Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-19
News by Telegraph
 FROM ALL QUARTERS. 1'HE LEVBE SYSTEM. AN APPROPRIATION FOR
 REPAIRING BREAKS. Advantages of the Project. President Arthur's Approval
 of the Scheme. A Conference of Nations. Methods for Preventing
 Wars in America.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Mississippi Levees-An Appropr1a-
 tion Recommended for Repairing
 Breaks-Tampering With American
 Mails i'm Chili-The Shipherd Inquiry
 Other Topics of Interest.
 WASHINGTON, April 18.-The President sent to the House and Senate to day a communi- cation transmitting letter from the Missis- sippi river commission recommending an ap- propriation of $2,O20,000 the coming year for use in repairing breaks in the Mississippi river levees, and estimating the sum required for this purpose at $4, ,04O, 900. The Presi- dent in his message commends the subject to the early and favorable attention of Congress. He says that surveys having been made and the river studied, both by this method and through the Mississippi river commission, it is now the duty of Congress to act. The constitutionality of the law making an appro- priation for localizing and deepening the channel, protecting the banks and preventing destructive floods cannot, he says, be ques- toned. but he desires to leave to Congress to decide upon the best plan for permanent and complete improvement of navigation and the protection of the valleys. In view of the immense losses by the recent floods he not only recommends the appropriation asked for by the commission, but also that Con- gress inaugurate measures for the permanent improvement of the river and the security of the valley, and says such improvement as It progresses may cost twenty or even thirty millions, but even this extending over several l. Jol vtraU mi in view of the immense interest at stake to all sections of the country, and particularly the grain raising country dependent on the river as means of cheap transportation to the lower Mississippi valley. The cotton pro- duct of the region subject to overflow is source of great wealth to the nation ln keep ing the balance of trade. The message closes by reminding Congress that seventy from the section needing this. It does not seem inequitable to return part of 1t now as needed for this purpose.
 Secretary Frelinghuysen, in dealing with important questions. growing out of the Chilli Peru war, had his attention disturbed by vexatious incident, which, however, he has succeeded in bringing to satisfactory termin ation. Recent examination confirmed the suspicious entertained by the Secretary that the mails for the legation at La Paz were being tempered with while passing through Chilian hands Against this violation of in- ternational right and usages the Secretary addressed to the Chiliau government through its minister here, as we'll as through our legation, a peremptory remonstrance Thereupon the Chilian government hastened to give an assurance that it's own abhorrence was as intense as our indignation, and promptly set on foot 8 searching investigation which our consul at Valparaiso reports by telegraph has resulted in the arrest and punishment of the officials who were guilty of interception.
 The reception at the National Museum to- night by Prof. Baird, secretary of the Smith sonian Institute to the members of the Na- tional Academy of Sciences, in session here, was grand affair. Among those present were Prof. Simon Newcomb. Prof. G. F. Barker of Philadelphia, Prof. H. A. Rowland of Baltimore, Prof w. H. Brewer of New Haven, Prof. c. H. T. Peters of Clinton, Prof. Benjamin Silliman of Yale, Prof. T. Sterry Hunt, General M. c. Meigs of Wash ington, Prof. C.. J. Brush of New Haven, Prof E. D. Cope of Philadelphia, Prof. S. F. Baird Prof Theodore N. Gill, General A. A. Humphreys, Prof. H. A. New5on of Yale, Prof. J. W. Powell, Prof. J. H. c. Coffin, Prof. Alex. Agassiz, Prof. w. Gibbs of New York, Prof. D. O. Marsh of Yale. Prof. W. B.. Rogers, Prof. A. Hall.
 Shipherd said this morning that he and Whitelaw Reid had been friends and corre- spondepts for seventeen years. All efforts to get from Shipherd the names of the company failed He said he had written to Walker Blaine merely as an attorney for his clients, writing to 8 statesman who was not lawyer. He had had a conversation with w. E. Chandler, but declined to state the nature of it. After repeated failures to get answers from the witness, Deuster, who had been ex- l amining him, moved to discharge him. The chairman said he would hold the question in abeyance until he could consider all the pow CTS of the committee n.such cases The ses sion was then adjourned until Thursday. l Ex-Senator Dorsey voluntarily appeared in court this morning, and Judge Wylie ordered l the forfeiture of his bail set aside.
 ] The Presidents reception to members oi
 the Senate and House and their families was largely attended. The President was as
 sisted by the wives of members of the Cabi
 net, among them Mrs. Teller and Chandler
 Tho Marine band furnished music.