The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-17

mail shall be in the name Of the United States.
and shall be awarded to the lowest bidder rem
dering sufficient guarantees Tor faithful per-
Torrance, without other reference to the mode
of transportation than may be necessary to pro-
vide for the due celebrity, certainty, and sac'rl-
ty thereof; but the Postmaster General snail
not be bound to consider the bid OF any person
who has wi.liully OR ncgligently failed to per-
form former contract.
Combinations TO prerent bidding prohibited.
SEC. $50. That no contract for carrying the
mail shall be made with any person VINO mas
entered. or proposed to enter. into any cohoi-
nation to prevent the making OF any pa ior
carving the mail, or who has made any agree
ment, or given OF performed, or PROMISED 10
give or perform any consideration whatever TO
;nduce anv other person not to bid for any such
contract: and if any person so offending is Il
contractor for carrying the mail, his contract
NAV be annulled; and for the first oifense the
person so offending shall be disqualified to con-
tract for carrying the mail Tor i've years, and
for the second offense shall be forever disquali-
fed.
Faizino bidders end contractors. Contracts
aeay be ertended, and temporary contracts
made.
SEC. 251. That after any regular bidder
whose bid has been accepted shall fail to enter
into contract for the transportation OF the
mails according to his proposal, Or having en-
tered into contract, shall fail to commence the
performance Of the service stipulated i'll his or
their contract as therein provided, the Post
master General shall proceed to contract with
the next lowest bidder for the same service,
who will enter into a contract for the perform
ance thereof, unless the POSTMASTER Geherai
shall consider such bid too high, i'll Which case
he shall re-advertise such service. And If any
bidder whose bid has been accepted. and who
has entered into a contract to perform the ser
vice according to his proposal, and III pufstl-
ance of his contract has entered upou the per-
fOr,nance of the service to the satisfaction OF
the Postmaster General, shall subsequently
fail or refuse to perform the service according
to his contract, the Postmaster General shall
proceed to contract with the next lowest bid
der for such service, under the advertisement
thereof, unless the Postmaster General shall
consider such bid too hign,) who will enter into
contract and give bond, with sureties, to be
approyed by the Postmaster General, Tor the
falthful performance thereof. i'll the same pen
alty and with the same terms and conditions
thereto annexed as were stated and contained
i'm the bond which accompanied his Did; but i'll
case e.ch and every OF the next lowest bidders
for such service whose respective bids are not
considered too high by the Postmaster General
shall refuse to enter into contract and give
bond as herein required for the faithful per-
Torrance Of his contract the Postmaster GEN
eral shall Immediately advertise for proposals
to perform the service Oh said route. When
ever an accepted bidder shall fail to enter into
contract. or q contractor on any mail-route
shall fail or refuse to perform the service on
said route according to his contract, OF when a
new route shall be established. or new service
reuuired or when from any other cause there
shall not be contractor legally bound or re-
ouired to perform SUCH service, the Postmaster
General may make a temporary contract Tor
carving the mail on such route, without ad-
yertiseInent, for such period as may be neces-
sary, not in any case exceeding six months,
until the service snail have commenced under
a contract made according to law /: Proclded
ho,reper That the Postmaster General shall
not employ temporary service on any route at :,
HIGHER price than that paid TO the contractor
WHO snail nave performed the service during
tn last preceding regular contract term. And
in all cases of regular contracts hereafter made;
tn. contract may. in the discretion Of the
Po ,tinaster General, be continued in force be-
Won IFS express terms for period not exceed
ing six months, until Il new contract with the
same. or other contractors. shall be made by
the Postmaster General.
Riders not released untiJ d contract is entered
mo and service oegua.
SEC. 252. That no bidder for carrying the
mails shall be released from his obligation I'M
der his bid or proposal, notwithstanding an
award made to lower bidder, until a contract
fol- the designated service shall have been duly
executed by such lower bidder and his sure
ties, and accepted, and the service entered
upon BY the contractor to the satisfaction OF
the Postma stcr General.
CERTIFIED CHECKS OR DRAFTR TO ACCoMPA-
NY ALL BIDS EXCEEDING 50, 600.
SEC. 253. That hereafter all bidders upon
every mail route for the transportation OF the
mails upon the same, where the annual COM
pensation for the service on such route at the
time exceeds the sum Of five Thousand dollars.
shall accompany their bids with certified
check, or draft payable to the order OF the
Postmaster General. upon some solvent nation
al bank. which check or draft shall not be less
than five per centum OH the amount OF the an
nlal pay Oh said route at the time such bid is
made: and in case of new or modified service,
not less than five per centum OF the amount OF
the bond of the bidder required to accompany
his bid il the amount Of the said bond exceeds
five thousand dollars. In case any bidder. on
being awarded any such contract. shall fail to
execute the same, with good and sufficient
sureties, according to the terms on which such
bid was made and accepted, and enter upon
the performance OF the service to the satlsfac-
ton Of the Postmaster General, such tldder
shall. in addition to his liability on his bond
posted to the United States, and the same
Shall forthwith be paid into the Treasury
for the use of the Post Office Department; but
if such contract shall be duly executed and the
service entered upon as aforesaid, such draft Or
check so deposited, and the checks or drafts
deposited by all other bidders on the same
route, shall be returned to the respective bid
ders making such deposits. No proposals for
the transportation of the mails where the
amount of the bond required to accompany the
same shall exceed five thousand dollars shall be
considered, unless accompanied with the check
or draft herein required, together with the bond
required by preceding section: Provided,
That nothing in this act shall be construed or
intended to affect any penalties OF forfeitures
which have heretofore accrued under the pro-
visions OF the sections hereby amended.
Failing contractors guilty Of msisdemeaaor.
SEC. 254. That any person or persons bid
ding for the transportation of the mails upon
any route which may be advertised to be let,
and receiving an award of the contract for
such service, who shall wrongfully refuse or