Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-01-02
The manner IN which proposals shall b
made, and tie
LIABILITY OF posrMAsrERs.


$50. 245. That every proposal for car
rying the mail shall be accompanied by
the bond Of the bidder, with sureties APP
proved by postmaster, and in cases
where the amount OF the bond exceeds five
thousand dollars, by d postmaster Of the
first, second, or third class, in sum to be
designated by the Postmaster General in
the advertisement of each route; to which
bond condition shall be annexed that if
the said bidder shall, within such time
after his bid is accepted as the Postmaster
General shall prescribe, enter inko cor
tract with the United States Of America.
with good aud sufficient sureties, to be
approved by the Postmaster General, to
perform the service proposed in his said
bid, and, further, that he shall perform
the said service according to his contract.
then the said obligation to be void, other
wise to be in fall force and obligation in
law; and 10 case Of failure Of any bidder
to enter into such contract to perform the
service, or, having executed a contract, in
case Of failure 10 perform the service ac-
cording 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 unless it shall
be accompanied by such bond, and there
shall have been affixed to said proposal the
oath of the bidder, taken before an officer
qualified to administer oaths, that he has
the ability, pecuniarily, to fulfill his OBJ
legations, and that the bid Is made in
good faith, and with theintention to enter
into contract and perform the service in
case his bid is accepted.
SEC; GAG. That before the bond Of bid
der provided for in the aforesaid section is
approved, there shall be Endorsed thereon
the oaths Of the sureties therein, taken be
fore an officer qualified to administer oaths,
that they are owners Of real estate worth,
in the aggregate, a sum double the
amount of the said bond, over and above
all debts due and owing by them, and all
judgments, mortgages, and executions
against them after allowing all exemp-
tons of every character whatever.
SEC. DAT. That any postmaster who shall
afiix his signature to the approval of any
bond of q 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.
W snail hhVW iheiJ, Va Withoue ttv NASA
else of due diligence, approve any bond Of
q bidder with insufficient sureties, or shall
make any false or fraudulent
certificate, shall be forthwith dismissed
from Office, and be thereafter disqualified
from holding the Office of postmaster, and
shall also be deemed guilty Of a INSIDE
mcanor, and, on conviction thereof, be
punished by a fine not exceeding five thou
sand dollars, or by imprisonment not ex-
cesding one year, or both.
Serrice TO be d,carded to the lo,cest bidder.
Bids Of failing contractors may
not 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
sr reference to the mode Of transportation
than may be necessary to provide for the
lue celebrity, certainty, and security there
,f; but the Postmaster General shall not
De bound to consider the bid OF any per
Icsafinasa GA .pegesir.