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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 ofJacksonin 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.
Q. M. Laird.
J Ridenour John Botkin
J W Ferree Wm. Mc.Cloud
William Gillespie T R Clewers M. D
Orlando C Miller I. Hughes
G W Whitman E S Mitchell
Easterling Simmons John S. Harrlin
William Steel N. T. Cavett
John French Moses Sternberger
Wm McKinnigs Aaron Cunningham
Joseph Rothburn Joseph Peterson
William D Trage Saml Dickson
Henry Voil James Peaterson
Anson Hanna I. W. Steel
C E Brooks Stephen Stephenson
Southey[ Copres?] S L Swords
James Farree
W Lowrey R. C. Hoffman
J E Ferree
William Swanson B Brown
James W Vaughan. Felix Ellison
L. E. Knapp Wm. A. Gilliland
E B Cassidy D. H. Mithcell
E Edwards J. J. Hoffman
John Duncan Thos Clark
Samuel M Bush George Dougherty
John Duncan Sen William H. Cassidy
Charles Meacham Daniel Hoffman
Wm M Brook Wm Strikles
Ephraim Allward
Charles wilson Robert E G Clewers
William Stephenson Philip Noel
James Reynolds John Picral
Wm Humphreys James S Dixson
Andrew Viers John Hatten
Thomas Hoyt Alonzo Hard
Anson W Jones. Wm B McCram
[?] [Milton?] John L. Long
S. Griffis Jas W. Songbon.
Elias Long Phas W. Gilliland
Martin Owens John R Rothburn
Aaron Watterhouse James Dyer
W. C. Roberts Andrew Long
William Martin
John Dyer
Geo. M Adams John Nelson
H. H. Helphenstine Isaiah M. Ford
Andrew C Ross P. P. Price
Andrew J Helphinstine Silas Foster
James Sheppard
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PAID
CINCINNATI. O.
DEC 29
3Rev I W. FerreeJacksonJacksonOhio
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Root
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Ohio.
Petition of James Hughes and 90 others, citizens of Jackson County Ohio, praying a reduction of Postage, on newspapers, not containing more than 500 Square inches.
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Referred to The Committee on Post office & Post Roads
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January 25, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads
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Mr. Taylor.

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,