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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 Belmont 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 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 the 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.
G D Kinnear Nathan Riley
N. [V?]ollintire Josh Green
[?]. Sunderland H. T. Barnes
Plummer I Lyles John Bradfield
William Reed E. P. Barnes
Bela [G?] Alexander
Allen Barnes Leonard O[rms?]
Benjn Davenport Brice S. Rieley
J W. Bradshaw
Saml Locke Sr. E. Ramsey
James T. Lyne E. Williams
Panter Laws Nelson Price
Adam Bentz Everett Fowler
Kelion Hager Hiram Fowler
Jacob H. Parker John W Kennion
Coulson Davenport Robert R Evans
John Callen Isaac Doudna
Cropper H Laws Thos C. Parker
Asa T French W. A. Talbott
James W Hare A. G. Hall
Newell Kennon
Jesse Lewis Isaac Hager
Samuel Price Archibald Cole Jr
John B Tillman Thomas Ogden
J. R. Laws Daniel Williams
N. R. Smith George Starbuck
Richard Mah[?] Benjn Mackall
Jesse Ball William P. Stubbles
Jesse White J. M. Gilliland
John Statlar James Riggs Sr
Jesse M Patterson Joshua Barnes
[Hsilion?] [?] Cayersy John Scoles
Thos D Laws
60.
<Page 2>
PAID
CINCI[?]TI. O.
DEC
29
3Rev. G. D. Kinnear Barnesville Belmont, Ohio
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Ohio
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The petition of G D Kinnear and 60 other citizens of Belmont County Ohio praying a proportionate reduction of postage on all newspapers not containing more than 500 square inches in size.
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Referred to the committee on post offices & post roads
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William Kennon Jr
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February 1 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
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Kennon

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