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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 of Summit in the state of Ohio, 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.
N. B. Stone
L. Swift George Thomas
A More Hiram Hart
Wm L Clarke L Egleston
T A Noble G. C. Beedle
Jno. Johnston S. J. Ives
S. D. Hand C. Cranz
Nahum Fay G W. Wyman
S. P. Haynes J P Sanford
Danl B Stewart J [Ranord?]
George. Hume Jas G. Dow
R O Hammond James Mathews
Wm McNeil Hiram Bowen
M Clapsadle James Christy
E Meyer H. B. Spelman
W H Smith Benj F. Wheeler
J B Curtiss
M. W. Henry H. H. Wheeler
David Miller Lucius Walker
N. Finch R. DeLamuten
M R Paine
G. T. McCurdy N Cook
J. D. Edson. G W. Horne
J M Edson Danil Hane
Wm Stees J. H. Bodenheime
M. C. Adams. D P Eberman
L N. Smith H Andrews
C. C. Hanscom L M Latimer
John Morton Jared Wadsworth
J S Paintor S. N. Goodale
D Hansom Fredk Wadsworth jun
A L Manley David W[?]
Hugh Boyd Jr
C Lynn H L Abbey
A S Cleveland E. W. Perrin
S O Day P. T. Good
UG. J. Ackley J Mason
Thos M Hibbard S B Stephens
Jos E [?]feuer E. W. Hand
N. E. Kent O Hall
Elius W Howard W. W. Platt
D Root W. H. Burroughs
A Root
S Cummins Danl Davis
E Bendict A. K. Rogers Jr
Thos Butler D. W. [Parker?]
W Shebon[?] Edd Rice
J Fisher R. S. Elkins
D. G Sanford Geo Bliss
Jas B. Matthews D. N. Furey
Saml Manning C B Cobb
D. B. Hadley Jona Myers
J. R. Martin J C Dodge
S. M. Cobb C. H Lathrop
L. J. Farnam. T. G. Clarke
Silas W Goble Jn A. R. Townsend
Daniel W Myers L. H. Turner
P. C. Case
Joh. B[?]miller L. Grun
Joh [Bauernfernr?] D Kirby
C Masters R Bluff
C L Thompson J S Carpenter
E. M. Kimball Milton Arthur
J. N. Cutler Harvey Saxton
Seth Iredell Wm Goodwin
Henry S. Whetstone Hiram Fuller
George Buel Zebulon Jones
Jas Livenspargar J. R. Locke
C. J. Slocum 1.36
Wm Husband
George Staker
L. J. Mills
A Chapin
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CINC[INNATI O]
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Rev. I R LockeMiddleburgSummitOhio
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Rout
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Ohio
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Petition of N. B. Stone and L. Swift and others, citizens of Summit County Ohio, praying the reduction of Postage, one half, on all papers containing not more than 500 square inches.
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January 24 1848 Referred to the committee on the Post office and Post Roads
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Presented by J. Crowell
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Referred to the Com. on Post offices and Post Roads.
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[...?] Crowell

Partially Printed Document Signed, 3 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,