New-York tribune., 1901-03-22
THE A A1TORNEY- -GENERAL.SHLP
NO SELECTION YET MADE RY THE PRES
IDENT-DECLENED BY MR.. CHOATE.
IRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. I


Washington, March Ex-senator Hanna ana
| Congressman Grosvenor and Dick. who called
on the President yesterday, deny that the At
| torney- -Generalship discussed. Solicitor
General Richards. whose candidacy for the place
| soon to he vacated by Attorney-General GrigsS
| they are said to have urged. also denies that the
President was spoken to the subject. The
entire Ohio delegation" said Senator Hanna 10
a representative of The Tribune. has indorsed
Mr.. Richards for Attorney-General. but further
than this 1t is useless for us to go. The Presi-
dent knows all about Mr.. Richards, and nothing
we could say for him could add anything to the
high esteem in which he is held by the Presl-
dent"
Senator Hanna then declared that he had not
the remotest idea who will succeed Attorney
General Griggs In fact, it is known that the
President has not yet made up his mind whom
to select. 1t is also known that the place mas
| heen rendered to only one person. and that Is
Joseph H. Choate of New-York, ambassador TO
England. This tender was made more thah
month ago and declined. Mr.. Choate giving as
his sole reason that he was satisfied with MS
present office.
The President has perhaps been weighing
more carefully the qualifications of P. C. Knox
Of Pittsburg. and J. G. Johnson. of Phhadelphia
both eminent lawyers. than those of the host of
ship But he has not rendered the place to
either of these men. either formally or infor-
mally Two other names which have received
attention at the White House are Addison Z.
Harris, of Indianapolis. until recently Minister
to Austria. and William Writ Howe. of New
Orleans. president of the American Bar Asso-
citation.
In view of the great care the President Is de-
termined TO give to the selection of a successor
to Attorney General Griggs ii is now consiu-
cred probable that he may not make a choice
until some time after he returns from his trip
to California This will carry the case over wen
into June and in the mean time Soltcltor-Geh-
eral Richards will discharge the duties OF At
torney-GeneraI pursuant to the provisions OF
the law Attorney General Griggs will leave
the Department on March 80. and one month
from that date the President Will leave Wash
ington for the Pacific Coast. The trip will con-
sumo fully six weeks. If successor to Attor-
nev-Ceneral Ciriggs is not selected before the
trip 10 California is begun it will show that the
President has the utmost confidence in the aoll-
ity of Mr. Richards to conduct the affairs of the
Department of Justice. and may indicate his
purpose to continue him at the head of the de-
partment with the full title and emouments or
Attorney-Ceneral. Mr.. Richards, however
seems TO think that the President will choose
new Attorney-G General soon after Mr.. GrlgSs re-
tires. although this opinion is not general in
Washington.
In spite of the understanding that the Presi-
dent has not yet made up his mind in regard
to the Attorney y-Cieneralship, member OF the
Cabinet reiterated to-day in positive terms the
statement he made yesterday that the place
would be rendered 10 and accepted by z. c.
Knox.