The Portland daily press., 1898-01-24
THE ANNEXATION OF pEERING.
TO the Editor of the Press.

30 lew arguments against the anneXa-
ton of Deering ,and SO many in it's favor,
have already been presented to the public
that further considerations may seem
supertiuous. Yet the reasons valid ssto
Deering citizens are so numerous and
varied, and, as the sentiment increases,
they .crop out SO unexpectedly in CONVEX
sation, that it would only be fair to a
public interested in the question to con-
tinue presenting few not heretofore
mentioned. Many of them, tho SEEM
ingiy personal, are of wide application.
Everything seems to indicate that citi-
zens are getting away from thesssrpurely
financial questions and taking the broad
er and more public spirited view. But
the financial reasons are not yet ex-
hausted as I was forcibly reminded the
other day by fellow citizen, a recent
convert to annexation.
He is a Deering man, doing large
business in Portland. He pays tax of
about $50 year upon his home in Deer
mig, while he pays from 5000 to $500 year
Iy upon his business in Portland. He Is
only one of numerous class, who help
form the body of Portland's most enter
prising and progressive business men.
The aggregate amount OF tax paid by
Deering men is very large, perhaps less
than the entire amount assessed in Deer
ing, perhaps more, I cannot say. We,
in Deering, > used often to hear it said:
'sAfter annexation the same as now, we
shall get only what we pay for in the
way Of improvements, etc." IT wore
to grant this as true after annexation,
which do not, we certainly do not now.
nor can we as long as we are two cities,
receive in return as much as we actually
are paying for. There is absolutely no
way in which Portland can lawfully ex-
pend outside of her territorial limits this
large amount of money paid into her
treasury from taxing the capital of Deer
ing business men; and SO she gets the full
benefit Of it herself.
Deering has not now, nor will she
ever have, any extensive taxable valua-
is the natural business centre, and will
always enjoy this advantage at the ex-
pense of Deering and the surrounding
suburbs. This is the nature of things,
and cannot be avoided. But it can be
remedied, SO far as Deering is concerned,
by annexation.
We could then get. at least, that for
which we do pay; and what vast in
crease this alone would be? Consider for
a moment how many Deering men there
are, wealthy, or "well-to-do," who have
business in Portland, and who have
nothing taxable in Deering, excepting
their homes many paying merely poll
tax, although paying q large tax in
Portland. This class do very little or
nothing towards paying for our schools,
street. sidewalks, lights, sewers, fire and
police protection, and other numerous
things which they enjoy. This burden
all falls upon the farmers and Deering
property holders, while Portland gets the
tax that should help pay these bills. If
it was one city, this would not be SO,
Deering could then demand her rights.
And, too, it is precisely these business
men, who live in our villages and who
are calling for the expensive improve
ments. They are the very ones, toe, whose
influence in the greater city would bring
into the Deeering section this money
which they are paying inIPortland, and
which rightfully belongs in Deering.
Portland feels that Deering citizens
have suffered this discrimination and
hardship long enough. She wants Deer
ing to assume the position to which she
is rightfully entitled; to have part in
all that which she has helped to create
Deering merchants have paid towards
improving the surroundings of the homes
of Portland citizens and the education of
Portland. children long enough; and now
Portland feels that Deering should have
her turn at Improvements, and proposes
marriage, by which Deering can be
endowed with her rights in the municipal
household.
Portland proposes to allow the bride
twice as much voice in their domestic
councils as her size and dowry will war
rant, hoping she will grow after the we'd
ding.
If, by annexation, Deering shall re-
ceiye oil of the benefits which are paid
for by her citizens and nosothers, she will
be infinitely better off than ever before;
but she will receive more. Deering is de.
stined to be the growing and progressive
portion of the greater city, and the pride
alone which city naturally takes in
it's development and growth will insure
more than ordinary attention.
Occasionally one meets those who ex-
press the wish that communications
published upon this subject might be
signed by the writer. In some respects
this would seem reasonable idea; but an
argument in favor or against any PROPOSE
tion, generally speaking, ought to be valid
or invalid according to it's merits, and with.
out reference to the personal equation.
If, as many of the anti-annexationists
would, no doubt, insist, the annexationists
are personally very oold, bad men, then,
surely, they must be excused, If they de-
sire 90 give their good arguments fai1
chance in the world to stand trial. Ger.
tainly no annexationist need be ashamed
1I~s