menu


To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens of the United States, residing in the county of Clermont 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 1½ 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.
Jacob Trees Henry E Purkiser
Elon Armacost Samuel Altman
John Trees Seore Altman
Wm E. Hines
Richard Sapp Henry Swope
L. D. Purkhiser Tacope Hill
R. M. Bramsan [Jessup?] Frasure
Wm P. Purkhiser Wesly Purkiser
F Sapp [?] Purkiser
Erastus Turton William Wigons
Marcus Purkhiser. Warner Page
G F McCullough
J. P. Constant Gorge Swope
E H Planck Abiga [?]
William H Kennedy Nelson Holter
Wilford Redick Micle Altman
John Walters John Altman
Wm LeCompte John Amacoste
L. G. Swope William Amacoste
Wm Manning William Badge
Edward Salt P Treese
Jesse Pearce S. F. Treese
[?] F Planck
Aquilla Burnside
A. T. Thompson.
H B Thompson
[W?] [?] [Pec?]
John Purkiser
James Canter
J S Swope
J. W. Planck
J. S. Beall
Dozier Morgan
John Hill
Abraham Jones
William [?]
Nicholas Hill
Michael E Baum
Morgan Grove
William W Kennedy
<Page 2>
PAID
CINCINNATI O.
DEC 29
3Mr. Henry Purkhiser
Pt. PleasantClermont,Ohio
Free
Bethel O
Jan 25
Hon. David. FisherMember of CongressWashington City.
[ docketing ]
Memorial from 60 citizens of Clermont co Ohio praying for the equalization of news paper postage
[ docketing ]
D Fisher
[ docketing ]
June 19, 1848. Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
[ docketing ]
P. O. P. R
[ docketing ]
Fisher

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,