The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-20

SEQ. 2H9. That the owner OF every stago-ooaou i ~
railway car, steamboat, other Vehlce OF vessel,
which SHALL with the Knowledge OF any owner, IN
whole or in part or with the knowledge OF connl-
vance of the driver, conductor, master, or oei pei
son having charged of the same, convey any person
acting or employed private express for me con-
veyance of letters packets and actually IN posses
sion of the same for the purpose OF conveying them
contrary to the Spirit true intent, and meaning OF
this law, shall, for every such onense' Iorieit anu
pay one hundred and fifty dollars.
SEQ 2SO That no person shall transt oy Pr,va,e
agent of such unlawful express or deposit or cause
to be deposited, at any appointed place. Ior ine pul
pose OF being transmitted any letter or packet and
for every such oense the party SO offending snail
forfeit and pay fifty dollars.
SEC DBL That no stage-coach, railway car, steam
boat or other vehicle or vessel which regularly per-
forms trips at stated periods on any post-route, or
from any city, town, or place to any other city, town.
or place between which the mail is regularly carried
shall carry otherwise than in the mall any letters or
packets except such as relate to some part OF the
cargo of such steamboat or other vessel or to me
article carried at the same time by the same stage
COACH railway-car, other vehicle, except as pro-
vided in section two hundred and thirty nine; ana
for every such oense the owner OF the sage-coach;
railwaycar, steamboat or other vehicle or yessel
shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars; and the
driver, conductor, master, or other person baYhg
charge thereof, and not at the time owner OF tne
whole or any part thereof shall in Ike manner lor
felt and pay for every such offense fifty dollars
Section $50 permits conveyance OF letters Ill
stamped envelopes otherwise than by mall.)
The manner in svhtch proposals shall be made and
the LIABILITY OF PosTMAsTERs.
SEC 245. That every proposal for carrying the
mail shall be accompanied by the boni OF the bluder
with sureties approved by a postmaster, ana III
cases where the amount of the bond exceeds five
thousand dollars, by postmaster OF ne nrs, secone
or third class in sum to be designated by the POST
master General in the advertisement of each route
to which bond condition shall be annexed, that Il
the said bidder shall, within such time after his old
is accepted the Postmaster General shall prescribe
enter into contract with the United States OF Amer
ca with good aud sufficient sureties, to be approved
by the Postmaster General, to perform the service
proposed in his said bid. and, further that ne snal
perform the said service according TO lis CONTRACT
then the said obligation to be yod otherwlse 10 De 10
full force and obligation in law; and III case OF 1all
ure of any bidder to enter into such contract TO per-
form the service, or, having executed contract IN
case of failure perform the service according TO DIS
contract he and his sureiies shall be liable lot the
amount of said bond as liqudated damages 10 De re-
covered in an action of debt Oh the said bond. nc
proposal shall be considered unless it shall be ac
companied by such bond, and there shall have beer
aft xed to said proposal the oath OF the bidder takel
before an;Oficer qualified to administer oaths, ina
he has the ability, pecuniariy, to fulhll ms oprga
lions, and that the bid is made in good falth. ane
with the intention to enter into contract and perform
the service in case his bid is accepted
SEC 246. That before the bond Of a bidder proyjd
ed for in the aforesaid section is aPpro ed mere sna
be Endorsed thereon the oaths of the surees therein
taken before an officer qualhed TO administer oaths
that they of real estate worth, IN the a
gregate a sum double the amount of the said bond
over and above all debts due and owing by them ant
all judgments, mortgages, and executions agalns
them, after allowing all exen ptions OF every charac
SEC. 2I7. That any postmaster who shall affx hi
signature to the approval of any bond OF bidder,
to the certificate of suiciency OF sureies in any con
tract before the said bond contract signed by tn
bidder or contractor and his suretes or snail know
ingly or without the exercise OF due dillgence ap
prove any bond of bidder with lnsunclent Suretles
or shall knowingly make any false or fraudulent Ger
ticate shall be forthwith dismissed from ONCE ant
be thereafter disqualiti. from holding the office
postmaster and shall also be deemed guilty OF ms
and thereof.
By fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, OF D.
imprisonment not exceeding one year, or BOTH
Ser,;ce TO be napnyed to the o,cest bidder. Bids
failing contractors may not be considered.
SEC. 249 That all contracts for carrying the mai
shall be in the OF the United States, ana shall
he awarded to the lowest bidder rendering suficen
guarantees for faithful performance. without othe
reference to the mode of transportation than may
necessary to provide for the due ceeriy, certainty
and security thereof; but the Postmaster Genera
shall not be bound to consider the bid of any persol
who has wiltully negligently failed to perform
former contract.
Combinations to prevent bidding prohibited.
SEC. 25O. That no contract for carrying the mai
shall be made with any person who has entered, O
proposed to enter, into any combination TO proven
the making of any bid for carrying the mail, or WIN
has made any agreement, OF given OF performed; Q
promised to give or perform, any consideration what
ever to induce any other person not to BID 1or an
such contract; and if any person so offending Is
contractor for carrying the mail, his contract may
annulled; and for the first otense the person SO OF
Tending shall be disqualified to contract for carrying
the mail for five years, and 1or the seconu ohehs
shall be forever disqualified.
FaiLing bidders and contractors. Contracts may
extended and temporary contracts made.
SEC. 251 That after any regular bidder whose BIZ
has been accepted shall fail to enter into contract 10
the TRANSPORTATION of the mails according to his pro
posal or having entered into contract shall fail t.
Commence the performance of the service stipulated
in his or their contract therein provided the Post
master General shall proceed to contract with tn
next lowest bidder for the same service, who Will en-
fer into contract for the performance thereof un
less the Postmaster General shall consider such Dl9
too high in which case he shall re-advertse sucl
| service And if any bidder whose bid mas been ac
| ccpted and who has entered into contract to per
form the service according to his proposal and II
pursuance of his contract has cred upon the per
formance of the service to the satisfaction OF TIT
Postmaster General, shall subsequently 1all or re
fuse to perform the service according to his contract
| the Postmaster General shall proceed to contrac
with the next lowest bidder for such SERVICE uude
| the advertisement thereof (unless the Postmaste
General shall consider such bid too hgh0 VINO VII
enter into contract and give bond WIN suletes
be approved by the Postmaster General for the faith
| full performance thereof, in the same penalty am
with the same terms and conditions thereto annexe
as were stated and contained in the BOND whlcn ac
| companed his bid; but in each and every o
the next lowest bidders for such service whose re
spective bids are not considered too high by tn
Postmaster General shall refuse to enter INTO con
tract and give bond herein required for the faith
full performance of his contract, the Postmaster
General shall Immediately advertise tor proposals
perform the service said route. Whenever an &C
cepted bidder shall fail to enter into contract, or
contractor on any mail route shall fail or refuse t
perform the service on said route according to hl
contract or when new route shall be established
| or new service required. or when from any othe
cause there shall not be contractor legally boun
or required to perform such service the Postmaste
General may make temporary contract for carry
mo the mail on such route, without advertisement
for such period as may be necessary, not in any
exceeding six months, until the service shall hav
naaln
| Pr0yided. hoaueUer, That the Postmaster Genera
shall not employ temporary service on any route
a higher price than that paid to the contractor VIII
| cedipg regular contract term. And in all cases o
regular contracts hereafter made the contract may
in the discretion of the Postmaster General be con
tinued in force beyond its express terms for perio
not exceeding six months, until new contract wit
the same, other contractors, shall be made by tn
| Postmaster General.