If Yaple's health permits, hc will proba...

If Yaple's health permits, hc will probably second Cleveland's nomination in behalf of Michigan. The seed that Yaple sowed two years ago is bearing fruit among the voters. The supreme court of Michigan has declared the local option law unconstitutional. Our readers will rememberthat westated that the law was unconstitutional before the local option election. There was no doubt about it. Among other failings, the last republican legislature had that of cumbering up the statutes with jllegal and unconstitutional legislation. The Detroit Tribune announces the intention of the republicans to pass another option act next winter. Possibly the democrats may control the legislature and republican opportunity to truckle to the prohibitionists will be gone. As will be seen in our news column, a special meeting of the tax payéis of the city will be held June 4th, to vote upon the raising of $5,000 for the general fund. This election has been rendered necessary by the fact that the city treasury is empty. This emptiness is beyond the power of the present council to remedy. Contracts for waterworks and for electnc hghting must be fulfilled. These alone use up the amount allowed to be raised in the general and waterworks fund by taxation. The poor of the city remain to be cared for, pólice protection must be given; the fire department must be provided for, the salaries of the recorder, city attorney, city engineer, members of the board of health, etc, must be paid and a thousand and one other expenses met. Last year the total expenses of the city reached $38,000. While the expenses this year will be less, it must be remembered that there is nothing in the treasury with which to meet them. The council is permitted by the charter to order warrants up to the amount in the treasury February ist next. On that day the $21,000 which may be raised by the charter, will become due. Six thousand dollars ofthis will belong to the ward funds and cannot be touched for other purposes. The waterworks and electric lights will take $11,000 and over. There is not much left then for general city purposes, even if all the tax levy of this year is spent before it is in the treasury, which is manifestly very bad financial policy. Previous councils have spent the money belonging to this council to spend, and half the liquor tax this year goes to the county. This is the financial condition which renders it necessary for the council to ask the taxpayers for an appropriation of $5,00 to pay urdinary current expenses.