PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of Brookfield Massachusetts 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. Drop letters one cent,
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.
Aaron Kimball Brookfield Mass
William Howe
Abraham Skinner
George B. Coffin
Charles W Richardson
Marshall Deane
George Gay
E. B. Gould
George W. Dane
Gordon B. Kimball
Benadam Gallup
Burleigh Collins
Charles E Rogers
Jonas Bellows
Joshua B Bellows
Henry D Fales
Joseph. P. Leland
Lyman Tucker
Lebbeus Fay
Charles Cutler
E Twichelle John A. Rice
H. L. Prouty Hiram Upham
C F Parker John Durant
L. S. Burlington J. S. Montague
Owen B. Parker Luther Blackmar
Chs H Fales W. Tufts
G L Fales Joseph Thompson
Ebenezer [Pantz?] Ezra Nichols
P H Potter Jeremiah Mellen
Wm Richardson Elliot Prouty
Henry M Twichell Sylvanus Brigham
S. Hutchings Carlton Bowers
L Davis S. A. Hathaway
James D. Rice S Butterworth
Gurdon Chapman H
Wm B Hustings Harvey Belcher
Saml B Rice Samuel Bartlett
John Aspinwall
John P. Robinson Oliver Crosby
Charles Fales Harrison E Bartlett
[Ira?] C Snow N H. Morrill
Avis Marcy
James R Rogers
Thomas H Bemis
William Bancroft
Charles Hamilton
S C Smith

<Page 2>
[ docketing ]
Mass
Petition of citizen of Brookfield Aaron Kimball & others for cheap Postage
[ docketing ]
January 25, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
[ docketing ]
[ docketing ]
Post Offices & Post Roads
[ docketing ]
Mr Hudson

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,