PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED: The undersigned, citizens of Westminster County of Worcester State of 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. | |
| S. S. Smith | Westminster | Mass |
| John White | " | " |
| William S. Bradbury | " | " |
| Rufus P. Chase | " | |
| G. W. Rundlett | " | " |
| Aaron Smith | " | " |
| Jonas Cutting | " | " |
| Samuel G. Kendall | " | " |
| Geo. W. Gibbs | " | " |
| William Mayo | ||
| Nathaniel [?] | " | " |
| Flavel Cutting | " | " |
| Joseph Whitney | " | " |
| Timothy Fessenden | ||
| A[?] Cutting | ||
| L M Cutting. | ||
| Joseph W Forbush | ||
| Joseph Pierce | ||
| N. B. Howe | " | " |
| Greenlief Lamb | ||
| Jacob Ames | George Kendall | |
| Jonas Holden | Horace Whitney | " |
| John Lewis | Augustine Whitney | |
| George Goldthwait | Oliver M. Grane | |
| Newell A. Merriam | Nathan H. Cutting | |
| Silas Nims | Sylvanus Kendall | |
| Frederic Whitney | Edward Kendall | |
| Nathan Wood | David W. Hill | |
| Maverick W. Harrington | Ezra. A. Cheney | |
| Charles [H?] Spaulding | Alfred Merriam | |
| E. F. Divoll | John Todd | |
| J [?] Nims | Alfred Wyman | |
| J J Gates | Joel Merriam Jr | |
| J A Cutting | ||
| Luke Bigelow | ||
| Almond Derby | ||
| Samuel Clark | ||
| B. H. Whitney | ||
| Harrison G. Whitney | ||
| [?] Miles | ||
| Walter Gates | ||
| Wm Hill | ||
| Milton Joslin | ||
| William Edgell | ||
| H C Tuttle | ||
| Oliver Estey | ||
| Handel Winstop | ||
| Anson Ray | ||
| C H Brooks | ||
| C Whitman |
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Petition of S. S. Smith & others for cheap Postage
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P. O.
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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,