The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-03-11

on the committee to compel them to ac-
cede to his wishes. Luckily for the CITY the
committee could not be buldozed and a Sils-
by machine was purchased, though he nro-
tested against it to the last So much for
bis business capacity in purchasing engines.
The second specification in the list OF his
business achievements is that "be gave the
city one of the most successful Fourth of
July celebrations that had occurred in PORT
iaud for many years. Approval of the
expenditure by a city saddied with a debt of
$4,000, 900, of some S., 700 to celebrate the
Fourth OF July, is certainly a very question:
able transaction for a business MAYOR. To
the minds OF most men we imagine it will
appear to be altogether stronger proof of
the lack of business capacity Than of the
possession of it.
Next in demonstration of the alleged fact
that Mr. Deering was a business mayor is
his Introduction of an order Constructing the
gas agent to inquire intD the Portland Gas
Company's surplus fund, with view to
have sad company declare a special divi-
dend, if practicable" Here is another piece
of trckery. The Argus evidently means it
to be understood that Mr.. Daering was the
man who discovered that the Gas Company
had large surplus and that it was through
his efforts that that surplus was divided
among the stockholders. As a matter of
fact John W. Deering had no more to do
with the discovery CT that surplus than the
man in the moon. During Mayor Senter's
administration he was gas agent, and be
was also member of the committee of the
city council to Consider the expediency of
selling The city's gas stock. But in neither
OF these capacities did he ever discover or
hint remotely even, at the existence of
surplus which might be divided. This sur
plus fluid was discovered during Mayor
Llbby's administration and the first diyi-
dend from it was obtained by Mayor Libby,
as the books of the Gas Company and the
records of the city government show. A
year later Mr.. Deering did ask for and OBJ
tain another dividend, and that is all the
connection he ever had with the surplus
fund matter.
But the crowning glory, the consummate
flower of his basiness sagacty is given in
specification four, in which it is solemnly
asseverated that it was Through the efforts
OF Mr.. Deering that the fremen attached to
engine houses were pat in uniform, so as
to be distinguished at glance"
Mr.. Deeriug also demonstrated his bust
ness capacity by painting the City Building
wheh it needed it, and causing a band
stand to be erected in the oaks, Asamat-
ter of fact, whatever credit is due for the
erection of a band stand in the oaks and
the concerts given there, belongs to ex-
Alderman E. B. Wiuslow and not to John
W. Deering. Mr.. Winslow originated the
scheme, though Mr.. Deering has managed
to gobble up the credit of it.
Tbs Argus has the hardihood to cite the
Chestnut street school house Job in support
OF the assertion that Mr.. Deeriug was bus
mess mayor. Every citizen of Portland by
this time probably is fully acquainted with
Mr.. behring's connection with that matter.
1t was fully ventilated year ago. The
fact simply is that on account of Mr.. Deer
lng's ignorance and stubbornr ess and
desire to give his friends a Job the
Chestnut street school house alterations
cost third more at least than responsible
bi iders would have been willing to IN
dertake the job for. It is hard to see
where his great business capacity figured in
this matter
PAfhanQ The Mid 1S
diculous claims is the one tina, Mr.. DeeriDg
reduced the taxes. Mr.. Deering had Just as
much to do with the taxes as the editor of
the Argus and no more. Il is tie city coun-
Gil and not the mayor who makes the appro-
priatlons, and if these are economical so that
the taxes based upon them are low the cred
it is due to the council and not to the
mayor.
After eliminating from The list of Mr.. Deer
ing's alleged business achievements those
that we nave couc usvely sboyn he had
nothing to do with the following are left:
First, be mentioned in his Inaugural that
new engine was needed.
Second. he spent S., 700 for fourth of
July celebration.
Third. he uniformed the fremen perma-
neutly attached to engine houses.
Fourth, he painted the city building.
Fifth. be repaired the Chestnut street
school house at cost greatly exceeding
what responsible parties offered to do it for.
Surely this is most beggarly array, but it
is all the foundation there is for the claim
that John W. Deering displayed great
business capacity while mayor. His friends
had better cali that claim in and fall back
upon his virtue as cholera preventive.