than at the annual letting, the Postmaster General shall give notice in one newspaper published at Washington City, and in one newspaper published as near as may be to the route on which the services are to be performed for at least four weeks before changing or making such contract, inviting proposals therefor; which proposals shall be received and opened, and such proceedings thereon had, in all things, as at the annual lettings.Proviso. Provided however, That the Postmaster General may make temporary contracts until a regular letting can take place.
Proposals for contracts.Sec. 24. And be it further enacted, That proposals for mail contracts shall be delivered to the Department sealed, and shall be kept sealed until the biddings are closed, and shall then be opened and marked in the presence of the Postmaster General and one of the Assistant Postmasters General, or in the presence of two of the Assistant Postmasters General. And the contracts in all cases shall be awarded to the lowest bidder, except when his bid is not more than five per centum below that of the last contractor, on the route bid for, who shall have faithfully performed his contract.Proviso. Provided however, That the Postmaster General shall not be bound to consider the bid of any person who shall have wilfully or negligently failed to execute or perform a prior contract.
Offers for carrying the mail to be recorded.Sec. 25. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to have recorded in a well-bound book, a true and faithful abstract of offers made to him for carrying the mail, embracing as well those which are rejected, as those which are accepted. The said abstract shall contain the names of the party or parties offering; the terms on which he or they propose to carry the mail, the sum for which it is offered to contract; and the length of time the agreement is to continue. And it shall also be the duty of the Postmaster General to put on file and preserve the originals of the propositions of which abstracts are here directed to be made, and to report at each session of Congress a true copy from the said record of all offers made for carrying the mail as aforesaid.
Persons employed in the Post Office not to be interested in contracts.Sec. 26. And be it further enacted, That if any person employed in the Post Office Department or postmaster shall become interested in any mail contract or act as agent, with or without compensation, in any matter or thing relating to business in said Department, for any contractor, or person offering to become a contractor, he shall be forthwith dismissed from office and shall be liable to pay so much money as would have been realized from said contract, to be recovered in an action of debt in any court having jurisdiction thereof, in the name of the United States, for the use of the Post Office Department; and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to cause prosecution to be instituted.
Proposals for transporting the mail to be accompanied by a guaranty, &c.Sec. 27. And be it further enacted, That every proposal for the transportation of the mail shall be accompanied by a written guaranty, signed by one or more responsible persons, to the effect that he or they undertake that the bidder or bidders will, if his or their bid be accepted, enter into an obligation in such time as may be prescribed by the Postmaster General, with good and sufficient sureties, to perform the service proposed. No proposal shall be considered, unless accompanied by such guaranty. If, after the acceptance of a proposal, and notification thereof to the bidder or bidders, he or they shall fail to enter into an obligation within the time prescribed by the Postmaster General, with good and sufficient sureties for the performance of the service, then the Postmaster General shall proceed to contract with some other person or persons, for the performance of the said service, and shall forthwith cause the difference between the amount contained in the proposal so guarantied, and the amount for which he may have contracted for the performance of said service, for the whole period of the proposal, to be charged up against the said bidder or bidders, and his or their guarantor