The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-20
ruouGHT IT WAS PREMATURE.



'H "a 10 resign his Office. What passed
t'---,.an himself and the President is a
pe of surmise for neither have any
M 10 say on that point
- routine business, pertaining TO the
3,nartment was disposed of between
w." president and the secretary, and then
~, Aser went over to his office and
u' some time with Gen. Wilson, chief
st .n5freers, and Maj. Hopkins looking
he merits of a controversy which
-G arisen over the construction of
5r.,,,.rr.dee over naVigable stream in
l..h.eau. Mai Hopkins had just return
~ +r,11 a personal inspection OF the 10
r,- and had prepared a report on the
s.,srai times they We're interrupted by
I4 Cen Corbin, who had some mat
a. If pressing current business requiring
tts personal action of the secretary TO
tr;,c TO his attention. This attended to,
Secretary Alger wrote out his formal let-
~ or resignation and soon carried 1t
.r To the White House His call on
t.s oesasion was brief, and when he re-
r,s1 TO the war department, he closed
MINOR of his Office to most of the many
csnsr- who were in waiting and had
long conference with Adjt. Gen. Corbin.
Was Courteous But Firm.
ri, t1e newspaper men who sought to
e.-r. some expression from him the sec
i.,srv was courteous, but firm. On the
ono side Gen. Corbin, and on the other
Mr. Victor Mason, his private secretary,
In. his authority, as they said, made the
announcement that Secretary Alger had
sr.uiittel his resignation, to take effect
AZ che pleasure of the President
ST his residence in the evening the sec
re+arv was equally uncOmmunicative, and
nositiyejy declined to assign any reason
for the action he had taken. He called
5jrirg the afternoon upon Secretary Hay
AT the state department, and with him
home were Maj. Hopkins and Mr. Mason.
THE secretary saw no one but a few of
the many newspaper men who called.
His plans for the future have already
heen defined. Mr.. Meiklejohu, the Assist
ant Secretary of War, is at present sup
posed to be in Wisconsin, whittier he went
TWO weeks ago to make a personal inspec-
ton of the Fox river improvements, a
scheme which has given the engineering
bureau endless trouble, ana which now
REQUIRES some positive recommendation a
the hands of the secretary 10 Congress at
the next session. He has been notified of
what has happened and is expected to
return TO Washington TO assume charge
of the war department until such time as
the President shall name a permanent sec
rttary. Probably that will be by the end
Of the present month
Secretary Alger is much wearied by the
weight of responsibility he has borne for
nearly two years ana a half. has aged
many years in the opinion of his personal
friends, and is in need of rest He pro
poses TO depart for the Northwest and
spend some time in his lumber camps, and
then to pay visits TO his children. This
viii occupy his time until well along into
next fail About political matters the sec
rotary does not speak now, but il may be
fairly surmised that he then will be
n vie Of oil L
decision to take such part in the Michigan
senatorial contest as conditions at that
time will warrant.
succession Speculative.
The closest inquiry fails to elicit anv in
formation as TO the intentions of the Pres
dent respecting the appointment of a sue
ceSsor TO Mr. Alger as Secretary of War
Names are mentioned, but they are only
those which have already been suggested
WIN more or less of plausibility in the
press without securing either confirmation
OF denial from any wei informed persons
inc members of the cabinet were all dis
inclined to think about the succession
Housh one did remark that the President
Hdi made no mention of a name to
nm and he believes that no decision
Aad Yet been 81. reached. He also
conveyed the impression that no ap-
P5'nuueHt would be made Immediately. but
allowed
N"''l iHairs for some time to come.
among The names which have been mem
u'u'd rom time to time in this discus
S'oN, "nen talk Of Secretary Alger's forth
coming resignation has been rife have
Ee. nose OF Gen. Horace Porter of New
L"A' low ambassador to France; Gov
l''Sel'It OF New York: Gen Harrison
Hi4y Gus and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
.v''' Inc name of Gen. Corbin has been
mentioned sn connection with an ad interim
"PP"o'Weht, pending the selection of a
i.' Waheht occupant of the office THIS COS
P also included questions of locality, and
"e opinion was expressed in some well
VS'eI quarters that the selection would
V7 made from the West. All this however
N mere speculation, and it seems probable
I'm 'le TACT that the resignation was
baoH.ltled only to-day that the President
'o9 "ot yet had time to canvass the sit
'"uoA ana make a selection
as ~ 'Ie report that Gen. Corbin would
secretary ad interim, an officer close
"e general said there was no basis for
"e report; that the President had never
contemplated naming Gen. Corbin ad in
,s r,iI, ana that if such appointment were
Tto.eU II would not be accepted.
Co.. was some talk, also, that Gen.
ns1t,! "ISnt be given the portfolio perma-
ny, although this was regarded as
fir9o'ole, even among Gen. Corbin's
eIl5L 4iSAS NOutd De precedent for
CIV. d course, however, as in the case of
0ei' Schohelds cabinet service.
News Causes "a Buzz.
me news of the resignation caused q
Us vi comment this evening in ali pub
e.s places but at the White House there
, no evidence throughout the evening
F.a1 any unusual event had occurred The
N.IsHt went for drive with his niece.
Ir duncan, late in the afternoon. hand
,"e felns himself. There were no
Of ,,e VI Importance during the early part
cs+,r, evening, but about 8 O'Clock Sec
ham,. nay accompanied by Senator Fair
an mo-. o- Indiana who is just back from
Of dtaig non of the Alaska boundary seat
snbt MINUS n.y. came over for a talk on his
tro,sr secretary Hitchcock and Con
mimi ives called socially for a few
,oS There was no evidence of a ca b.
tb.-, renee, and no suggestion of any
etys . mat line. There was nothing to
event. LOT publication, it was said An
fr S round of the cabinet officers sill
,n showed the same unUillinepass To