The Portland daily press., 1898-02-07
ANNExaTIoNIsTs
Held Another Meeting in Deering Satur-
day Night.

Members of the Deering annexation
society are men of courage and enthusi-
asm was demonstra at their meeting of
Saturday evening when SO of their num-
Der turned out.
At the opening of the meeting list of
1O1 names, signatures to the petitions
for admission to the society, were Tread,
and by vote the same were declared
elected to membership.
The president, W. W. Merrill. was the
first speaker. Mr.. Merrill called atten-
ton to card issued by the anti -annex-
ationists on which was printed state
ment of the financial standing of Deer
ing. Mr.. Merrill said we want no strong
er arguments in favor of annexation than
those that study of these cards make
for themselves. Mr.. Merrill then referred
TO the fire department.. "Some of the
men of the department. fear If annexed
that they will lose their positions. There
is no ground for this fear as the depart
ment would have to be kept up to high
standard of excellence, and the men of
experience, no matter how little that may
be, are the ones that will be wanted to
make up the companies.
Mr.. Thos. G. Harris then suggested
That Alderman Gowan be called upon.
Mr.. Gowan made detailed statement
Of the assets and liabilities of the city,
Ind said that the figures convinced him
shat the city was far enough in debt now
without continuing longer as govern
ment by itself. In fact there is every rea-
son why we should annex and become a
part of the Greater Portland.
Mr.. Thos. G. Harris was the next speak
er. Mr.. Harris began by calling atten'
ton to the financial statement of the
city as printed on the card distributed
during the past few days by the anti
annexationists. He said the figures on
that card are a good deal like the tran
saction of bucket shop. They deal in
futures and not SO much with the pres.
ent. In my neighborhood there are 19'
families that have oolcle to this city from
Portland. Fourteen of these families are
now longing to get back to the mother
(Portland), but do not wish to change
their residence. In regard to the hiring
Of money from the banks of Portland On
Deering property, we were told few
evenings ago by q friend of the cause of
Instrumentation that Deering could get
the money from the banks now if she
wanted it. All that was necessary was
to get Ia vote of the banks directors on
the matter. If this be true, why has not
this privilege been granted before? AS
it is, the people hire their money from
loan and building associations ssat high
rates of interest.
Considerable has been said about liquor
being sold in Portland. Gentlemen, per-
haps there is liquor sold in Portland,
but would take this opportunity to say
that have travelled ali over this coun-
try, but nowhere have ever seen or do
know of city more orderly and peace
able than Is Portland.
Mr. F. "a. Kimban was called on and
said: Considerable has been said on the
matter of insurance. / have been told
by man well posted in matters of in
surance that the figures previously CIV
en- as regards the payment of premiums
in Deering were not overestimated.
There is surely $50, 600 year paid in pre-
miums on insurance from this city. The
rate is now on an average 1 per cent in
four years, while Portland enjoys a rate
of per cent in five years. In some parts
of Deering particularly on mill proper
ty, the rate is per cent in one year. 1
believe the interests of the two cities are
Identical and that we cannot live apart.
Deering needs improvements that she
cannot pay for. The serwnge system of
Deering will sooner or later be almost
q part of the system of Portland. When
the time comes we should have to pay
more for these improvements than We
should if annexed to Portland.
Mr.. J.J. Gilbert Of East Deering, an
extensive property owner in Deering
and Portland. was the next speaker. He
said that houses in Portland are worth
more to rent than in Deering. Look at
the prosperity of the suburbs of Boston.
Their streets are far beyond ours. The
are prospecting in every way. They
get more improvements and the taxes are
no higher than before. I believe if an
nexed to Portland that we should see a
great deal In the way Of progress and
Mr.. F. Y. Matthews was the last
speaker and spoke in an interesting vein,
calling attention to the facts and figures
,uoted by the anti-forces and closed by
saying that the cause of annexation could
ssk for no better argument than that
furnished by the present financial con-
lition of Deering.
If annexed, said Mr.. Matthews, coh-
sentative estimate place the taxes not
higher than $19.5 on the $1,000. AS a
separate government our taxes must sure
" creep up to at least $26 according to
The estimated receipts and expenditures
Of the oity as furnished by the anti peo-
ple The meeting was then adjourned to
next Saturday evening. 1t is the inten-
ton of the society to hold at least one
grand mass meeting in Lewis hall just
prior to the municipal election.
REEDJNG