Petition

We the undersigned citizens of Huntingdon, Penna, respectfully represent, the great inequality now prevailing in the rates of postage on newspapers, the smallest being chargeable with the highest rates.

Whereas, the principle of size and weight is now adopted in the laws [of the] United States as the basis of post office charges; and whereas, newsp[apers] not exceeding 1900 square inches are chargeable at the rate of one cent for one hundred miles and one and half cents for all greater distances if without the State in which they are published; your petitioners would urge the importance of reducing said charges at least one half on all papers not containing more than 500 square inches. Your petitioners represent that within a few years past, numerous juvenile papers have sprung up in different sections of the United States for the instruction of the young in science, morals, and religion, which papers are now extensively patronized by children who, notwithstanding these papers are usually not one quarter the size or weight allowed by law, have to pay on them the same postage that is charged on the largest sheets that pass through the mails.

Besides the manifest injustice of this regulation, your petitioners represent that many thousands of children and youth are deterred from subscribing to these useful papers solely by the comparatively excessive postage chargeable on the small sheets they desire to obtain.

A reduction therefore of postage, in favour of, juvenile newspapers of small dimensions, would not only tend greatly to diffuse knowledge and piety, the bulwarks of our national prosperity; but would increase the revenues of the post office department.

For an immediate and proportionate reduction of postage there fore, on all newspapers not containing more than 500 square inches, your petitioners respectfully and urgently pray.