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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 Posey in the state of Indiana , 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 ½ 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 Cox [W. A?] Twigg
J M Sanders
Joseph Miller J, B. Johnson
Albert Fisher
Isham Acton John Mills
Richard Ford Robt Todd
Urbane Williams
Richard Hanks Philip [Klippel?]
M. W. Rowe Ira Lyon
Saml Humphrey, Brittan Hobby.
John R Hale Elijah D Reno.
Jason D. Jones. Dann [Kineharod?]
James Bennett, [T L?] [?]
J. R. Hugo G. Wm Warren
Wm Stillwell Milton [Tillingsion?]
Isaac Price D. D. Owen
James Simpson J. G. Norwood.
Wm Fauntleroy Benj. F Shumard
Abraam Penfold John Beal, Jn,
Wm F Bundy. Jonathan Snell
J. W [Gueian?] A. E. Fretageot
A. C. Cooper James Baldwin
H S Pentecost Alford West
J D Johnson F. A. Matt
James Bonner
Asbury Varner Green Gough
E. J, Rogers Joel Davis
John Marsh
Ephraim Edwards W Alsop
James Wier Jno J. [Derrick?]
John. Noel. Wm [Ohman?].
Charles Alison G. Fotherby
Wm Good Benjamine Montgomery
Peter Kivett Jacob Whitaker
A. Lyon Wm Rutlege,
D. M, Schnee
S. S. [?]
B, B, Neal
C Agniel
F Bishop
Jno F[?]
Ausborn Richards
John Haines
Richard Harris
Robert Robson
James P Swift
S. M. Anderson
<Page 2>
PAID
[CINCINNATI]. O.
DEC 29
3Rev F A HesterN HarmonyPosey CoIn
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Indiana
Memorial of A W A Twigg & other citizens of Posey county Indiana praying for the reduction of postage on all news papers not containing over [...?] 500 square inches
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February 8, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office and Post Roads
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E Embree

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,