The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-13
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS:

lNSlhUtIlONo IL IolDDlAho AM 1OSA-
MASTERS;
Containing also conditions to be incorporated in the
contracts to The eGtent the Department may deem
proper
The POSTMASTER GENERAL warns bidders and
their suretes to acquaint themselves fully with the
laws of Congress relating to contracts for the carry
ing of the mails, 0he important provisions Of which
are cited herein and also to familiaize themselves
with the instructions and forms herein furnished, be-
fore they shall any liabilities such bidders
or suretfes and to prevent misapprehenson or
of complaint thereafter.
PosrMAsTERs are required to make themselves
familiar with the laws and these instructions that
they may be able to inform and direct others.
l. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermediate
Office when not otherwise specified, for asserting the
mails.
Q. On routes where the mode of conveyance admits
of it. the special agents of the Post Office Depart
ment. also post office blanks, mail bags, locks and
keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge
8. "Way bills' or receipts prepared by posmasters
or other agents of tie Department. will accompany
the mails, specifying the number and destination of
the several bags to be examined by the posmasters,
to insure regularity in the delivery OF bags and
pouches.
A. No nav will be made for trips not performed
and for each of such omissions, it thei failure be
casioned by the fault of the contractor carrier,
three times the pay Of the trip will be deducted.
For arrivals so far behind time to break con-
nection with depending mails, and not sufficiently
excused, fourth of the compensation for the trip
is subject to forfeiture. For repeated delnquincies
of the kind herein specified enlarged penalties, pro-
portioned to the nature thereof and the Importance
of the mail, may be made.
s. For leaving behind OF throwing off the mails, or
any portion of them for the admission OF passengers
for being concerned in setting up or running an
express conveying intelligence in advance of the
mail, quarters pay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency be
promptly and satisfactorily explained by certificates
of postmasters the adavts of other credible per-
SONS, for failing to arrive in contract time for neg
lecting to take the mail trom deiverit into, post
oice for suffering it to be wet injured, destroyed
robbed or lost; and for refusing, after demand, tc
ha mail fre0uentlV the contractor
or concerned in running, coach, car, or steam-
boat on a route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures to run agreeaby to contract FOL
assigning the contract; for violating the post office
laws disobeying the instructions of the Depart
ment; for refusing to discharge carrier when re-
qured by the Department to do so; tor running an
express aforesaid; for transporting persons OF
packages conveying mailabe matter out of the mail.
=. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service a route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase on the contract pay. He may change SEIZED
ules of departures and arrivals in all cases, and par
ticularly to make them conform to connections with
railroads, without increase of pay provided the run
ming time be not abridged The Postmaster General
may also discontinue curtail the SERVICE in whole
in part, in order to place on the route superior
service whenever the public interests, in his judg
ment, shall require such dscontinuance or curtail-
ment for any other cause he allowing full indem
nifty to contractor, months extra pay on the
| amount of service dispensed with, and pro rata
compensation fer the amount of service retained ano
continued
O. Payments will be made by collections from, OF
drafts on postmasters or otherwise, after the expr-
| alton of each quarter-say in November, February
service has been received
10. The distances given believed to be substan-
TALLY correct; but increased pay will be allowed
should they be greater than advertised if the points
to be supplied correctly stated. Bidders mus,
inform Themselves on this point, and also in refer
to the weight of the mail, the condition of hills
roads, streams, &C., and all toll-brdges turnpikes
plank-roads ferries, or distractions OF any kind By
which expense may be incurred. No claim for addi
NAY has IN suph prouDd. he considered
tor alleged mistakes or misapprehenson as to the
degree of service; for bridges destroyed ferries
discontinued or other distractions causing in
creasng distance or expense occurring during the
contract term. Offices established after this adver
tisement is issued and asoduring the contract term
to be visited without extra pay if the distance be
uot increased.
H. Bidders are cautioned to mail their proposals in
time to reach the Department by the day and hour
named in the advertisement, bids received aftel
that time aciU not be considered in competition with
bids of reasonable amount received in time Neither
can bids be considered which are without the bond
OATH and certificate required by section 245, act
| June 90, 1874.
12 Bidders should first propose for service strictly
according to the advertisement, and then, ii they de-
sire, separately for different servce and if the Tegu
Tar bid be the lowest offered for the advertised ser
vice, the other propositions may be considered.
10. There should be but one route bid for in pro-
posal. Consolidation combination bids e'proposing
one sum for two or more routes) cannot be consd-
cred.
H. The route the SERVICE the yearly pay. the name
and residence of the bidder (hat is his usual post.
Office address,) and the name OF each member of
firm where company offers, should be distinctly
stated.
Is. Bidders are requested to USE as far as practi.
CABLE the printed proposals furnished by the Depart
ment to write out in full the sum OF their bids, and
to retain copies of them.
Bids altered in the route, the service, the yearly
pay the name of the bidder, by erasures inter-
lineations, should not be submitted; and if so sub
mitted will not be considered in awarding the
tracts No withdrawal of bid will be allowed I'M
less the withdrawal is received twenty-tour hours
previous to the time fixed for opening the proposals.
16. In of failure of the accepted bidder to
cute contract, or OF the abandonment OF service
during the contract TERM the service will be read
vertised and relet at the expense of the failing bid
der contractor and any accepted bidder who shall
wronguly refuse or fail to enter into contract in due
form, and to perform the service described in his pro
posal. may be deemed guilty of msdemeanor, and
conviction thereof, be fined and imprisoned there
for.
II. The Postmaster General reserves the right t.
reject any bid which may be deemed extTavagant
and also to disregard the bids of failing contractors
No contract for carrying the mail shall be made
with any person who has entered, proposed to
ter, into any combination to prevent the making o.
any bid for carrying the mail. or who has made any
agreement, or given or performed, or promised tC
give perform, any consideration whatever to in
duce any other person not to bid for any such con-
tract.
No bidder for carrying the mails shall be released
from his obligation under his bid or proposal not.
withstandng an award made to a lower bidder until
contract for the designated service shall have beel
duly executed by such lower bidder and his suretes
ana accepted, anu Uno service entered upon Dy Ile
contractor to the satisfaction of the Postmaster Cen
eral,
By regulation OF the Department, no carrier can
be employed who is under sixteen years of age and
no bidder will be accepted who Is under twenty one
years of age, who is married woman.
IS. The bid should be sealed, superseded "Mail
Proposals, State of Maine addressed ''Second As
sistant Postmaster General, Contract Office.
49, Every proposal must be accompanied by bond
with two or more sureties approved by postmaster
and in where the amount of the bond exceeds
five thousand dollars $4,000 by postmaster of the
first second, third class Bids for SERVICE the pay
for which at the time of advertisement exceeds i've
thousand dollars, (S500O) must be accompanied by a
certified check or draft payable to the order of the
Postmaster General, some solvent national bank,
of not less than five per cenum the amount of the
annual pay such route and in case of new mod
flied service, not less than five per centum of the
amount of the bond accompanying the bid, if the
amount of said bond exceeds ($5s0O0) five thousand
dollars.
The amount of bond required with bids and the
present pay when it exceeds $4,000 five thousand
dollars are stated in the advertisement under the
appropriate route.
Sureties on the bond of bidder must take oath
before officer qualified to administer oaths that
they the owners of real estate worth, in the ag
gregate double the amount of said bond, over
and above all debts due and owing by them, and all
judgements, mortgages, and executions againet
them, after allowing all exemptions of every charac
ter whatever.
90 All checks deposited with bids will be held I'M
til contract is executed and the service commenced by
By mail, on the 9Critte request Of the bidder, de-
tiUered to any one on his order.
81 The contracts are to be executed and returned
to the Department by before the 10th dan of SEN