The Portland daily press., 1898-02-01
DEERING ANNEXATION.
TO the Editor of the Press:

|
become a well-nigh universal topic of con-
yersation. Although this is true, com
paratiyely small number have yet found
opportunity to learn the leading features
OF the terms of union set forth in the en-
abiing act, under which the commission
was created, and in the report of the COM
mission. Copies of the full text of the
report of the annexation commission may
be had, free, at the headquarters OF the
Deering Annexation Society in Lewis
hall, Woodfords, open every evening.
| | meet men daily who are generally
well informed, but wLo are not familiar
with the findings of the commission, and
the terms OF union imposed by it. 10
all such, pardon me for saying, it is
duty which you owe yourself and to
your CITY to at once inform yourselves
upon this question so vital to the best i'll
terests Of the community, in which you
live. 1t is not right to shirk the respon-
sibilities Of citizenship upon the plea that
you are not property holder, and are
paying onlyp..a poll tax. The welfare OF
the community concerns you and your
household as much as the property hold
ers. Improvements and the general pros
perity and growth of the city, good gov
eminent and good schools, sall.these and
many other public things are of vital
interest to us all; and they lie within the
easy grasp of intelligent, Z interested citi-
zenship. Annexation to Portland will
open the way to a larger municipal life
and growth in the long future years, the
full blessings of which many, perhaps,
will not live to enjoy; but goodly por-
ton of these blessings are already at
hand, and, as to the future, all honor to
himswho plants the apple tree.
| If the world must revolye about the
tax question, it would beswell for the
poll-tax payor to remember that from the
rent which he pays for his home, his land
lord pays all expenses. including taxes,
| nd still enjoys proper income upon
his Investment SO that the tenant pays
the tax in fact, just the same as though it
were assessed in his name, else his rent
should be SO much the less Don't
shirk the responsibilities Of citizenship
upon this, or any other plea. Both Port
land and Deering will vote upon the
question of annexation ON the 7th of next
March, and If each city shall vote, eyes, :"
the question will be decided, but the fact
of annexation, or union, will not occur
until full year later when Deering will,
at the munich al in March, 1899, elect one
alderman and three councilmen, from
each of the two Deering wards, to sit in
the City council of the greater Portland.
| Meantime, neither of the cities will be
disturbed in the due performance of its
SEPARATE municipal duties and functions.
All of the Dcering city officials will con-
| tinue in office after the March election,
1899. 1t follows, TOO, that the taxes will,
as usual be separately determined By the
| cities for the coming year.
/ The anti-annexationists are vociferous-
/ " promising us to raise our taxes next
year to prevent, as far as possible, further
| increase of this percentage of debt; white
| Portland's officials confidently expect TO
considerably reduce their taxes, simply
because they cannot reasonably avoid
If, and to pay the usual amount upon
the5debt at the same time.
| An important reason for annexation,
important to both sides, is, the cnnse-
queiit solution of the problem of sewer
disposal in Back Bay. For years this has
troubled Portland people. a plan for an
| intercepting sewer has been adopted, and
| the sewer partly constructed. Deering
| is also contributing to the Eack bay
nuisance, and, as Deering grows the need
of proper disposal for her sewage will
| be more manifest. Today both cities arc
in the same box, and so neither can COM
plain of the other; but how will 1t be at
| ter Portland has paid her money to Go
|
behring's turn to pay her part will sure
| ly come.
Judging from the published interviews
upon annexation, there is an erroneous
| idea current among the prominent Port
land men about Deering sewers 1t Is q
proper outlet, or disposal OF the DeeTlng
sewers, that is wanting. not the sewers
themselves. Deering is already we'll pro-
vided with sewers throughout ali its
| thickly settled sections. Nearly 500, GOO
has been expended for this purpose by
the city and the AUDITORS, in the last
ten years. but the outlet to the principal
system crosses private property AND
empties into the government channel,
near the pottery, in Bnck Bay.
This must at no distant date be carried,
at large expense, through Forest avenue
from Bedford street to meet the intercept
| ting sewer in Portland. The city of Port
land, under the law creating the Back
| Day commissioners, aue;tuy mas CoHtAoi
of the flats for purposes of public works.
| | was glad Mr.. Editor, that you called
the attention of some of your correspon
dents in this controversy to the fact that
personal abuse, and extravagant and unsup-
ported assertions are not arguments. We
are confronted in both cities with one OF
the most important municipal questions
ever before us. 1t is never wise to foster
or cherish acrimony. 1t would be pitt
able to see so important discussion de-
generate from a fair, calm, and candid
consideration of vital issues and valid
arguments, to an exhibition of preJu-
diced and extravagan6 personal abuse,
| unwarranted assertion, and cheap wit.
Such foul means can serve no good
end; and its influence is necessarily re-
! dictionary. If anyone has good argu-
ment against annexation, | am very
sure that sill will be glad to know it, and,
as citizen, he owes it to the public to
| introduce 1t to us all in presentable st
| tire. as5S
1t is unfortunately true that good argu-
| ments are useless upon large number
of well.meaning citizens whose prejudices
| have become SO strongly imbedded that
they cannot be eradicated BY reason;
tfo ipI n