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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 Washington in the state of Virginia , 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.
Geo W Piper A Jackson
La F. Jackson
John D. Gibson [Edward?] Longley
Charles Collins
A. Saunders Jas W. Blakey Jr Esq Col
Wm [Hugh?] [H?] C Gibbons
B. F Go[?] David Sullins
E. Go[?] Rufus H Owen [?]
J Q A R[?] Jesse J. Yeates
[Chs?]. Hundley
Philip Anderson Isaac Hart
J, S, Jones Y. T. Averett
P Smith L P. Tucker
J W B Smith S. M. Fulton
W B Bars
M C. Jackson J. B. [Britton?]
J M. Jackson E. E. Wiley
A J. Weglesworth Joseph W Davis
I. S. Kennedy James A. Davis
G. E. Naff Jno M. Davis
T. A Hopkins R W. Sanders
Wm A Watkins W. M. Street
R J Neely C. A. Hundley.
W. J. T. Glenn Thos Dodd
J Y Bailey Charles Beatie
W E Peters J. H. Faircloth
[James W?] Johnston
Benj Talisferro Wm W. Williams
G W [Harrison?] T. [F?] Hyde
Jno [?]. Mitchell R C Jones
James R Holt. Robt. Ridgway
M Cox Jas G. Brumley
William F, Eiland Edwin L. Parker
John M. Fleming Matthew Pate
J W Pattillo John R, Cardwell
J H Greenway Oscar Wiley
J P White W C Richards
Benj. F. Thompson J R [Pereyjohn?]
S Thompson L. R. Libson
A B, Alexander C. B. St john
F M Fulton S, C Wisdom
Jno. M Carmack [G?]eorge W [Pearie?]
A M Sybrook William Swoope
G W Peake R G Shaver
G, D, Peake G. W Tyler
C. [G?]. Rogers B. F. Estill Jr.
Robert, C. Allison Richard N. Price
Jno [Keys?] [Fieman?] Stickley
James Stickley Harvey Hope
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NEW-YORK
DEC 23
PAID
3 cts.Isaac Hart EsqEmory WashnVa
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Va
Memorial of George W. Piper, John D. Gibson and ninety one other citizens of Washington County in the State of Virginia praying a reduction of juvenile newspapers of small dimensions.
[ docketing ]
Presented by H. C. Murphy
[ docketing ]
February 8, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads
[ docketing ]
Murphy

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,