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To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county ofHancockin the state ofOhio, 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, newspapers not exceeding 1900 square inches are chargeable at the rate of 1 cent for 100 miles, and 11/2 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 favor 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, therefore, on all newspapers not containing more than 500 square inches, your petitioners respectfully and urgently pray.
NAMES. NAMES.
1 P. Carlin Edson Goit. 47
2 J. P Beardsley I. M. Coffinberry 48
3 Edwin Parker E. Williams 49
4 J Beeson H. Newell 50
5 Daniel H. May Isaac Vail 51
6 H Smith E Norris 52
7 Joseph D Ford Bugs Rawson 53
8 Wm C. Cox Amos Bonham 54
9 S V W Austin A Vanburn 55
10 Joseph D Dutton B. P. Nye 56
11 G. P. Alban G. Hammer 57
12 M. W. Vance G M Grauel 58
13 W. J. Wells Wm H Smith 59
14 Chas W. ONeal M Whiteley 60
15 Wm H. Leeley John Ashenfelter 61
16 A. H. Hyatt Jacob. [Cochonour?] 62
17 Joshua Baldwin Harden. Thomas 63
18 W. H. Baldwin David Patton 64
19 U A Ogden [Barnes?] Beardsley 65
J. H. Wilson H C Youngkin 66
20 W. Hurd I H Ban 67
21 D Davis G. D. Teatsooth 68
22 Edward Fitzgerald Peter Misamore 69
23 Darius Small Chas S. Fish 70
24 G. R. Watson H. R. Porter 71
25 Asaph C Stone A. F. Parker 72
26 Hollis Fisher T. Mc F. Patton. 73
27 Matthias Marin 74 F. Henderson
28 Daniel Small 75 Mark E Hartsuck
29 Jacob Cromly 76 W. W. Byal
30 Martin Cone 77 Jacob Byal
31 Adam Bishop A. D. Wing
32 Rice Blackford Chs Oesterlen
33 G. W. Galloway L. G. Flenner
34 T. B. Shrift Peter Westenhour
35 L. K. Hammer Wm Johnston
36 I. J. Baldwin 83 Wm Q. Barney
37 N B Hull
38 D N Prentiss
39 E N Dunaway
40 P. Adams
41 W Howell
42 I Williams
43 H. M. Mosier
44 I W Dredmore
45 John H. Reid
46 Jasper T. Davis
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PAID
CINCINNATI O
DEC 29
3Rev. W S WellsFinleyHancockOhio
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Root
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Ohio
A Petition from P. Carlin and 82 other citizens of Hancock Co Ohio praying Congress to Reduce and Equalise the Postage newspapers
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Referred Committe on the Post Office and Post Roads
R. Dickinson
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January 19, 1848. Referred to the committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
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Dickinson

Partially Printed Document Signed, 2 page(s), RG 233, Entry 367: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to Committees, 1847-1849, NAB,