Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-31
EDITORIAL NOTES.

There are sixteen thousand dogs in Brook. lyn, of which less than one-half are licensed All the Republican primaries must be held this week. Republicans should attend them and choose delegates in whose judgment they can have confidence.
 It seems to be generally admitted that if Mayor Bulkeley is nominated for governor the campaign will be 8 very lively and eff fective one. This is what is wanted this year.
 Our esteemed contemporary the Palladium compliments us on what it is pleased to call our brilliant humor. We regret that we cannot return the compliment, but we can say that the Palladium is the cause of humor in others.
 Probably the largest literary prize ever offered is one of $1 ,00O,000, to be given in 1925 by the Russian National Academy for the best work on the life and reign of Alex ander I. In 1895, shortly after the death of Alexander l., the sum of 50, 900 rubles was offered by one of his favorite Ministers to be given as prize a century after his death, and it is this sum at compound interest which will amount in 1925 to $1 ,00O,000.
 It is reported that the saloon-keepers and liquor dealers in Philadelphia have inaugu- rated measures of the most urgent character against high license. A fund of $200, 900 js being raised and 8 complete secret organiza- tion is in process of creation with view of defeating every candidate in the coming cleo ton known to be in favor of high license. The plan adopted is being carried out with great vigor, but it is a foolish plan.
 The Collateral Inheritance law of New York imposes a tax of five per cent. on property left by will or under the intestate laws to collateral relatives, such as cousins, nephews, etc. From this tax the State is ex- pected to receive about half million dollars a year. The New York constitution contains this provision: 'EEvery law which imposes, continues or revives tax shall distinctly state the tax and the object to which it is to be applied and it shall not be sufficient to refer to any other law to fix such tax or object" Under this clause the validity of the Collat- eral Inheritance law is to be tested. The statute says that the tax shall be flor the use of the State" This, it is argued, is not specific enough to meet the requirement. of the constitutional provision above cited, since every State tax may be said to be for the use of the State.
 The ministers at Camden, New Jersey, are profting by the law requiring marriage license, which went into effect in Pennsylva- mia last fall Camden is opposite Philadel- phia connected by 8 number of ferry lines, and since the new law the marriage returns for Camden have risen from 30 or 40 a month to anywhere between 275 and $50. One of the ministers, Rev. Mir. Dobbins, re- turns seventy marriages a month. At an average of $4 or $5 for a wedding fee it will be seen that MT. Dobbins will have cause to sigh when the conference orders him to move on. Only one Episcopal minister runs a wholesale matrimonial agency, but he has an advertising scheme that promises to put him ahead of the envied Dobbins. On his letter heads are printed map of the river fronts of the two cities, and dotted lines showing what ferries lead almost directly to his house. Rev. George B. Wight averages for | ty five marriages a month, Rev. w. P. Davis l forty, and others less known ten to twenty g l month.
 Mrs. J. Ellen Foster the well known tenn l perance advocate, does not believe in the political performances of the prohibitionists l She says: Prohibition in Iowa has been g
 movement of the people, by the people and
 for the people, and good men in all parties
 are supporting it. The Democrats at the
 last State convention resolved in favor oi
 local prohibition, a thing which never oc cured before. A Democratic platform with