The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-17
ANNEXATION OF DEERINa.
To the Editor of the Press:

70 the Editor Of the Press:
1t occurs to me that the Portland
people, if thsy are judging by the charac-
ter of some of the communications IN 5he
daily papers about the annexation ol
Deering. may have formed the opinion
that we, In Deering, lay large stress upon
small figures; and that some are missing
the highway, while exploring the by
ways; but Portland people must remem-
Der that what is a small figure in Port
lands budget or debt, is large figure IN
behring's; and they must, therefore, be
patient and gracious with us.
My friend, Cam To- whose name
know, and whose ability and most ex-
cellent purpose I take pleasure in &C
knowledging, occupied nearly two
columns of your valuable space, on last
Friday morning, in correcting the state
| nents of his former communication, COM
menting somewhat personally upon his
opposing correspondents, and attempting
generally to set himself right with his
readers. He is frank in his confessions,
and displays an honesty of purpose in
correcting himself which is very credit
able. He closes him long letter with :" ut
more anon" We trust he will allow his
defense to rest, and will proceed with the
main question, il he has further matters
| to present. If there is any issue of facts
between us, if his two communications
do not admit all my contentious, must
decline to reiterate disputed statements,
and cheerfully and confidently refer our
doubling friends to the proper sources OF
information. I have carefully read Ann
T." and. yet, I am not conscious OF
having made mistatement of facts
must not refrain, however, from call
ing attention to one statement made by
our friend in his first communication.
He says ''the statement that the proper
tionateidebt Of the two cities is.now prao-
tically the same, not only does not tell
the. whole story, but is also erroneous.
This statement which he denies comes
from the report of the commission, and
refers to the actual present net debts,
not including the finishing Of the new
High school or Forest Avenue, as have
pointed out heretofore. From whence did
our friend "Ann IT, receive more light
than the commissioners? His oppportuni-
ties for information in Deering, backed
as he is by the city treasurer, are, it is
true, exceptional; but he certainly does
not intend to imply that his friend, the
treasurer, did not state his case correctly
and forcibly to the commissioners. "Ann
t." certainly has not had better oppor-
tunity to learn of the finances of Portland
than they enjoyed. Does he impugn the
veracity, and the honorable and fair in
tentions of the commission. This would,
indeed, behold. Never could fairer
method of selecting commission have
been contrived; never, fairer selection
Of commissioners WAS made; all were
men well and favorably known through
out the state for reputation and ability.
Our own commissioner, gentleman we
have repeatedly delighted to honor and
trust; though he never has sought prefer
ment, political or otherwise.
These commissioners carefully inquired
of all of the heads of the various depart
ments of the two cities, into every detail
of city affairs, and then they made re-
port in which they confessedly favor
Deering by giving her double representa-
ton in both population and valuation. 1t
does not lie in the mouth of any Deering
man to impugn their motives or their
fairness to Deering in their statements.
Such an argument will become dreadful
boomerang. The Deering people are salts
fled with the report. They regard it as
an opportunity not to be lost. They are
not disposed to take chances with the
future by voting down SO favorable a
compact of union. Never again will the
debts be SO nearly the same. The farmers
are awaking to the facts. They are tired
of paying for city Improvements for a
village section. without city valuation
to warrant and pay for them. They are
determined that Portland where these
business men go to pay their taxes on
their business. shall help pay for these
| Improvements about their homes.
The farmers are beginning to find out
why the largest taxpayers favor annexa-
ton. The business men of Deering, too,
are weary Of paying SO much of their
| taxes in Portland, with no vote or voice
In spending the money; they are tired of
being political nonentities in the city
| where they do business, and where they
do SO much to foster and support general
prosperity.
Speaking of prosperity" our friend,
whoever he is, who writes over that name,
has caught the spirit of the times. He has
evidently been on our electrics, in our
meeting places, and stores, for he knows
that Annexation is coming as surely as
spring. Annexation is emblazoned po
the banners of Prosperity and 81 ro-
gress,'' and, like the rainbow of promise,
stretches across the Deer1ng sky from
Martins Point to the Buxton road.
PROG RESS.