Morning journal and courier., 1885-12-14

I We print this morning on this page some | criticisms of that part of the Presidents mes sage relating to silver coinage. It shows I how differently different minds are impress | ed by the same facts
 At Russian railroad stations passengers I now find grievance book, in which cem- plaints are entered. This record of wrongs I reaches the central office once month when the complaints are investigated. Good idea. It relieves the minds of the grumblers even ! if no reform is made.
 It was announced at the meeting of the Public Health association at Wash ington by Dr. Kingston of Montreal that the sentiment against vaccination has almost disappeared in Canada. No wonder that this sentiment is disappearing. A great many of those who felt it have disappeared. Philadelphia is considering the water sup ply question. One plan is to take the water by aqueduct from the Delaware Water Gap at an estimated cost of $17,000,00O, and
 another is to dam the Delaware river above Easton, take water by the Delaware division to Bristol and thence to Philadelphia. The
 cost of this plan is estimated at from $5, ,000, 900 to $7, ,00O, 900.
 The United States Circuit court in Ohio
 has rendered a decision holding that under the State law of 1883 liens on railroad quired by contractors for materials furnished
 and labors performed are prior to the liens of pre-existing mortgages. In giving the
 opinion Judge Baxter commented with sev-
 er1ty upon "these schemes by which railroad
 property is covered with bonds and the con- tractors and laborers are swindled out of their earnings" The case has been appealed
 to the United States Supreme court. The
 questions involved are of much importance
 to corporations and the public.
 The will of Walter L. Newberry of Chicago provided that on the death of his widow a
 large part of his fortune should go to his
 brothers and sisters or to their heirs. The
 widow outlived her husbands brothers and
 sisters and the chances of two of their chil-
 dren succeeding to the inheritance were
 bought by speculative syndicates. One pro
 spective heir sold his claim for cash annuity
 of S2, 900 for ten years. The purchasers insured
 his life for $20, ,000 to provide against loss in
 case the widow should outlive him, and now they will receive a return of more than $100,- OOo for their $2O,0O0 paid in annual install ments of $2,000. This is pretty ghastly spec ulation.
 The Chemist and Druggist gives the re- suits of Dr. Magnier de Ia Sources investiga- tions into the adulteration of French wines. The average annual importation into Paris equals 100, ,000,0 900 gallons, and the quantity of so-called wine amounts to 120, ,00O,0 900 gal Ions. The adulte1ants are chiefly water, al- cohol and glucose, and the coloring liquid is made largely from the heavy pressings of dry grapes. More than forty per cent. of the wines were so fortified, during 1884, as to contain fifteen per cent. of alcohol; natural wines contain only about ten per cent. Even of the very mild wines, less than four sam ples in hundred contained less than eight per cent of alcohol. The conclusion is that French people are constantly demand ing stronger wines and are growing less par ticular as to delicacy of flavor.
 Great things are done with corn in the