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PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED:
The undersigned, citizens 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. 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.
Nathan D. George Bangor Me.
John Ham "
Henry Little "
L. Beale "
W W French "
Joseph S Remdlet Etna Me
Thomas Peavy Bangor Me
Thomas H. Peavey "
D. Brustow "
C Esond "
S. clark
F Holmes "
Wm Boynton "
Wm S. Hopkins "
Romulus Caskins "
E Sanborn "
Frederic Lambert "
William T Cain
Nathaniel Burpee
John W. Fletcher. "
Ralph C Evleth "
Harvy Jameson [?]
William W. Whitten Lee
Jona Gillman Bangor
Silas H. Brackett. Bangor
T. W. Springer Bradford
Sanford Baker
Silas. W. Foss Bangor
[M?] B. Foss Charleston
Erastus Wellington Bangor
Elisha A Hinks "
[?] A Mathes "
Otis Frost "
Joel P. Corsan "
W. P. Palmer "
William S. Persons "
T. C. Goding
Saml A Merrill Old town.
Charles [?] do
Alvah T. [Lougee?] Stetson
O. R. Patch Bangor.
Thomas Griffin
John A Perry Orono
Saml B Stone Jr Bangor
Franklin Davis Warren
Marcus R Koop Passadumkeag
Geo A. Thatcher. Bangor.
Nathan. Jewell "
Japheth Gilman Bangor
Alpheus W. Benson
J. H. Perkins Bangor
S B Neyes Orland
Wm F. Burrows Bangor
D. M. Beckmore "
S. K. Dean "
John Carlile Jr "
J S Richards "
P. Ulmer Prospect
Wm Holland Bangor
James F. Low Bangor
C. K. Ladd B[?]
Chas P Fessenden Bangor
Charles D. Herbert Ellsworth.
B A Burr Bangor
Levi Knight "
Thomas C. Barker. "
Jno. [?]. During "
Hiram Houston
Nathan Cobb "
Elijah Low Jr. "
N. Walker "
William M. Davis Hampden
B. C. Chase Bangor
E. Pool "
B. G. Snow Brewer.
Enoch Pond Bangor.
A. N. Yeaton. "
Augustus Alden Newburgh "
James Allen Bangor
Wm M Baker Hampden
S. O. Pierce Bangor
John E. Godfrey. Bangor.
Elbridge Fernald Frankfort
Wm Gallup Bangor
Robt Knowles Bangor
Thomas Atkinson Bangor
Thomas Bickford " [?]
G. W. Dunmore Bangor.
Wm C. Hurd Bangor.
Albion. P. Burrows Bangor
Warren. P. French Athens
S L Thurston Bangor
John Knowles Jr Hampden
[Charles Drummond?] Bangor
Charles Drummond Bangor
Philip Weaver Bangor.
James R Macomber Bangor
Thomas J. Winchester Brewer
Joel. F. Osgood Bangor
Isaac C Walker
W. B. Dunbar. Bangor.
William Howe Dixmont
B. D. Henry Bangor 103
Sebbens Kingman Bangor
Samuel Skillin Garland
D. A. Wasten Bangor
Elijah L Hamlin "
M. S. Randoll "
J Lancey "
J. E. Littlefield "
Daniel Farrington Brewer
C. B. Marsh Charlton Mass
H. Folsom Monson
C. W. Jenkins Bangor
W. C Lander Bangor.
[C?] H Loggers "
David Barker Exeter.
Levi C Flint Monson
Wm A. Merrill Bangor
I. C. Pickard Bangor.
R. Thurston "
W. Coombs Bangor
W. Coombs Jr Bangor
Ebenr Ewer Brownsville
[?] Day
John S. Kimball Bangor
John R Huntling Guilford
Wm Durgin Orono
Moses Patten Bangor
Danl Talcott Smith Bangor.
Benj. Plummer Jr. Bangor
Jefferson Higgins "
Arthur M. Higgins Bangor
E D Poston Bangor
Jackson S Kimball "
R B Tarlon Eddinburgh
Daniel Pettengill Haryden
Chas P Chandler Foxcroft
Geo. A. Longfellow Bangor
Thomas J. Crommett Corrinth
Simeon Hall Bangor
Ira Dunbar Bangor
Russell Kettridge Milo.
Ithiel E. Clay Eddington
Elias R. Knowlton Eddington Me
John Shaw Carmel
S. G. B. Coombs Bangor
E. P. Kimball Bath N H.
George H. Shepard Bangor.
Saml P. Dinsmore "
Walter Deckrow " Bangor
Wilson Bridges "
Jeremiah Maxwell "
Ephraim N Dickerson "
Charles Godfrey
J. S. K. Hayward
A. G. Brown Orono
J D Pierce Bangor
Clark D Gullifer Bangor
Geo. Shepard Bangor
Daniel. B. Stone "
A J. Stockwell Bangor
John S Sayward Bangor.
Francis F. Williams
Joseph B Bradley Bucksport
Albert Norton Bangor Me
Charles E. Phillips do.
S. S. Bowler "
D Worcester "
D. C. Stone. "
Chas Woodman Bangor
Moses Woolson
James N Lockhart
Smith Springer Bangor 174
One hundred and Seventy four names.
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Maine
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Petition of
Nathan D. George & one hundred and seventy one others, citizens of Maine praying for the reduction of postage on Letters & papers. and for the abolition of the Franking privilege.
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Com on P. O. & P. Roads.
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February 2, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post office and Post Roads
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√
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Wiley.

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,