Fayetteville Observer

Washington Letter.

Special Correspondence of the Observer

Washington, D. C., March 11, 1880.

Progress in legislation is as much an unknown quantity now as it was a month ago. The session opened well, several appropriation bills having been prepared during the recess, but with the first few days the appearance of vigor disappeared. One excuse after another was urged for delay, and both parties in the two Houses have been drifting. Certain of the radical leaders in the Senate—Grant men only—have attempted of late to base a bloody shirt revival on the Fitz John Porter case, and, mean as such a course is, the life given to Congressional proceedings thereby was almost grateful. We were assured that after the House rules were amended we would have early action on necessary measures, but the new rules went into effect on Monday, and so far we have no reports from Committees, no progress on the bills already reported, and in short no progress whatever.

The Supreme Court having decided that the Federal election laws are constitutional, Congress will unquestionably and without debate provide funds for the payment of Supervisors, and special deputy Marshals. There is no longer solid ground of objection to paying them. Happily, however, the number of these officers is proper subject of legislation, and Congress can, by limiting them, make their annoying and unnecessary intrusion upon a State less troublesome than heretofore. It should apply the knife freely, and it is the duty of conservative men throughout the country to elect such a Congress and President as will leave upon the statute books no laws of this kind for a partisan court to pass on. The principle of centralization never received more significant endorsement than in this decision, and there is now no appeal except to the people next November.

Mr. House, of Tennessee, paid his respects to the present administration and its civil service reform professions on Tuesday. Yesterday two of the Ohio Republicans replied to him—no, spoke back at him. Mr. House had plenty of material, and used it admirably. I hope his speech will be extensively circulated.

The subject under discussion is the bill to prevent contributions by government officers for campaign purposes, and, if passed, will give effect to order No. 1, which was issued and has been persistently violated by Hayes.

Ohio will probably go into the Democratic Convention red-eyed for Jewett.

The game of Fifteen is not new to the American people. It was most successfully played on them in 1876.

The announcement by the organs that Tilden hasn't paid his income tax is a reminder that the Presidential campaign draws nigh.

The Daily Herald is the title of a new Nashville evening paper published by John Browne, of which we have received one issue. That evinced industry and merit.

The Irish famine of 1879-80 prevailing at a time of a general revival of trade and industry in the United States, will cause an immense Irish emigration to this country within the next ten years. The annual average Irish migration numbers about 50,000 persons. But in the ten years following the famine of 1846-7 the migration doubled and trebled, and in 1851 reached the enormous total of 221,000. From 1846 to 1854, inclusive, 1,535,000 persons left Ireland for America. It is not unreasonable therefore to suppose that the famine of the present year will also cause an immense stream of emigration from Ireland to the United States, where there is plenty of elbow room for all who may be able to come.—Memphis Avalanche.