, turn
pkes plank roads, ferries, or distractions of any
kind by which expense may be incurred. EO claim
for additional pay, based on such ground, can be
considered; nor for alleged mistakes or misappre-
henson as 10 the degree of service; nor for bridges
DESTROYED ferries discontinued other distractions
causing increasing distance or expense occurring
during the contract term Offices established after
this advertisement is issued and also during the con-
tract term are to be visited wthOat extra pay if the
distance be not increased.
III Bidders are cautioned to mail their proposals
in time to reach the Department by the day and
hour named in the advertisement, as bids received
fer that time ,c not be considered in competition
with bids of reasonable amount received in time.
Neither can bids be considered which are without
the bond, OATH and certificate required by section
245, act OF June %, 1874.
H. Bidders should first propose for service strictly
according to the advertisement, and them il they de-
SIRE separately for different service and If the reg
uIar bid be the lowest offered for the advertised SER
vice, the other propositions may be considered.
49, There should be but one route pa; pa tor IN pro-
one sum for two or more routesO cannot be cOnsid-
cred.
name and residence of the bidder, that is his usual
post-office address,) and the name of each member
of firm where company offers, should be distinct
ly stated.
Is Bidders are requested to use, as far as pract-
cable, the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment to write out i'll full the sum OF their bids, and
Altered bids should not be submitted. No with
drawal of a bid will be allowed unless the with
drawal is received twentyour hours previous to the
time fixed for opening the proposals.
16. In of failure of the accepted bidder to
ecute contract, or of the abandonment of service
during the contract term, the service will be
advertised and re-et at the expense OF the failing
bidder or contractor.
IT. The postmaster Nfeneral reserves unc TlSnJ 10
reject any bid which may be deemed extravagant
and also to disregard the bids of failing contractors
and bidders. (Act of June s, 1872 section 249)
Is. The bid should be sealed, superscribed "Nail
Proposals, State OF ........, addressed ''Seconu
Assistant Postmaster General Contract Office"
10. Every proposal must be accompanied by
bond with sureties approved by postmaster, and in
cases where the amount of the bond exceeds five
thousand dollars (S500 by postmaster OF the first,
second or third class Bids for service, the pay for
which at the time of advertisement exceeds five
thousand dollars, 5000 must be accompanied by
certified check draft, payable to the order of the
Postmaster General, some solvent national bank,
of not less than five per centum on the amount OF
the annual pay on such route, and in case of new or
modified service not less than five per centum of the
amount of the bond accompanying the bid, if the
amount of said bond exceeds (S5,0OO five thousand
dollars.
The amount of bond required with bids, and the
present pay when it exceeds (S5,O00) five thousand
dollars. are stated in the advertisement under the
appropriate route.
til contract is executed and serUice commenced by
the accepced bidder. Checks aci then be returned by
mail on the written request Of the bidder.
81 Transfers of contracts, or of interest in
tracts are forbidden by law and consequently cannot
he allowed Neither can bids, interest 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.