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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 Litchfield in the state of Connecticut, 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 1 1-2 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.
Lucius Alcott Harvey Plumb
Nathan Toller Edwin P. Parker
Hiram S Turney William. H. Lee
Wm Moore Josiah B Dayton
A E Woodward Edward Dayton
Samuel Brown
Seth Thomas Jr Chas. B. Hine
Samuel Sanford Miles Marsh
Joseph P Mansfield
David S Cables Meritt Werner
Josiah Warner Thomas H. Newton
Saml Bancroft Robert Alcott
Henry S Hotchkiss Weaver Austin
William R Hotchkiss R E Munger
Samuel Allen John. M. Thompson
Edward P Parker H. D. Kitchel.
Harvey Fuller Hiram J Wallace
Elmore Yale
John Pierce Edward Thomas
Henry R Hayes George G Griswold
Chs W. Harrison Marcus Prince
I. M Warner Levi Castle
Sylvester Matthews Abel Judson
Russell L Parsons Chas H Gilbert
Charles Roberts Eli Norton
[Leaveth?] Smith Charles Mattoon
Samuel Devereaux George T Winslow
David F Daniels James Lynch
Samuel E Hotchkiss Wm P. Judson
Wm P Kilbourn Wm W King
G. W. Gilbert Henry Brooks
Hiram Pierce Chauncy Bidwell
Benjamin Platt David [...?]
Henry. J. Fox. John C Skilton
S. B. Blakeslee
C A Potter
T. J. Bradstreet
Homer Treat
Apollos Camp
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NEW-YORK
DEC [?]
PAID
3 ctsMr Lucius AlcottPlymouth HollowConn
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Litchfield Conn
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Connecticut
Petition of inhabitants ^of^ Litchfield Connt asking a reduction of postage on newspapers and particularly on small papers designed for juvenile reading.
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January 31 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
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To the Committee on Post Office & post roads.
H. [Pieterson?]

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,