The Portland daily press., 1898-01-31
ANNEXATION.
Public Meeting Held at Deering Sat-
urday.

urday.
Hail Prettily Decora ed-Friends of Move
ment Out in Force.
The second in the series of public meet
ings in the interest of the annexation of
Deering to Portland WAS held Saturday
evening at the headquarters of the Deer
ing Annexation society on Spring street.
Woodiords. The meeting Was attended
by about seventy five well known citizens,
many OF the members being influential in
municipal and business affairs. During
the past week the society have distributed
broadcast throughout the city the annexa-
ton buttons which are now being worn
by those loyal to the cause.
| The headquarters of the society have
heen opened every evening during the
mast week and goodly number of the
members and friends Of the society have
been in attendance and enjoyed the
hospitality and freedom that the new
society allows its members and friends
, while within the walls of their head.
quarters.
The committees have had several
placards painted during the week and
they can now be seen upon the walls of
the headquarters. Among them are the
following:
Wanted, good reason against annexa-
ton
"Why do business men want annexa-
tion''
private property
"Why do behring's largest taxpayers
want annexation
sWe want fire and police protection.
"Motto: Progress and prosperity: en-
gagement announced; wedding March
| 7th, '98- 49,"
"We want reduced insurance rates"
Chow about Portland public Ii rary.''
| The meeting was called to order by the
president. W. W. Merrill, who read list
of names of signers from Ward one, East
Deering, who had signed since the last
meeting and they were declared elected
as members of the society. The lists as
accepted Saturday evening included the
| following additions since the last meet
! ing: Ward one, 43; Ward three, AZ;
Ward five, IS; Ward six, ID. The Com
mercial Travellers have since added four
| to their list and list of fifteen residents
| in Deering in the various wards, EN-.
plOyees of the firm of Milliken-I Tom
| linson company of Portland, were re-
ceived and accepted into the membership
Of the society. The additions last evening
| amount to l48 new names, which added
to the original lists presented last week
makes over 400 members.
| The president stated during the evening
/ hat stow, IN ho6 xr0f
made. The names had been secured at
random. He also stated in his opening
remarks that there was paper In c1rcu-
lation in OakdaIe that contained nearly
| 100 names that would be presented with
additions probably at the noxt meeting.
Mr.. Merrill in the course OF his remarks
after the meeting had been declared for.
mally opened said: II have always been
| in favor Of annexation as a whole have
| opposed and do now oppose any scheme TO
annex Oakdale or Stroudwater alone. Ii
we have it at all why not the whole? l
| believe the time has come for annexation
and am in for it heart and hand, and
my friends of the ants or any other con-
gregation of persons can call me all the
different names they choose; it wont hurt
my position on this question in the least.
| l have worked in Portland many years
and have earned my living there, and
prefer to pay my taxes there. Probably
more OeGFluS ptOplo pay u HCdSlCI UaA Ill
| Portland than we are aware OF, but for
| all this we are allowed no voice in her
government. We ought to have represen-
tation IL we pay toward her support.
| A bout the only argument in opposition
that / hear is that taxes will be higher.
| would ask how is it possible for the
city of Deering to go on without increas
ing very materially her taxes? Granting
that we might be taxed IS or Sc more if
annexed. I Can see many ways where
we could save that amount under annexa-
ton. We should get better insurance
rates; should save the "a nonresident
privileges paid for at the Portland public
saved At the present time If we want a
doctor from Portland it CT g Us $500 to
have him cross Tukey's frie 9e, while the
last house on Washington street can
call him for 80. Why? Because we are
out of the city limits. Public hacks
charge higher to carry a man to Wood
fords corner from the Union station, than
they do to Munjoy hill. while the distance
to Woodfords is shorter and much
easier These are little items but they
sometimes mean q great deal "
MIR. Fred V. Matthews was then
recognized by the chair and in few
words stated the object in securing the
members of the society. He said, this
does not represent canvass where we
have had to urge men to sign their names,
but rather shows list of men that are
willing to come out solid as members OF
the society in favor OF annexation.
Mr.. Thomas G. Harris said that he
guessed that the case with Deering was
a good deal like body of southerners
who said they were in favor of the old flag
with an appropriation. I think some peo-
ple favor Deering as she is with an ap-
preparation. Qlaughter.) We cannot
| hire dollar on property in Deering from
| the Portland banks. and If we get the
money we must go somewhere else SIM
DIV because we are out of the city limits.
| This item alone msans the loss Of several
thousand dollars to Deering people in a
year.