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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 ofWashingtonin the state ofPennsylvania, 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 11/2 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.
Ellen Acheson Robt: R. Reed
Mary Anna Hughes
M. H. McKean Jos. Henderson
Charlotte Slaglee John. L. Russell
Lucy A [Goss?] Henry Q Graham
Rebecca A Garrett Geo. Baird
M Huston
Mary Fife T. J. Hunter
H. S. [Pilb--?] Thos McKean
E. B. Ewing. Saml M Sotter
M. B. Ewing. Wm H Fife
S J Koontz A. D. Hanly
R. V. L [Miyner?] [J?] Wilson
Saml Cunningham
Jas. King
John Marshal
Wm S. Moore
Henry Fulton N. Murray
John. Farly
Wm Fox
Geo. S. Hart A. W. Acheson
John McKee O B McFadden
James M Byers Jas. B. Ruple
David Shepherd James [Graid?]
James Dean Jno H Ewing
Robert Eliot
A. Capehart Wm Hopkins
James Warrick N Hinkirld
J D. M. Gugin John Carter
Thos W. [Grayton?]
James McDermot W. C. Herry
Joseph Templeton J. E. Cooke
A. Murdock Joseph. C. Wycoff
Wm Vankirk A G Harshman
Jno Snyder
Thos: White R. H. Koontz
Thaddeus Stanton Jno. Banman
Thomas Hall Lewis Hewitt
James Sanders Jn C. Hastings
Wm Duvall Wm Jones
[J?]. R Withrow Thomas McCaughey
John Charlton Robert McRobinson
D. Shultz
Samuel Withrow Senr E H Burkhart
Wm. R. Oliver P. S. Griffin
Wm Hutson Alfred [Pau?]
Joseph Wolf Emmor B. Marsh
Isaac Dager Geo Lankert
Geo. Ewing W. J. Mathews
Jas. McMullen Jno J Clark
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WASHINGTON Pa
JAN 6
PAID
CINCINNATI. O.
DEC 31
3Washington S. SchoolPittsburgh, Washington Pa
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Pennsylvania.
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Petition of R. R Reed & 88 other citizens of Washington Co Pa for a reduction of postage in Juvenile newspapers
[ docketing ]
April 26, 1848 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads
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Post office & Roads
[ docketing ]
Dickey

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,