PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of East Machias Washington County, 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.
George F. Talbot East Machias
John C. Talbot Jr Lubec Me
Sylvanus [Severy?] E Machias
Peter Talbot East Machias
John Kerwin
J. G Whittemon East Machias
Pearl Howe East Machias
Wm [H?] Foster East Machias
Patrick Hogan Nathan W Foster
Reuben Scofield East Machias
William [Cleft?] East machias
Nathan W Foster East [?]
D B Brown Do
W. C. Talbot do
C. [F?] Chase
J. M. Wiswell. ""
S. T. Foster
Patrick Culligan East Machias
C. H. Talbot do
John Simonds "
Finley Keller East Machias
John Hathaway [?]
Charles Foster
Josiah Ham butler
Wm H Robey East Machias
Alfred Foster do
George H Avery
Henry Miles East Machias
Richard C Dyer do
Charles Cox
Isaac Richards
Daniel P Johnson East Machias
Eli S [Hanscom?] ""
Sampson Rushton East Machias
George J Quakely East Machias
Luther Albee ""
G. D. Keller East Machias
J. B. Lyle DoDo
Albert Hall East Machias
Abram McQuillin
H C Wilson
T R Parsons
Elisha D. C holmes
James W. Foster East Machias
Gustavus White
James L Chace
W H Whittemon East Machias
Duncan Smith East Machias
John Bryant ""
Jas O Robinson East Machias
Thomas White East Machias
William H Becknett East Machias
Ambow F Kingsley East Mathias
Aaron W Harvey East Machias
F. A. Wilson
Albert [?] East Machias
Charles Townsend E Machias
John A. Simpson East Machias
C. W. Foster ""
Jabez WFoster
B G Chalonen East Machias
Joel T Gilson butler
Moses B Stevens "
Jams Davis "

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Maine
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Petition of Citizens of East Machias Washington Co Maine [...?] for Cheap Postage
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January 25 1849,
Referred to the Committee on the Post Office & Post Roads.
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H. Williams.
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Petition of Citizens of East Machias &c Washington County. Maine
For cheap Postage

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,