To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Lafayette in the state of Missouri, 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. | |
| Silas Silver | Jacob Reed | |
| T. N. [Gaines?] | James [Claudoly?] | |
| John P. Bowman | John Vaughn | |
| Jos A Miller | Smith Keith | |
| Wm Bell Jr | Jo H, D, Moore | |
| Alfred Jones | J S [Benson?] | |
| E F [Pittman?] | A O Bangs | |
| D. Gillespie | J W Gautier | |
| Wm O. Ardinger | Jos. Chinn | |
| L Blackwell | Edwd S, Williams | |
| H, Young | Isaac [Broden?] | |
| Edward Winson | Wm T. Wood | |
| A. T. Winson | John F. Ryland | |
| H C. Bobler | ||
| J. C. Reinhard | R B Fulkerson | |
| John Aule | M. W. Withers | |
| William Spratt | Wm Chinn | |
| John Mcfadin | Wm W, Jones, | |
| Danl McDowell | W. L. Donohoe | |
| Wm Hunter | Thomas Adamson | |
| R, W, Wiley | Robert Aule | |
| E. C M.Carty | Chas S Price | |
| Danl, F, Greenwood | ||
| J G Chinn | N. W. Letton | |
| Jas, A, Fishback | Isaac [Chanslor?] | |
| [S?] Beck | Frederick [Zeiler?] | |
| P H Lee | Wm Blackwell | |
| A. Dowden | Jno H Bayliss | |
| M P Amsbary | Wiley Eastwood | |
| Isaac Peters | ||
| Wm V. Cromwell | Jno T. Gibbons | |
| Asbury E Smith | Ely Triplet | |
| Josiah, Murrill | Lewis C Reyburn | |
| Howard Williams | Jas W. Wetzel | |
| R. G. Buckingham | Jno, Williams | |
| John C. Fall | R, W, Durham | |
| Alvin. B. Mason | G W Houston | |
| Gershom Blake | B. Bray Wilson | |
| John S Porter | A, W, Henning | |
| Henry Fisher | A. [R?]. Mackey | |
| [?] Hall | G Clayton | |
| H B Branch | William, W. Lamborn | |
| J A Ford | John. F. Houston | |
| Wm Van Doren | W T Merrilll | |
| Wm F Kerdolff | C Patterson | |
| M H Goshen | Street Hale | |
| Ja M Foster | C R Wingfield | |
| Hiram Lightner | W. A. Powell | |
| H B [Clayton?] | C, S. [Ewing?] | |
| Henry Flynt | N. C. Robinson | |
| Wm Duvall | Henry R Duck | |
| J, H, Graham | James S Ford | |
| Wm P Tyrell | J A. [Crump?] | |
| William Anderson | H. Reed | |
| Saml L [Sawyer?]. | Robt. P. MCluney | |
| Wm Wilson | ||
| Alexr [L?] Slayback | ||
| W. Ferguson Jr | Cary Peebels | |
| M Endecott | Thomas Williams | |
| John P Bennett | Jno W Bray | |
| W. H. Ruffin | J. B. [Saurnwalt?] | |
| J. J. Burtis | ||
| James. W. Manion | W. H. Russell | |
| J H Barnes | ||
| C Catron | W, f, Dodd | |
| Tho. Gordon | ||
| R A Lee | H. S. Chadwick | |
| Thos T. Ashley | ||
| Wm Morrison | E Burden | |
| James Fletcher | E. P. [Fugg?] | |
| George Kincaid | ||
| Saml Wilson | James, H, Norfolk | |
| Thos Buckner | O, H, P, Stone | |
| A S Peebels | F. Myers. | |
| W. N. Holton | ||
| James McAllister | ||
| Wm J Pigott | ||
| Edward Stratton | ||
| F. C. Sharp |
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Missouri
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Petition of Silas Silver & others citizens of Lafayette co. Mo. praying the reduction
of postage on newspapers
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February [19?], 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post office and Post Routes.
[ docketing
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Refer to Com. on P. O. P. Roads
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Phelps
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,