Improvement Fund

On information given by John W. Thompson, Andrew DeForrest, Charles H. Richmond, Edward Treadwell, Dsnald Mclntyre, and John Allen, of Ann Arbor, the attorney general of the state has interfered in the city improvement fund question, and yesterday at 4 p. m. our city officers were served with an injunction trom thfl circuit court, which restrains them not only from col'ecting any part of the special tax voted Aug. 20, but also irom expending any of the tax that may be collected or any of the funds of the city "forthe puipose of advertising said city of Ann Arbur or for the purpose of aiding any business or manufacturing interests by way of loans or bonus, or otherwise." The attorney general declares that the seTeral acts of the city officers ot Ann Arbor in calling the special election, in directing the vote for the purpose mentioned, the election held Aug. 26, and the acts of the common council in direeting the improvement fund tax of $5,000 to be assessed, are illegal and void, and wholly iiDanthorized under the charter of Ann Arbor and under the constitution and laws of the state of Michigan. Early in August last the common council ordered the election to decide in regard to raising by taxation the sum of $5,000 for the purpose of " booming" tha city. The people voted in favor of it Aug. 26, and the common council ordered that araount spread upon the tax rals of the city, but subsequently reduced it to $2,500, which amount is on the rolls dow in City Treasurer Moore's hand?, and a portion of it was collected before the injunction was servid. The city treasurer is groaning a little at the extra labor this will cause him; and says that people must give him time to make the deductions now that he cannot collect any more of the improvement fund. He will hold what he has already collected of it sutject to the order of the proper authority. Will the common council fight t out? The parties who raise this issue claim !hat they want to test the question as to whether the city has the right to exercise the power of taxation for "booming" purposes.