US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Application to stay, pending disposition of an appeal, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's judgment enjoining applicant city and city officials from expending funds in support of a referendum proposal on the November, 1978, state general election ballot changing the state real property tax system, is granted. It appears that the balance of equities favors granting the application and that at least four Members of this Court would vote to grant plenary review of the question whether the Massachusetts statute barring municipalities from expending funds to influence elections is constitutional.