The age-herald., 1899-07-21
SECRETARY ALGER WILL LEAVE MONDAY M8iklejOhn Will Then Take Charge of TALK ABOUT HIS SUCCESSOR No Definite Information 0btainabl0 Last
 Night.
hR. GRlGGs WOULDN'T HAVE IT
Alger is Still Silent as to His Resigna- ton and Will Say Nothing Until After He is Out of Office
 President Also Silent.

Washington July 2O.-No definite infor- nation was obtainable tonight as to the presidents selection of a successor to Gen eral Russell A. Alger as secretary of war. This may be due to the fact that a tender of the office is under consideration by the gentlemen chosen. There is a desire on the part of the president that General Alger's successor shall be a lawyer of attachments and high standing in his profession. both of colonial and other questions involving legal constructions, constantly arising in the war department now that the army is ad- ministering affairs in the islands relin- quished by Spain. It is felt inadvisable from political point of view, that the new man should come from New York which has been without representation in the ceo- met since Secretary Bliss resigned. The gentleman whose name has been under most earnest consideration meeting these professional and geographical require- ments is Mir Elihu Root, but whether he has been communicated with on the sub ecjt cannot be learned. Next to MT. Root, General James H. Wilson has been most thought of.
 Briggs Would Not Accept It
 The talk that Attorney-General Griggs would be shifted from the department of justice to the war department was put down very effectually tonight by the attor- ney-general himself, who returned to the city this evening, and who, when inquired of on the subject, made it plain that his wishes were that he should not be con- sidered in this connection.
 The attorney-general has no thought of becoming General Algers successor and 1t is almost certain that he would decline the war portfolio should the president tender it to him which he (Griggs) regards as al- together improbable, if not altogether out os the question. Mr Griggs reached Wash ington from the east at S:30 o'clock this evening and after dining at the Metropoli- tan club went to his office.
 In answer to inquiries, he said that he had not returned at the request of the pres- ident and had not heard from him since he left the city several days ago. He had no knowledge whatever of the presidents pur- poses in regard to the selection of Secre- tary Alger's successor, but as for himself, he would remain at the head of the de- partment of justice.
 He Will Leave Monday
 Secretary Alger probably will leave Washington early next week, severng his official connection with the war depart ment on Monday, when he expects to turn over his office to Assistant Secretary Mei- klejohn. who will reach here from the west on Saturday and act as secretary of war until a permanent secretary assumes the office. Secretary Alger will spend the re- maining days of his service in closing up a number of matters with which he is per- fectly familiar including some knotty en- gineering and bridge questions. He main- tained silence today respecting his resigna- tion, and the causes which led to its ten- der, and 1t Is understood that if he takes the public at all into his confidence it will not be until after he is entirely out of off, flee. He Is in the best of spirits today, and apparently was feeling refreshed at the re- lief from the strain under which he has been for some time.