The Portland daily press., 1899-01-26


they could defeat it. They hoped to post.
pone It until after the next election SC
that they could hold their offices another
year There was n shout Of laughter
from group Of Deering men at this
statement.
"lt's so, gentlemen, said Mr..
Mathews. That's at the bottom of It, "
Its tbs oifica holders who are doing
the laughing" put in Deering citizen.
MIR. Mathews said that there was a
sentiment among the opponents in Deer
ing that this matter should be postponed
while Deering procured various things
she wanted for which Portland would
pay.
Hon. Andrew Halves was next called
upon and told the committee how many
Deering people resident in his section did
| business In Portland. Mr.. Halves said
that Deering offered the only opportunity
| for Portland's growth. MIR. Halves told
of the success of the annexationists In
securing names to the petitions they cir
culated. In week they got over 500 sig
natures ana about u hundred more had
since been added. Mr.. Halves said that
so far us he knew all the signers were
voters.
You had general oversight of those
petitions didn't your" asked MIR. Wilson.
~ was one of those who did
''kvery ward was covered was 1t notT'
Every wafd but ward two.
You didn't think 1t was worth while
TO cover that ward, l suppose -
! "Oa yes, VIC did. but the man to whom
the petitions were given was sick in bed.
We tried to cover every place
Mr.. Mathews at this point said that
while he did not intend TO question the
methods of those who opposed annexa-
ton 1t was regrettable fact that
through ignorance some had signed the
remonstrance because they were told that
1t was u request for resubmission and
being in favor of annexation and not
knowing that IL could be obtained in any
othsr way, they signed these requests for
a submission to the people not because
they opposed annexation but because they
favored it. MIR. Mathews then put in
statements of Palmer >. Clark and John
Clark to the effect that thcy had signed
remonstrances under these circumstances
Daniel ID. Chenery was the next wit
ness and testified in confederation of the
! statements of Mr.. Halves.
| Judge Hopkins then read letters from
IL. c. Jordan, ESQ.,. and Judge Walton
urging annexation. Mr.. Jordan said he
was property holder in both the farm ;
| ing and village regions of Deering and
the representative of property in Port
land. As civil engineer, Mr.. Jordan
pointed on, the difficulties Of draining the
back bay under two city governments.
Portland has taken steps to build sewers
which will solve the difficulty and serve
| both cities; behring's sewers are adding
to the trouble. A Deering sewer serves
| Portland territory and the situation has
already lead to notices of land salts
Judge Walton said in his letter that he
had been opposed to annexation but he
now favored it. lie thought that the city
should now have peace. A perpetual
courtship and no marriage is not credit
able to either party.
Abner I. Smith, former street COM
missioner. said he favored annexation.
In answer to Mr.. Wilson's question, he
said be had been defeated at the last cleo
tion.
Then ex-Mayor W. W. Merrill made a
speech which was one of the events OF
the dav. He said: II think the annex
ationists have point in one thing. If
any man who holds the office of clerk in
any city in the United States will will
fully do as / claim was done in Deering
to ohangs votes on this question. claim
ne is rot fit to be elected"
Mr.. Merrill presented to the committee
the notices of the election at which the
question was submitted to the people last
March. Speaking OF the Portland notice,
MIR. Merrill said: "You will observe that
that is fac simiis ballot There are
squares bearing plainly the words yes and
no. In all parliamentary practice that
is the way vote is taken. The city clerk
when presided never heard u question
put in any other way. but In this case he
printed ballot with the word no first
claim that this was misleading.
MIR. Wilson Did you see the copy sent
to the printers
MIR. MERRILL did not. Do you doubt
that this is fair fac sim ileY
Mr.. Wilson, don't know anything
about 1t. You were candidate for re-
election anG de featedS
Mr.. MERRILL was defeated-honorably.
This closed the case for the petitioners
Then Mr. Wilson opened the side of the
remonstrauts, Mr.. Wilson said 1t was ad-
mitted that Portland favored annexation.
There was no controversy on that side
and no need of argument to sustain it.
He denied that annexation was an Issue
in the election of Judge Hopkins In
Ward /. strong annexation ward, said
Mr. Wilson, they took so little interest in
this question that only is voters attended
the caucus. Had Judge Hopkins's OPP
ponent gone to the caucus and voted, he
and not MIR. Hopkins might have occu =
niad the seat in the legislature. From