National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-09
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POS T.
MASTERS.

Containing also conditions 10 be incorporated in
The contracts to the srteRf the Department may
deem proper.
]. Seven minutes are allowed to each inter-
mediate office, when not otherwise specified, for
asserting the mails.
2 On routes where the mode Of conveyance ad-
mits Of it, the special agents Of the Post Once
Department, also post Office blanks, mail bags,
locks and keys, are to be conveyed without extra
charge.
g. GWay bflls' or receipts, prepared by post
masters or other agents of the Department, will
accompany the mails, specifying the number and
destination Of the several bags, to be examined
BY the postmasters, to insure regularity in the
delivery of bags and pouches.
4. No pay Will be made for trips not performed;
and for each Of such omissions, II the failure be
Oecasioned 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-fourth Of the compensa-
tOn for the trip is subject to forfeiture. For re-
peated delinquencies of the kind herein speei-
ned, enlarged penalties, proportional to the
may be made.
s. For leaving behind or throwing of the mail
or any portion Of them, for the admission Of pas
sengers, 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 oy GER
tifcates Of postmasters or the af1daVits OF other
ereditable persons for falling to arrive In contract
time for neglecting to take the mail from, or
deliver it into, post otlce for suffering 1t to be
wet, injured, destroyed, robbed or lost; and for
refusing after demand, to convey the mail as IRE
quenty as the contractor runs, or is concerned in
running, coach, car or steamboat On 2 route.
tract Tor repeated failures to run agreeably to
contract; for violating the post ONCE laws, or
disobeying the Instructions Of the Department;
for refusing TO discharge a carrier when required
by the Department to do so; for running an ex-
press as Aforesaid, for transporting persons or
packages conveying mailable matter out Of the
mail.
s. The Postmaster General may order an
increase OF service on route by allowing there
for pro rata increase on the contract pay. He
may change schedules Of departures and arrivals
in all cases, and particularly TO make them con-
form TO- connections with railroads, without IN
crease Of pay, provided the running time be not
abridged. The Postmaster General may also
discontinue curtail the service, or whenever the
public interests, in his Judgment, shall require
cause; he allowing, as full indemnity TO con-
tractor, one months extra pay on the amount Of
services dispensed with, and a pro rata cOmpensa-
tion for the amount Of service retained and con-
tinued.
.. Payments will be made by collections from,
or drafts on, pOstmasters or otherwise, amer the
expiration Of each quarter-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
stantially 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 inform hemSeives on this point, and
also in reference to the weight Of the mail, the
condition Of hills, roads, streams, &c, and all
tOll-bridges, 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
alleged mistakes or Interpretation as to the
degree Of services nor for bridges destroyed, fer
ries discontinued, or other distractions causing
or increasing distance or expense occurring dur
ing the contract term. Of1ees established after
this advertisement is issued, and also during the
contract term, 10 be visited without extra pay
If the distance be not increased.
IL. Bidders are cautioned to mail their pro-
posals In time to reach the Department by the
day and hour named in the advertisement, as bids
received alter that time piu 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 245, act Of June 3, 1874.
u. Bidders should nrst propose for service
strictly according to the advertisement and then,
II they desire, separately for different services and
If the regular bid be the lowest offered for the
advertised service, the other propositions may be
10. There should be but one route bid for in
proposal. Consolidated or combination bids
('pToposing one sum for two or more routes')
cannot be considered.
Il. The route, the service, the yearly pay, the
name and residence Of the bidder, THAT Is, his
usual post Office address,) and the name Of each
member of firm where a company offers, should
be distinctly stated.
IS. Bidders are requested to use, as far as prae-
ticable, the printed proposals furnished by 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 Of bid will be allowed unless the