Evening star., 1902-02-21
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Long Session of the Cabinet
Held Today.
MR.. LONG TO RESIGN
PROBABLY WILL RETIRE IN
ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
Decision Reached in Regard to Two
Virginia Postmasters = Charges
Against Virginia officials.
1R. LONG TO RESIGN


portant matters. 1t is said Much OF the
time was taken up in discussing appoint
ments pertaining to the different depart
ments. Secretary Root and Attorney Gen
eral Knox discussed some subjects rela-
tive to policy, but remained to lunch with
the President to still further give these
subjects consideration. The Attorney Cen
eral continues to talk with the President
about the action to be taken by his de-
partment against the Northern Securities
Company. The details Of the plan to be
followed in the courts have not been made
public. and will be kept in the background
until the first official move Is made.
The action will be under the Sherman
antitrust law, and the probability Is tnat
1t will begin In the United States courts OF
Minnesota. There Is some suggestion that
Solicitor General Richards will be placed
in direct charge of the case and that he will
work with the district attorney OF Mime
sofa. Another suggestion Is the appon:-
n.ent of special counsel by the COVE. nmeat
Tnis is generally done in cases Of great I'M
portance.
Secretary Long to Resign.
President Roosevelt Is aware that it is
the intention Of Secretary Long to soon re-
tire from the Navy Department. over
which he has presided for going on five
years Secretary Long has not formally
notified the President that he desires to
sever his connection with the government
and go back to private life. but will do SO
at an opportune time. 1t Is believed that
a change will take place In about two
months.
Secretary Long has confided to personal
friends his desire to relinquish his offieiai
duties, but says that he Will remain IN once
until the President is fully prepared to
name his successor. There Is no particular
f0r "a ar n matter. Sec
retary Long will make his plans 50 as to
avoid the possibility Of inconveniencing the
President in any way in the matter. There
Is a perfect understanding on the subject
between the two officials, whose relations
are of an intimate and most cordial CHAR
acter, and the time of Secretary Longs re-
tirement will be governed entirely by the
wishes of the chief executive and the con-
dition Of affairs.
The business Of the Navy Department is
in excellent shape and all important ques-
tions are so well In hand that their admin
istration can be transferred to another ON
cial without causing the least delay or en-
barrassment. 1t is well known that It was
Secretary Longs purpose to have left the
cabinet several months ago and tnat MS
plans were upset by the ASSASSINATION y!
the President and the subsequent change OF
administration. Along with the other men,
bers Of President McKinley's cabinet Sec-
retary Long was cordially invited to CON
tinue in the cabinet OF President Roosevelt.
the invitation, Secretary Long early ac-
uuainted President Roosevelt with his earn
est desire to retire to private life.
He consented. however. to remain with
staff and had time to devote to the consid-
Grafton of the selection of q new head OF
the naval establishment.
The revival Of the Sampson-Schley con-
trOversy and the efforts made to settle the
points at issue by an official investigation
had considerable to do with the change In
the Secretarys plans. His own admins
tration was so closely identified with the
origin and final settlement of that case that
he concluded to retain his official position
until it had been officially disposed OF so
far as was possible by the executive
branch Of the government.
Now that the end has apparently come
the Secretary is seriously contemplating his
retirement. He WILL however, await the
developments Of the next few weeks at
least before taking any further steps In
the matter. In the event that the Samp-
son-Schley controversy should be revived
in Congress within short time, Secretary
Long desires to be in position to meet 1t
in any way necessary to sustain the action
Of the Navy Department.
Secretary Long has retained connection
with the law firm of Hemingway & Long
Of Boston throughout his official career,
and when he leaves the cabinet he will
again resume active connection with that
firm. In the event of the retirement Of
Senator Hoar, 1t is not at all improbable
successor by Governor Crane.
The three names most prominently men,
toned for the prospective vacancy in the
Navy Department are Representative Foss,
chairman of the House naval committee;
Governor Crane Of Massachusetts and ex-
Governor Allen, also of Massachusetts,
formerly governor Of Porto Rico. Cover
nor Crane was rendered the Treasury port
folio upon the retirement OF ex-Secretary
Gage and declined it because of his busi-
ness connection with the firm which sup
plies the Treasury Department with its
reason for his declining the naval port
folio, however, but whether he would sur
render the governors chair at Boston for
that office is problematical.
Two Virginia Postmasters.
The President and Postmaster General
Payne today decided Upon two Virginia
post offices over which there have been the
warmest kind Of fights. It has been de-
cided to renominate A. P. Funkhouser, the
incumbent at fHarrisonburg. over which
Office there has been a most bitter fight
Mr.. Funkhouser was indorsed by the or
ganization At Abingdon Miss Rose has
been selected as postmaster Her selection
is compromise. She was not recommend
cd by the organization and was not candl-
date In the strict sense of the word.
Charges Against Agnew and Treat.
Attorney General Knox will soon make q
report to the President on his conclusions
as to the charges filed at the White House