The Portland daily press., 1889-01-03
NOT OF THE SAME OPINION.
Both Annexation and City Charter
Strongly Supported
BY Committees Appointed to Solve
behring's difficulties.
What Was Done at the Meetings
Yesterday.

Deering, and authorized and instructed by
the town to draft and formulate bill ask
ing the legislature for an enabling act by
which the towns difficulties can be
overcome, met yesterday afternoon in
the office of /. S. Elder where a
long discussion was held. The members of
the committee present were L. B. Chapman,
chairman; f. o. Bailey, Ruel Small, d. d.
Chenery, A. w. Wilson and |. S. Elder. DR..
S. A. Packard was present during the latter
part of the meeting, and until he came the
meeting was unanimously in favor of city
charter, it being considered by all present
the best remedy for the present difficulties.
Mr.. Chapman called the meeting to order,
and suggested that it organize at once. This
was done, /. S. Elder being unanimously
elected secretary.
Mr. Chapman said: I'VE are wealthy
town, and believe we are large enough to
take care of ourselves. Idon't think that
because a boy has outgrown his jacket a
guardian should be appointed to take care
of him. think the financial condition Of
the town has been misrepresented. The
meeting held by the citizens at Woodfords
and the figures stated and circulated !
believe has greatly injured the town. The
fact is we have good streets, good sidewalks
and as good schools as any town know of. =
Mr.. f. o. Bailey said when called upon
to express his opinion concerning the towr
affairs: 81 tell you the town is too large fol
the present government liz has 0utgr0wn
itself. My idea of city charter is one like
Calais and Ellsworth. | want to hear the
propositions ola city charter and annexation
to Portland discussed to a greater length
We should interest our business men in the
affairs Of the town. think you will fine
that the bulk of the business men living in
Deering do business in Portland. They
spend the day in tbs city, go home al
night the and mor Dasa to Th the c nay again s
taxes when called upon but they take nc
further interest in the town affairs. When
these men become more interested in the
town good will result. There Is one thing tC
be taken into account. If we have a city
charter and find we do not like it, we car
change it for something different, but If We
are annexed to Portland and we are not sat
flied, then we cannot change for something
better. was member of the committee
that met the City Council, and reported. al
the meeting which Mr.. Chapman says did SC
much injury to the town. The municipal
difficulties Of the town can be adjusted by
men accustomed to business affairs. think
that as we are situated city charter would
be good thing to begin with"
Mr.. Ruel Small said: II agree with Mr.
Bailey that things are in a bad way, and no
seven selectmeu can remedy the difficulties,
certainly should be in favor of city char
ter, as opposed to annexation. AS has been
stated If city charter does not prove salts
factory there is way out of the difficulty,
but in annexation there would be nome"
Mr.. Adam Wilson said that he believed
the affairs of the town could be better man.
aged by board Of aldermen than they are
now. II believe we can care for ourselves
better than Portland can provide for u.s.
In reply to a question asked by Mr.. Bailey,
Mr.. Wilson said the people Of MorrilPs Cor
ner were opposed to annexation.
Mr.. ID. ID. Chenery said: II am opposed
to annexation at present. We are not in
condition to be annexed to Portland, and a
fair trade cannot be made now. The people
of Portland have got an idea that Deering is
practically helpless. Deering should make
her improvements herself, and then If she
wants to be annexed, perhaps trade can be
made. 1t seems to me that about all we
need now that should brighten us any is sew
erage The sewerage question seems to be
the strongest one on the outskirts of the
town. They think there that all enormous
sum must be expended ON sewers. / think
that some of the streets should be lighted.
1t would cost nobody very much, and the
lights are needed. To close will say that l
am IN favor OF city charter.
/. 5. Elder said: Il have never been an an
nexationist, for reasons that have been
stated. My views are very similar to those
expressed by Mr.. Bailey. think that when
Deering gets the improvements she needs the
citizens will not be SO anxious for annexa-
tion."
DR.. s. A. Packard expressed these views /:
"a city charter would not harmonic with
my views. 1t seems to me that you would
still have the same old facti0nal fights. II
does not seem to me that it would be solu-
ton of the question. / am a thorough an
nexationist, first last and all the time.
don't believe, either, that we will get all we
want at first by annexation"
Mr.. Chapman said that in his part of the
town he had failed to find one person in fa-
vor Of annexation, and he believed the ssen-
timent of The town would be about six to one
against annexation.
DR.. Packard said that he would favor let
ting the town remain as it is rather than
having city charter. He didn't see the
need of having another city upon the ground
that should belong to Portland. In the event
of annexation Deering would have as much
voice in the government as any other one
ward would.
On motion of f. o. Bailey, the secretary
was instructed to obtain all the information
possible concerning the government of
Calais, Ellsworth and Waterville, all of
which places have city charters, but do not
have all the departments of larger cities,
and present the facts learned to the commit
tee at its next meeting.
The committee adjourned subject to call of
the chairman.
The committee appointed at the citizens
meeting in Lewis Hall Monday evening, to
take into consideration the municipal diff
culties Of the town and form some plan for
overcoming them, met last evening in Dr. s.
A. Packard's Office on Middle street. The
meeting was called to order by the chairman,
Mr.. Warren Sparrow, and then an informal
discussion of the annexation and city charter
question followed.
George G. Hopkins, Esq. suggested the
form of hill to be presented to the legisla-
ture asking. for an enabling act. Mr.. Hop
kins thought the legislature might grant
such AN act, and the matter of annexation
decided at town meeting to be called early
next summer, the people voting yes or no.
The sentiment of the meeting was in favor
OF annexation on the terms suggested by Mr.
Hopkins's bill.
Mr.. Reuel Small moved that "a sub-commit-
tee of seven be appointed to confer with the
committee appointed by the town of Deer
ing, to see If joint action could not be taken
on some plan that would be satisfactory to
both committees. 1t was voted to appoint
this committee, and the following gentlemen
were elected members: Warren Sparrow,
Geo. G. Hopkins, VIM. II. Scott, d. T.
Kelley, e. q. johnson, A. p. Topliff and
George Russell.
The meeting adjourned without farther
action to meet at the call of the chair.