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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 Jefferson 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.
Wm Bailie
Samuel Stephens H S Buchanan
William Gosset A. J. Carroll
James H Price C. A Kirby
C. H. Burchard J M Simeral
James Odbert
Wm Kelly Thomas Odbert
Wm Wiley Barr Robt Speer
Chas. Y. Taylor Joseph. B. Peters
J R Abraham
Adley Back P Bougher
R L Ohara Wm B. Collier
William Hood Hugh McGinty
B. M. Culbertson J. R. Reynolds
Thos C. Rowles Wm Nash
Hugh Colwell Agusten Bickerstaff
J E [Veirs?] P. W. Stier
Joseph [Gouden?]
R. S. Moodey
Rezin Permar E H McFeely
R Brooker J. H. Miller
H. G. Garretty [Bill?] [Smith?]
J. L. Holton Abner L. Frazer
[D?]. Black I. L. Algro
H. G. Wise Daniel Callen[due?]
S Timeson M Wilkin
J. McMahan Wm Huscraft
H. M. Laughlin A. P. Fields
Wm Boyd Jno S. Dike
James Ha[wder?] G. W. Todd
G [...?] W Drake Jno. Kells
Hiram C. Boyd R A [Kerlin?]
E S Mahon C. H. Fickes
John S. Patterson Wm Speer
John H Grimes David Foster
Wm Dougherty Wm Myers
James Parks Wm Richards
John C Huston
J. V. Mills James Fleming
Alexander Conn J. D. Slack
C C Wolcott A W Semple
John B. Doyle John McCracken
R. D. Morrison
James Black [?]
Arundell Hill
Jno. M. Algro
John Hamilton
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CIN[CINNA?]TI. O.
DEC 29
3
PAID
Mr. Jno. M'CrackenSteubenvilleOhio
<Page 3>
[ docketing ]
Ohio
Petition of William Bailie, and 84. other citizens of Jeffn Co Ohio, in favour of a reduction of postage on news papers.
[ docketing ]
Refer to Comee on P. O. & Post Roads
Geo Fries
[ docketing ]
January 31, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
[ docketing ]
Fries

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