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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 ofMontgomery,in the state ofIndiana,, 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 1½ 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.
James Heaton
Wm P. Ramey Luth. T. Woodward
J. C. Eastman. Francis M Heaton
O. W. Corey
Allen [Gannt?] P M A. S. Jones.
Jeremiah T. Miller D. C. Stover
H B Beers. John Tyler.
Emily Good Ira Crane
Mary Elston John Q Wilson
Mary King Samuel Binford
Mary E Martin Charles Berry
Mary A Giberson Thomas Scott
Eliza Wasson Taylor Jones
Mary Eastlack Noah M Piatt
Margaret McClure Wm Hollingsworth
Henry Hollingsworth
Ann M Wilson James Morgan
Sarah Eastlack Francis Best
Julia Willson Danl McCune
Laura Elston David Morgan
Milton Mitchel
Louisa Herndon Uriah Scott
Mary Hughs Charles White
Julia Brown James H Wasson
Jane Applegate Lafayette Mitchell
Ann Bunion Leander Corey
Margaret Estlack Nelson Corey
Caroline Michell Wm W. Scott
Laura Crawford Wm M. Sterner
Josephine Brown James Martin
Harriet McClure Wm R Martin
Ann Jordan Marion Martin
Lane Wilson
Mary McClure Levi Wilson
Jane Barr Charles Ward
Jane Newel Thomas Scott
Jane Best M. Luman
Mary Newcom Saml Vance
Deborah Springate
Mary Earl F George Brown
Ann Earl James M Kunz
Mary Jordan William Kunz
Brenton Hamilton
H. P. [Emmings?] S. C. Willson
[M?] W Cunberling Geo. P. Sterner
John McFeely Wm H Springgate
Benj Galy
Saml Hollingsworth Samuel Eastlack
John Carter William Powers
Joseph Martin
Joseph Gaskin
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CINCINNATI O.
DEC 29
3
PAID
Scholars of Meth Sun School,CrawfordsvilleIn
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Emb
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Indiana.
Memorial of James Heaton and other citizens of Montgomery County, Indiana, pr praying the reduction of postage on all newspapers not containing over 500 square inches.
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January 25, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
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Come on Post offices &c
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R W Thompson

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,