Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-12-12
The manner IL totich proposals shall BE-
nude, and The
LlAnILIrY on posrMAsrERs.

Sci 245 That every proposal for car
rying the mail shall be accompanied by
the bond OF the bidder, with sureties APP
proved by a postmaster, and in cases
where the amount OF the bond exceeds five
thousand dollars, BY u postmaster OF the
FIRST, second, or third class, in a sum to be
designated by the Postmaster General in
the advertisement OF each route to which
bond a condition shall heannexed, that il
the said bidder shall, within such time
after his bid is accerted as the Postmaster
General shall prescribe, enter into con-
tract with the United States of America,
with good and sufficient sureties, 10 be
approved by the Postmaster General, to
perform the service proposed in bis said
bid, and, further, that he shall perform
the said service according to his contract,
then the said obligation 10 be void, other
wise TO he in fall force and obligation in
law and In case of failure of auy bidder
10 enter into such contract to perform the
service, or, having executed a contract, in
case Of failure 10 perform the seryicc ac-
cordng TO his contract, he and his sureties
shall be liable for the amount OF said bond
as liquidated damages, to be recovered in
an action of debt on the said bond. No
proposal shall be considered anless il shall
be accompanied by such bond, and there
shall have been affixed 10 said PROPOSE the
oath of the bidder, taken before an officer
qualified to administer oaihs. that he has
the ability, pecnniarily, to fulfill his OBJ
lipations' and that the bid Is made in
good faith, and with heintention to enter
into contract and perform the service in
case his bid is accepted.
SIC; 246. That before the bond Of bid
der provided for in the aforesaid section Is
approved. there shall be Endorsed thereon
the oaths Of the sureues therein, taken be
fore an officer qualified to administer oaths,
that they are owners OF real estate WORTH.
in the aggregate, sum double the
amount of the said bond, over and above
all debts due aud owing by them, and all
judgments, mortgages, aud executions
against them, after allowing all exemp-
tions Of every character whatever.
Sgc. 247 That any postmaster who shall
afiix his signature to the approval of any
bond Of bidder, or to the certificate OF
sufficiency OF sureties in any contract be-
fore the said bond or contract is signed by
the bidder or contractor and his sureties,
or shall knowingly, or without the exer-
else of due diligence, approve any bond of
a bidder with Insufficient sureties, or shall
knowingly make any false or fraudulent
certificate, shall be forthwith dismissed
from Office, and be thereafter disqualified
from holding the Office ofpostmaster, and
shall also be de med guilty of INSIDE
meanor, and, on conviction thereof, be
punished by a fine notcxceeding five thou
sand dollars, or by imprisonment not ex-
cesding one year, or both.
Service TO be awarded to The l0scest bidder.
BIDS Of failing contractors may
mol be considered.
SEC. 249. That all contracts for carry
ing the mail shall be in the name of the
United States, and shall be awarded to the
lowest bidder rendering sufficient guaran-
tees for faithful performance, without 9TH
er reference to the mode of transportation
than may be necessary 10 provide for the
due celebrity, certainty, and security there
OF; but the Postmaster General shall not
be bound to consider the bid Of any per-
fcsasgsusd Or psss siS.l