Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-12-05

ferries, or distinctions of any kind by
which expense may be Incurred. Nc
claim fJr additional pay, based on such
ground can lie considered nor for al.
legged mistakes or misapprehensions as to
the degree of service nor for bridges des.
troyed, ferries discontinued, or other oh
structions causing or increasing distance
or expense occurring during the contract
t rm. Offices established after this ad yer
tisement IS issued, and also during the con-
tract term, are to be visited without extra
pay if The distance be not increased
IL. Bidders are cautioned to mail their
proposals in time TO reach the Department
by the day and hour named in the adver
tisement as bids received after that time
wW not be considered in competition with
bids of reasonable amount received in lime.
Neither can bids be considered which are
without the bond, oath, and certificate re-
qured by section 245, act of June %, S74.
IL. Bidders should first propose for ser
vice strictly according to the advertise
ment, and then, if they desire, separately
for different service; and if the regular
bid be the lowest offered for the advertised
service, the other propositions may be
considered
IL There should be but one route bid
for in proposal. Consolidated or COM
bioation bids proposing one sum for
two or more routes cannot be considered
IA. The route, the service, the yearly
ny, the name and residence of the bid er,
(that is his usual pos t-ofice address J and
the name of each nj mber of firm where
a company offers, should be distinctly
stated.
Is. Bidders are requested to use, as far
as practicable, the printed proposals fur
nished by the Department, 10 write in
full The sum of the bids, and to retain copies
OF them.
Altered bids should not be submitted
No withdrawal of bid will be allowed
unless the withdrawal is received twenty
four hours previous to the time fixed for
opening the proposals.
l6, In Case of failure of the accepted
bidder to execute a contract or of aban-
donment of service during the con-
tract term, the service will be read
vertised and re.let at the expense of the
failing bidder or contractor.
II. The Postmaster General reserves the
right to reject any bid which may be
deemed extravaganza; and also to disregard
the bids offailing contractors and bidders.
{ Act Of June 9, 1872 section 249)
10. The bid should be sealed, superscrib-
ed = Nail Proposals, State of West yir-
'gina, add essed Second Assistant
Postmaster General, Contract Office"
10. Every proposal must be accompani-
ed by a bond with suretes approved by a
postmas er, and ia cases where the amount
Of. ha 70 E,,a j.
(S5, 000)by postmaster of the first, second,
or third class. Bids for service, the pay
Tor which at the time Of advertisemen ex-
ceeds five thousand dollars, (S5 600. J
must be accompanied by certified check,
or draft. payable to the order of the Post
master General on 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 SER
vice, not less than per centum of the
amount Of the bond accompanying the hid
il the amount of said bond exceeds (S5, 00O)
five thousand dollars
The amount of bond required with bids,
and the present pay when it exceeds 49,,
GOO, five thousand dollars, are stated in
the advertisement under the appropriate
route.
20. All checks deposited with bids will
be held until contract Is executed and SER
Uice commenced by the accepted bidder -
Chez ks ic,H then be returned BIZ mail on the
tcriten request Of the bidder.
81. Transfers of contracts, or of inter-
est in contracts, are forbidden by law and
consequently cannot lie allowed Neither
can bids, or interest in bids be transfer
red 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.
% Section 249 of the act of June 8,
1872, provides that contracts for the tiaus-
portation of the mail shall be awarded
10 the lowest bidder rendering sufficient
guarantees for faithful performance, with
out other reference to the mode of such
transportation than may be necessary to
provide for the due celebrity, Ger taiaty aid
security thereof" Under this law bids
that propose to transport the mails with
"celerity, certainty, and security, hauing
been decided 10 be the only legal bids, are
construed as proUiding for the entire
mail, holoerer large and ,ohateUer may be
me mode Of conveyance necessary TO ~ =
sure its "celerity, certainty, and security, "
and hare the preference orer all others
and no others are considered, except for
steamboat routes.
30. modification of bid in any of
its essential terms is tantamount to a new
bid, and cannot be received so as to inter
fere with regular competition Making q
new bid in proper form is the only way
to modify a previous one.
"a. Postmasters are cautioned not to
sign the approval of the bond of any bid
der before the bond is sigaed by the bidder
and his sureties, and not until entirely
satisfied of the sufficency of the sureties.
See sections GAG and 247, act of June %,
1874, accompanying this advertisement.
25. Postmasters are also liable to dis
missal from Office for acting as agents of
contractors or bidders, with or without
compensation, in any business, matter, or