Those Awnings

Miss Lydia Spencer, value of
shed before the store occupied
by Alban & Johnson . . . . . . . . . $110 00

Miss Eunice Lambie, value of
shed before store numbered
112  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .  . 100 00

Value of shed before store
numbered 120  . . . . . . .. . . . . . .  150 00

Damages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 00
                                                     -----------

                                                     $350 00

Davis & Griffin estate, shed be-
fore store numbered 108  . . . . . . 150 00

Shed before store numbered
106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   125 00

Damages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  100 00
                                                      ----------
                                                     $375 00
Total of several bills  . . . . . . . . . .   835 00

The above statement gives the figures as to the value of a few of the wooden awnings taken down in Ypsilanti last week, together with the damages involved. Taking these figures as a basis, and supposing there to be correct, the city can easily estimate what the whole list of sheds will cost.
These figures might appear somewhat high to an outsider, but, no doubt, they represent the actual cash value. This must be true, because the city is asked to pay that amount for them.
It might be interesting to know whether they are so estimated in making up the assessment rolls of the city or not; they should certainly be assessed at these figures, if that is their actual cash value.
Again, if those figures are correct, are the properties in front of which they stood assessed on the same basis?
There may be a point here for the supervisors to look into. They may find their assessment of these properties too low. The matter is certainly worth the attention of the assessors, for if the city is expected to pay for the sheds at the rate indicated, it is but right that these several properties be assessed proportionately to raise the necessary money.
Such an assessment would be but equitable and just.

John Smith is the governor elect of Maryland. Everybody knows John.

The democrats have won a great victory in Pennsylvania. The republican majority does not exceed 200,000.

The British ministry appears to have gained nothing by the policy of holding and doctoring war information. In a government by public opinion the people have the right to know the truth, and there is nothing gained by trying to deceive them.

Maryland has gone back to her own, Republican supremacy has been short and most unsatisfactory. Senator Wellington, who rode into the United States senate on the recent republican upheaval, proved himself a prophet in predicting the downfall of the republican regime.

The wreck of the Michigan Central passenger train near the little town of Vienna in Monroe county yesterday shows that it is not necessary to look to the next world for friends, for we have them right with us here. The angle plates, which held the rails together, had been removed, causing the train to leave the track, wrecking it and dangerously injuring about forty passengers.

Senator Hoar, in an article in the Independent, referring to the epithet "traitor " and other harsh terms applied to all who do not agree with the president's Philippine policy lands a hard  one on President Mc Kinley. He says: "When the president said that forcible annexation ,according to our American code  of morals, would be criminal aggression, was he a copperhead ? Was he disloyal to the flag ? Was not he a republican? Was there even an utterance so calculated to give courage to Aguinaldo and his people as that?"

The voters of the 19th assembly district of New York defeated Mr. Mazet, of Mazet committee fame. But t is said his republican colleagues in the assembly will seat him nevertheless.

The most noticeable change shown by the recent elections is the return of Maryland to the democratic fold after four years of republican rule. The democratic nominee for governor was a gold-standard man and he was silent on silver.
 

How about Mark? If the republicans of Ohio endorsed McKinley, what did they do to Hanna in Cleveland ? The dollar-sign man was an issue in Cleveland all right, and the republicans were strictly not in it here. Will McKinley depose the boss?

The division of the Samoan islands between Germany and the United States seems to be practically competed so far as it can be without the sanction of the Senate. The United States will receive five of the group, he most important island being Tutuila, which contains the harbor of Pago Pago, said to be the finest harbor in the Pacific ocean.

The result in Nebraska shows Col. Bryan a power in the politics of that state still. He captured a good round majority of the votes, which was more than McKinley did in Ohio. It means his renomination by the democrats next year, unless something wholly unforeseen at present occurs. The fight will be against President McKinley, who will be renominated by the republicans.

The Boer incursion into Cape Colony indicates that the estimates as to the number of men they could put into the field was greatly underestimated, or else, that the British calculations as to the loyalty of the Dutch in Natal and Cape Colony were away off. They are closely investing Mafeking, Kimberly and Ladysmith and appear to have plenty of men to overrun the surrounding country, including considerable British territory at will. If Gen. Buller eats his Christmas dinner in Pretoria as he boasted he would, it is safe to say he will accomplish the hardest task ever set for him. That a clearer perception of this is dawning on the British mind is made apparent by the constantly increasing enlistments. There appears to be well grounded alarm also over the possibility of a race war in South Africa. Should the blacks take the field there will be a situation to appal the stoutest.

Latest reports from the Philippines indicate that the United States forces may in a short time bag the illusive Aquinaldo, that is provided the reports of Gen. Otis are not too highly colored. The head of the insurgent government with several thousand followers is at Bayambaug, some twenty miles north of Tarlac. Three American columns are concentrating on this point, Gen. Wheaton is marching south from Dagapau, while Gen. Lawton is marching north from Cabautuau and Gen. McArthur from Tarlac. There appears no escape for Aquinaldo except into the hostile territory in the valley of the Agno river. It is to be hoped the plans of Gen. Otis will succeed and that the end of the rebellion is in sight. There can be no solution of the Philippine problem so long as the insurrection continues. The cessation of strife is the first requisite of any settlement of the questions involved.

Each recurring election establishes more firmly the advantages of the voting machine and minimize the disadvantages. The machine does away in large measure with the power of crooked inspectors to tamper with the ballot and necessitate the counting of the ballot as cast. It enables the inspectors to report the vote in a very few minutes after the polls close, and in that way greatly aids an honest count. There is always grave danger in delayed returns. Mistakes are possible on the part of the voter, of course, but what system of voting is free from these? Why, then, should be any more than under the present system is not apparent. The cost of holding an election will be greatly reduced also when machines come into general use. But the greatest good to come from the general use of the machine is in the increased assurance it gives of an honest ballot in that it removes in no inconsiderable degree the power to commit fraud.

The United States has been invited to seize a Chinese port and establish a sphere of influence. It seems that the Washington government was sounded as to its position relative to the prospective seizure by Russia of the treaty port of New Chwang. The reply was that the United States desired the treaty ports to remain open, no matter what control they passed under. An agreement to this effect was asked of France, Russia and Germany. While this request was not directly declined, the United States was invited to to take what she wanted, so as to be on the same footing with the other powers. It is said that the United States and Great Britain will resist this attempt at territory-grabbing, and to this end the tsung-li-yamen has been notified that the cession of New Chwang must not be made. China is said to be inclined to favor the cause of Russia. There will probably be a right smart diplomatic game on at Pekin for some time now.

The state pardon board has done what it was feared it would do - recommended that the brutal murderer Wright have his life sentence commuted to fifteen years imprisonment. It appears as coming from United States District Attorney Covell, who was the public prosecutor who secured the conviction of Wright, that Turner of the pardon board, who has always opposed any reduction of Wright's sentence, has been won over. It also transpires that his brothers are now Wright's attorneys. It is also stated that the new member of the board, David E Burns, of Grand Rapids, who is against the reduction of Wright's sentence, was not notified at all of the meeting at which the favorable action was taken.
There has never been the shadow of an extenuation for the unprovoked, premeditated murders committed by Wright, and the only reason for showing him any mercy is because of the influence and importunity of his wealthy friends and his own wealth. But when such influences can secure immunity from adequate punishment for such a cold-blooded murderer as Wright, it is placing a very low value on human life and making a farce of justice. A man guilty of the crimes proven against Wright should never again be permitted to be a free man among his fellows.

Lord Salisbury, in his address at the Lord Mayor's banquet, declared that the South African unpleasantness is an affair which other nations have nothing to do with - it is none of their business, in other words, and no interference will be tolerated. He said, England did not seek war and had no wish for it, but had no fear as to the outcome. Equal rights for all, he declared to be what is desired, and security for the queen's subjects and the empire. He said England had not had a farthing from the South African gold fields, and that the only advantage she would receive from their control would be in the influence of their successful handling as a breeder of commerce, the products of which were always advantageous to England. He expressed satisfaction over the friendliness of the United States.

The Pontiac Post speaks as follows as to the recognition of slavery by this government in its recent treaty with the Sultan of Sulu, which has brought down upon the administration so much adverse criticism:
The first assistant secretary of state has been induced to speak for the administration on the question of the continuance of slavery in the Sulus, which is naturally and properly causing much anxiety and indignation. He says that it is "a fine constitutional point" whether or not the thirteenth amendment permits slavery to exist in the Sulus. On this he says "there is a wide difference of opinion." It has been left for President McKinley's administration to cast a doubt upon the validity of the amendment to the constitution of the United States, which was secured by a war costing half a million of lives, billions of treasure, and the legacy of a million pensioners upon the bounty of future generations of taxpayers.
If the abolition of slavery effected by the civil war amounts to nothing more than "fine constitutional point" about which a republican administration may raise doubts or even practically ignore, what does the great sacrifice of the civil war amount to ?