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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 Licking 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 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.
J. G. Seaward
[J, N, Clark?] Geo W Dilly
S F Southard John [W Wilson?]
John Duvall Thomas L Dunaway
Georg D, Gardner John [M?] [?]
George Gardner Snowden Ingmire
Joel Bland Albert G Green
Jackson Mears Samuel W Hall
John Robinson Wm Wells
William Lyons
[Saml?] Drake John Bartlett
John Langstaff John C Shacklett
Aaron Decker Eugene Quigley
Noah Reed Peter Leffler
R. C. Mendenhall
William Hull George Mauk
Silas Bland
Thos, D, [Fleming?] Thomas Willey
William Tilton
[Arison Wintermate?] John Goodwin
Hugh Fleming
David [Dernman?] Samuel P Clark
Henry C. [Wintermate?] Joseph [Greatherman?]
H Shacklett Jr
William S Green Loren Taylor [...?]
Michael [?]
Joseph Weir Leroy Lemert
Charles Montgomery
Joseph Gale
Jacob Dragoo
Wm Dragoo
Michael [Geand?] Junr
Marvin Critten
Charles [Dernman?]
Wm, H, Legg
Harison Legg
Henry Evans
Elexander Campbell
Ebanezer Bland
Thos Moran, Jur
Lewis Legg
Thos Legg
F H Suthard
M O [Nash?]
Richard Bisby
Wm Phillips
S, B, Vn Allen
Thomas. J, Hull
Charles Robbins
Hezekiah, Shacklett. Jnr
[W?]. S. Brown
Hezk S Green
John F Van allen
Nathan Riley
Daniell R Brown
A [McClin?]
E W gale
<Page 2>
PAID
CINCINN[ATI. O.]
DEC 31
3Meth. S. SchoolPerrytonLickingOhio
[ docketing ]
Ohio
The Petition of Citisens of Licking County Ohio, Praying for a reduction in the rate of News paper postage.
[ docketing ]
Referd to Committee on Post Office & Post Roads.
[ docketing ]
February 10, 1848 Referred to the committee on the Post office & Post Roads
[ docketing ]
Presented by Mr D. Duncan of Ohio

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,