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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 Kent in the state of Delaware , 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.
Joseph Kinney Thomas Purnell
James Lord Robert Sarde
Samuel [Thawley?]. Clement Comes
Peter Adams Alexander. s. Dill
John [L?]. Graham William [Dorrell?]
James Green Thos Marvel
David W Higgins
[?] Temple Joseph C McBride
Edwd Lord W, P, Lindale
Garrett Luff Wm H Sarde
Thomas Wainwright Jesse Thompson
J, W, F, Jackson Wm Wallace
Samuel Goodwin A. B. Cooper
L M Prettyman
William Lindale Jonathan H [Lowber?] Esqr
Henry M: Temple
James. Raymond Thos. H. McSwain
Thomas Simpson Esqr Geo Carter
Charles G Temple Thos S Mifflin
William Carter Esqr S. M. Collins
Samuel S. Sarde Henry R. Prettyman
H. B, Conwell Charles Conwell
Wm H. Colescott
Frisby B. Clark John K. Norris
David H Slayton Thos Martindale
Thos Newman Caleb L. Burchenal
Nathan Lane Vandover Haregeave
Thomas P N[?]
James J Williams Stephen [Postlet?]
James Downham
Daniel W Charles
John Downham
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NEW-YO[RK]
DEC 2[3]
PAI[D]
3 c[ts]Mr Thomas MartindaleCamdenDel
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Del
Memorial of Joseph Kinney ^and 56 others of^ of Kent county in the state of Delaware praying a reduction of postage in favor of Juvenile newspapers of small dimensions
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Presented by H. C. Murphy
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February 8. 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office and Post Roads
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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