National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-14
MAIL ROUTES.

:
person offending, or aiding or assisting therein
dred and my cellars
Sec. 20. That the owner OF every stage Osel
ratlEay-ear, steamboat, or other vehicle or Yesse
which shall. with the knowledge OF any owner, I
whole or In part, or with the knowledge or cor
person having charge Of the same, convey an
person acting or employed as q private expires
LOT the conveyance OF letters or packets, and ae
ually In possession OF the same for the purpose Q
conveying them contrary to the SPIRIT true N
tent, or meaning OF this law, shall for every sue
4nenee, Forfeit and pay one hundred and fifty dol
See. go. That DO person shall transmit by pri
vate express or other unlawful means, or deliYe
20 any agent Of such unlawful express, or deposit
OF cause TO be deposited, at any appointed place
lot the purpose Of being transmitted, any lette
OF packet, and for every such offence the party 81
oHendinE shall forfeit and pay hfty dollars.
Sec. 81. That no stage-coaeh, rallWay-ear
steamboat, or other vehels or vessel which regu
larly performs trips at stated periods on any post
ag, % from any city, town or place to any other
ulaTly carried, shall carry, otherwise than IN the
mai, any letters or packets except such as relate
70 some part Of the cargo Of such steamboat or
other vessel or to some article carried Al ne same
time py the same stage-eOaeh railWay-ear or Other
vehicle, except as provided in section two hun.
dred and thtrty-nine; and for every such offence
the owner Of the stage-eOaeh, raiIWay-caT. steam
boat or other vehicle or vessel shalt forfeit and
I pay one hundred dollars; and the driver, con
uuetor, master or other person having charge
thereof and not at the time owner of the whole az
any part thereof, shall In like manner forfeit and
pay lOr every such offence flfty dollars.
(Seetion 239 permits conveyance Of letters I'm
stamped envelopes otherwise than by mail)
The manner in trhIeh proposals shall. be made.
and The ha6iiiIy Of POsimGsisra
See 24J; That every proposal for carrying the
mai snail be accompanied by the bond OF the
bidder, with s1reties approved by a postmaster
aud in cases where the amount Of the bond ex,
eeeds hve thousand dollars, BY a postmaster Of
Jne nIst, second, or third class In sumtO be
Q m all fE..1,a 4.
Tertisement Of each route; to which bond a con
dillon shall be annexed, that IL the said bidder
as the Postmaster General shall prescribe enter
into a contract with the United States Of Amer.
lea, with good and Sufficient suretles, to be ap-
proved by the Postmaster General to perforTn
the service proposed In his said bid and furtber
that be shall perform the said service ACCORDING
10 MS contract, then the said obligation to be
VOID, otherwise to be in full force and obligation
IN law; and In case OF failure of any bidder 70
enter into such contract to perform the service
or, having executed contract, In case Of failure
20 perform the service according to his contract,
he and his sureties shall be liable for the amount
Of said bond as iquidated damages, to be re
covered in an action Of debt on the said bond.
no proposal shall be considered unless It shall
De accompanied by such bond, and there shall
have been affixed to said proposal the oath Of the
bidder, taken before an officer qualified to ad-
minister oaths, that he has the ability, pecuni-
arily, 10 fulfill his obligations, and that the bid
is made in good aith, and with the Intention to
enter into contract and perform the service in
Sec. 246. That before the bond Of a bidder pro-
yided for in the Aforesaid section Is approved!
sureties therein, taken before an officer dAalifed
70 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 an judgments. mort
cages and executions against them, after allow
ing all exemptions Of every character whatever
HIS signature to the approval Of any bond or a
bidder, or to the certificate of a sufielency Of
sureTies in any contract before the said bond or
contract is signed by the bidder or contractor and
his sureties, or shall knowingly, or without the
exercise OF due diligence, approve any bond Of
bidder with insufficient sureties or shall know
lngly make any false or fraudulent certificate /
shall be forthwith dismissed from office. and be
thereafter disqualified from holding the office OF
postmaster, and shall also be deemed guilty Of |
mlsdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof be pun !
ished BY fine not exceeding Ave thousand dol |
lars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year,
or both.
Service 70 be awarded to the Lowest bidder, BfdS
Of telling contractors may not be considered.
Sec. 249. That all contracts for carving the |
mail shall be IN the name Of the United States;
and shall be awarded TO the lowest bidder tender
ing sumeient guarantees for faithful performance
without other reference to the mode OF transpor-
iatlon than may be necessary to provide for the |
due CELEBRITY certainty and security thereof; but
the postmaster General shall not be bound to |
consider the bid OF any person who has Willfully
Or negligently failed to perform former contract;
Combinations to PrsvsHt bidding prObikitsd
Sec. $50. That no contract for Carrying the |
mail shall be made with any person who has en- |
70 prevent the making OF any bid for earring the
mail, or who has made any agreement, or given or /
performed, or promised to give or perform, any 1
not to bid for any such cont act and II any person
. OFFENDING Is 3 contractor for carrying the mall
ais contract may be annulled and for the first |
lheneo the person 50 offending shall be disqualiS
led to contract for carrying the mail FOR fYe
Iears, and for the second offence shall be forever
disqualified.
Failing bidders and contractors. Contracts may
be extended and temporary contracts made.
Sec 251. That after any regular bidder whose
Nd has been accepted shall fail to enter into con-
ract for the transDortatinn af tina malta aaAN-d
raet, shall fail to commence the performance Of
he service stipulated in his or their contract as
herein provided, the Postmaster General shall
proceed TO contract with the next lowest bidder
or the same service, who will enter into con-
raet for the performance thereof unless the
Postmaster General shall consider such bid too
high, in which case be shall re-adYertss such ser
rice. And If airy bidder whose bid has been &C
,epted, and who mas entered into contract 10 per-
Orm the service according 70 his proposal, and in
Of his contract has entered upon the L
performance OF the service to the satisfaction OF
he Postmaster General, shall subsequently fail or
efuse to perform the service according to his con-
raet, the Postmaster. General shall proceed TO
contract with the next lowest bidder tor such ser
Postmaster General shall consider such bid too
ligh,) who viii enter into contract and give bond,
With sureties, to be approved BY the Postmaster
General, for the faithful performance thereof in
he same penalty and with the same terms and
conditions thereto annexed as were stated and
Contained in the bond which accompanied bis bid;
)ut in case each and every Of the next lowest bid
lers for such service, whose respective bids are
lot considered too high by the Postmaster Gen
raj, shall refuse to enter into contract and
rive bond as herein required for the faithful per-
Ormanee Of his contract, the Postmaster General
hall Immediately advertise for proposals 70 per-
orm the service on said route. Whenever an &C
,epted bidder shall fall to enter into contract or
contractor on any mailroute shall fail or refuse
% perform the service on said route according TO
lis contract, or when new route shall pc estaD-
Ither cause there shall not be contractor legally
Dound or required TO perform such service, the
Postmaster General may make temporary con
for such period as may be neees-
AIRY, not In any case exceeding six months, until
he service shall have commenced under con-
ract made according 10 law: PToTfded, h0psger
That the Postmaster General shall not employ
service on any route at higher price
han that paid to the contractor who shall have
ocular contract term And in all cases Of regu-
ar contracts hereafter made the contract may,
n the discretion Of the Postmaster General, be
continued in force beyond Its express terms for
:eriod not exceeding six months, until new con
ract with the same, or other contractors, shall
V made by the Postmaster General.
Bidders not reIeGsed until contract is entered
into and seTUiee begun.
Sec 252. That no bidder for carrying the mails
hall be released from his obligation under his
I'D or proposal, Notwithstanding an award made
o lower bidder, until contract for the desig-
rated service shall have been duly executed by
Iueh lower bidder and his sureties, and accepted,
md the service entered upon by the contractor to
he satisfaction Of the Postmaster General.
CERTIFIED CHECKS OR DRAFTS TO ACCOMPANY
ALL BIDS ExcEEDING $1,000.
Sec. 25S. That hereafter all bidders upon every /
mail route for the transportation Of the mails i
upon the same, where the annual compensation |
IOr the service on such route at the /
time exceeds the sum OF fve thousand /
! certified check, or DRAFT, payable to the |
order Of the Postmaster General, upon some sol |
vent national bank, which check or draft shall |
not be less than nYe per centum on the amount OF
the annual pay on said route At the time said bid
Is made; and in case Of new or modified service, /
not less than I'VE per centum Of the amount OF
the bond OF TIE bidder required to accompany his
bid, II the amount Of said bond exceeds hFe thou
sand dollars. In case any bidder, on being
awarded any such contract, shall fail to execute
the Same with good and sufieient sureties, &C
and accepted, and enter upon the performance oil
the service to the satisfaction Of the Postmaster
General, such bidder shall, In addition to his
liability on his bond accompanying his bid, for
felt the amount deposited to the United states,
and the same shall forthwith be paid into the
Treasury for the use Of the Pest Once Depart,
ment; but II suolDeOntract shall be duly executed
and the service entered upon az Aforesaid, such
draft or check so deposited, and the checks or