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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 ofAndersonin the state ofKentucky,, 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.
I. G. Bruce
John C Creell Merritt Cleveland
Thomas Ratcliff J. M. Wash
Nathan. A. Thompson Robert Cake
John V. B. VanArsdale T. H. Hanks
E. R. Hickman Jas M. McBrayer
Howard Williams Monroe Walker
Allen Rowland E Burrus
Wm L. Hickman [Boony?] Young
J D Coomley
J. D. Elliston Edmund [Magy?]
John Wash John Neese
D G Watson James Cole
T D Gaines
Jas M Gill [jr?] W H McBrayer
Wm Laffell John S Dauson
Thos Davison Saml Coke
Presley F Herndon Ja. McBrayer
Anthony Long
William R Watson H B Wayland
G H Hickman [Gus?] Taylor
W. W. Penney
Geo. H. Mathews Samuel R Howard
James Wood I G White
J. C. Towson
DeLancey Egbert James Crane
David Bund Wiley Mountjoy
Joseph Moore
Jno. E. Penney Moses Lane
Z. B. Richards J S. Walker
T. A. [Phirl?]
[Gerlet?]. H. Gaines A. H. McAlister
Jacob Gaugel
Robert S. Gaines Jos G Warren
J W. [?] John Taylor
Robert. Samuel Thomas Montgomery
Jackson Catlett James Saffell
Alexander Corbin F. L. Connor
Sanford Brown H H Maddox
Ja H McBrayer Murice Addams
O. C. Egbert E. Bedgley
Geo. Bain
J Saffell
J O Lucas
J. M McBrayer
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PAID
CINCINNATI. O.
DEC 31
3Rev I G BruceLaurenceburg[Ky?]
[ docketing ]
By J. B. Thompson
[ docketing ]
Jones
[ docketing ]
Kentucky.
Petition of citizen of Anderson Co. Ky. praying for an immediate & proportionate reduction of postage on all newspapers not containing more the 500 square inches
[ docketing ]
January 24, 1848 Referred to the committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
[ docketing ]
J. B. Thompson
[ docketing ]
Pet of Jos H Hickman & 76 other citizens of Anderson Co Ky for a reduction of postage on newspapers of small size
[ docketing ]
refer Comt Post office & post roads.

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,