PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens of
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 packet and steamers, to
a rate which will bring it with[in?] 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. |
| Caleb Mugford | Hiram Maine |
| Augustus Johnson | " " |
| Noah. W. Barker. | Cornish " |
| Albert S Johnson. | Hiram |
| A. M. McKenney | Bangor Me |
| M. T. Ellsworth | Waterford |
| Eliphalet Walker | Biddeford Me |
| C. J. Whitaker | Conway NH |
| Edward Shirley | Kingsbury |
| Daniel A Irish | Chatham |
| Charles F. Davis | Portland |
| Simeon Chadbaum | Hiram |
| Tobias Cole | Hiram |
| John J thorn | Baldwin |
| Benjamin Sanborn | Baldwin |
| William G Burbank | Hiram |
| James Noble | Baldwin |
| Freeman Hatch | Hiram |
|
[ |
|
| John Church | Hiram |
| Henry McGrath | Hiram, Me |
| Erastus Stover | Hiram |
| Aaron Cr[?] | Hiram |
| John Pierce | Hiram |
| Caleb Eastman | Brownfield |
| Eliza Burbank | Hiram |
| Mary Mabry | " " |
| Mary A McGrath | " " |
| Frances A Burbank | " " |
| Alpheus Spring Jr | Hiram Maine |
| WmG Spring | " " |
| James. S. Beem | Brownfield " |
| James Spring | Hiram " |
| Wm Wadsworth | Hiram |
| Lucy B Wadsworth | Hiram |
| Louisa D. Wadsworth | Hiram |
| John Wadsworth. | Hiram " |
| Ephraim Kimball Jr | " |
| Ephraim Kimball | " |
| Esrom Kimball | Albany, Me. |
| Asa Burbank | Hiram Maine |
| Mary B. Burbank. | Hiram Maine. |
| George W Burbank | Hiram |
| Mary O. Cole | " " |
| Moses E. Wentworth | " " |
| Jesse Cole | |
| HHannah Cole | |
| Tobias Cole | |
| Lydia Cole | |
| Cordlia Wentworth | Mariam Wentwort |
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Maine
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Petition of Caleb Mugford & 48 others inhabitants of Maine in favour of a reduction
of the present rates of postage
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Jan. 29. 1849 Refered to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads.
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√
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Hammons
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