The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-03
Aldermen Table Resolutions Against
Deering Annexation.
COUNCIL PASSES ORDER AUTHOR
iZING LIGHTING CONTRACT.

and Says That board Is Protecting n
MISUNDERSTANDING Debates I'm
Both branches OF city Government
The Business Transacted.
The city government meeting last night
was decidedly interesting. The board Of
aldermen defeated resolution against
the annexation of Deering. while the
council passed the electric light contract
an order authorizing 1t after four months
!. of delay. Some spirited things were sal d
in both boards ard thu discussions on
these two matters were decidedly warm
aud interesting. Much other business OF
Importance was transacted.
IN THE UPPER BOARD.
All but Alderman Smith were present
in the upper BOARD when the wheels
started. Less debate than usual was in
obliged In and before nine O'Clock the
board had cleared its desks Of bushes
and was impatiently waiting the concur
rent action of the common council.
TO CHECK ANNEXATION.
Alderman Mannix introduced a reso lu-
ton, instructing the Portland representa-
tives In the legisla ture to use their best
endeavors TO prevent the passage of an act
annexing Deering to Portland. He said
he believed the voters of Portland should
again be given an opportunity to vote on
the question before annexation is adopted.
Alderman Lamson wanted to know II a
majority OF Portland's voters had not al
ready voted in favor of annexation. He
saw no reason why the city council should
take any action on this matter.
Alderman Rounds said majority OF
Portland voters had not expressed thsm-
selves in favor of annexation, and to
prove that statement he requested the
clerk to read the result Of the vote on an
nexation last spring. The clerk read these
figures: In favor of annexation, Abs;
opposed, 1871. Then Alderman Rounds
continued: II don't see how IL can be
said that majority of the citizens of
Portland favor annexation. There are
nearly 10000 voters in this city. Deering
ought to be in favor of annexation. They
!. have poor roads out there. no fire aprara-
tas, no engine houseJ, no sewers. But l
believe Deering voted against annexation
last spring"
Alderman Dow explained that the ma
jority against annexation in Deering, last
spring. was only thirty-six, and that in
the last election, when the question OF
anpaxation was involved in the choice of
a representative, the candidate favoring
annexation was elected by about one hun
dred majority. This shows, added the
ward six alderman, "thst Deeriug favors
annexation.
+ 81 don't see why they shouldn't favor
it," ventured the gentleman from ward
three They have got nothing out there.
They need lots of things, and they want
us to pay for them. My interests are all
in Portland. If we annex Deering it will
mean n continual paying out for the next
twenty years; after that l suppose the
money will be coming back, but we can I
expect to be wrangling here twenty years
from now, and believe in spending our
money here in Portland. "
On a motion to table the resolution the
six members were evenly divided. Messrs.
Sprague. Dow and Lsmson voting for,
against tabling. Mayor Randall voted in
the affirmative AMI the resolution went
on the shelf.
TWO CHEMICALS WANTED.
An order introduced by Alderman Dow
directed the committee on fire department
to investigate and report on the feasibility
of purchasing a chemical engine, to be
located in either ward six or seven. The
order was given passage without debate.
Five minutes later Alderman Mannix
put In a similar order, with view to
locating u new chemical engine In either
ward one or two. His order brought out
q round of laughter from the board, and
Alderman Rounds, who represents the
upper board on the lire committee. re-
marked that he didn't want to be spend
ing his time Investigating in regard to
the purchase of engines which the city
has no money to pay for. The order was
referred.
HELPED SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
A report from the special committee
chosen last spring to distribute aid to
needy families of volunteers. was read by
Alderman Lamson. 1t showed that the
total sum expended by the committee was
el,s4s.15
PARK SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
The committee On public buildings re-
ported Its choice of Architect Iompson's
plans for q Park street school house, and
recommended that the plan be referred to
the next city government.
FOR RAILROAD DIRECTORS.
Mayor Randall was authorized to at
tend the annual meeting Of the Portland
and Ogdensburg directors, January II,
and vote for these directors: Samuel j.
Anderson, John W. Deering, Weston +.
A~he Eacv EOOd