PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of
Warren, County of Lincoln, State of Maine
respectfully petition Congress to pass a law, establishing
1. A uniform rate of Two Cents postage on letters weighing half an ounce, and two cents for every additional half
ounce, prepaid, and double that rate if not prepaid.
2. Newspapers, periodicals, and all printed matter, one cent per sheet; but newspapers
of the smaller size half a cent., to be prepaid, except newspapers and periodicals sent from the office of publication.
3. To reduce the postage on letters and newspapers by mail packets and steamers, to
a rate which will bring it within the means of every class of citizens to maintain
frequent intercourse with their friends in other countries, without feeling the postage
to be a burdensome tax.
4. To adopt measures that in all large towns and cities there shall be a free delivery
of letters and newspapers, and also for the reception and conveyance of letters to
the post-office for the mails free of any expense.
5. To abolish the franking privilege entirely, that postage may be paid on every thing
sent by the mails. Postage of members of Congress to be paid as their other expenses,
and postmasters to be remunerated for the loss of the franking privilege and the temporary
diminution of their income, by an increase of their commissions.
| NAMES. | PLACE OF RESIDENCE. |
| Manasseh H Smith | Warren, Maine |
| Benj F Buxton | "" |
| T. J. Mallet | "" |
| G W Lawrence | |
| A Miller Jr | |
| Alex Crawford | |
| O L Kallock | |
| Roger Hanly | |
| James Brackett | |
| Arch Clement | |
| Albert Counce | |
| A S Cobb | |
| Johnn N Smith | |
| James Starrett | |
| Wm H Malcolm | |
| George Hovey | |
| W H Wetherbee | |
| Alden Miller | |
| Thos P. Burgess. | |
| Marston Huse | |
| Bernard Dillingham | |
| William Hovey | |
| James [?] Wood | |
| Lewis Vaughan Jr | |
| Samuel B. Ferik | |
| S. E. Smith | |
| E Smith Jr | |
| T [?] | |
| Edwin Smith | |
| Wm [?] Hinkley | |
| [?]Wm H Crane | |
| Thomas Burton | |
| James Payson | |
| Jesse Sage | |
| Jonathan Huse | |
| Isaac. G. Allen | |
| David Lermond. | |
| Charles Tish | |
| Stephen B Starrett | |
| Joseph H Smith | |
| Samuel Hinkly | |
| James Coburn | |
| Benj B Poston | |
| Geo W. Wallace | |
| John Cutting | |
| E. Weston | |
| C. Bickford | |
| Josiah Huse | |
| Wm H Montgomery | |
| Joseph R Miller | |
| Theadore Welson | |
| Rufus Rich | |
| Parker C Kirk | |
| S. B. Wetherbee | |
| Joseph Randall |
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Maine
Petition of Manasseh H Smith and 64 others of[...?] the Town of Warren in the state of Maine for a reduction of Postage
Petition of Manasseh H Smith and 64 others of[
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January 3. 1849 Referred to the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads.
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√
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Refer to the Comte on Post Offices & Post Roads.
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Franklin Clark
Me
Me
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,