The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-03-16

A. The star yesterday stated.
Thomas r. Delaney. Tor the past II
years chief United States customs
inspector ana acting surveyor at
this pert, win succeed John sullivan
as chief OF police.
Delaney. after some fencing. this
morning, stated that the position had
been offered him by Mayor-eleot
Ballingcr and tho latter tacitly adj
mltted the fact Delaney has not
yet been appointed, however. nor has
he even notified Judge Rallinger
that he viii accept. Nevertheless
there r. no doubt that he will be
formally nominated when the new
mayor takes office next Monday
morning and viii accept the position.
Delaney has not yet filed his rosig-
nation with Collector OF Customs
Ide. but has intimated that he In
tends to do 80. lie and the collector
had a long conference this morning.
when seen aftcrward MT, Ide said;
"Alr, Delaney has not yet handed
me his resignation. but expect that
he viii BY this evening. told him
that I would not stand in his way.
As long as Il Is for the best interests
OF the public and himself l cannot
object.
Il am sorry 10 lose Delaney be-
cause he II one OF the best men
have In my department. but my loss
will be the eitys gain. He has been
long IN the service and knows his
years he has been under me / have
found him 10 be honest. fearless aud
competent and I believe he viii make
an excellent police chief. lie IL a
man who Is not afraid to work over
time. At midnight or IN the early
morning. There are no Ifs and ands
about him. When he has a duty 70
perform he goes ahead and does a."
Delaney this morning said that he
would haze 70 consider some private
matter before deciding 10 accept the
position.
"An I can say" he remarked. is
that II accept and become polise
chief III play no favoFltcs. I shall
expect every man under me TO do his
duty and. moreover, I will see that
he does Il. l cannot say that am
very anxious 20 leave my present
position. My friends have asked me
90 do u. however. and business men
have urged me. These are conaid-
erations that cannot be lightly
thrown aside"
Although Delaney and Judge Bal
llnger are old friends, having had
official dealings with one another
when the former was police chief OF
PORT Townsend and the latter su-
p~ricr Judge Of jefferson county. II
was a complete surprise 70 the GUS
toms inspector when the position Of
police chief was offered him Satur-
day. The first intimation he had OF
II was when Judge Bailluger called
at the customs house and talked the
matter over with him. Delaney was
taken ahack
What do you think he said TO
one OF the customs inspectors after
the mayor-eiect had left. Judge
Baiilngsr has asked me 10 become
chief % police. I had 10 tell him
that had not yet even given the
matter a thought. but he told. me he
had me IN mind ever since he MAS
nominated for mayor"
The news Of Baiiinger'H choice has
been well received by large major
ity OF the members Of the police
force. an well as By the business
community generally. Although De-
lansy has been a customs inspector
for many years he has kept IN close
touch with the police affairs Of this
city. where he has resided most Of
the ;irnh. It Is said that he knows
every officer and detective on the
force.
lie was elected chief Of police Of
Port Townsend and held the position
six years prior 20 becoming a Gus
toms inspector. He was born In
Oregon. from which state he came
to Washington when boy. lie IL q
years of age and has family resid-
ing az Green Lake. Few men are
better known on Puget sound than
he.
When he was Port Townseni's po-
lice chief that city was one OF the
busiest cities on the sound. a ship
ping center and hotbed OF vice and