The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-09

" ~
Counsel. and John H.. O'Brten. VINO
was Fire COmmissioner, Ia water Com
misSiOner-Delany Gives Ne Reasons.
Corporation Counsel John J. Delany
-siCned yesterday. Commissioners William
B. Ellison Of the Department OF Water
supply, Gas and Electricity was appointed
b. Mayor Mcclellan to succeed Mr.. Delany
and Ere Commissioner John II. O'Brion
was assigned 10 the head Of tho Water
Department The Mayor expects to an
nounce the name of the new Fire Com
m ssioner to-day. Deputy Commissions
H.gh Bonner is now acting.
The retirement Of Mr.. Delany was not
vnaxpected. but the changes made by the
Mayor in the transfer of Commissioner
Ellison and O'Brisn came as a surprise.
Mr.. Delany told tho Mayor last week
that he would r~elinquish his oHice within
a week. 1t has been his ambition for
several years 10 become a Justice Of the
Supreme Court and he had q definite
promise from Mr.. Murphy that one Of the
nominations this year would go to him.
1t was learned at Tammany Hall yester-
dav that hia name waA on thu slate up 10
Yesterday afternoon. Yet, despite the
promise made 10 Mr.. Dalany, 1t was stated
yesterday by one in a position to speak
for Charles +. Murphy hat the Tammany
leader late yesterday afternoon wiped Mr..
Dplanys name of the slate because of
REPRESENTATIONS made to him that Mr..
Hearst would never consent to the noml-
nation Of Mr.. Delany and that IL there was
10 he any hope Of a fusion judiciary ticket
Mr., Delany would have to be dropped.
Il was explained that Mr.. Hearst had 40
often attacked Mr.. Dslany. alleging neglect
Of the Corporation Counsel to push the
cases against the railroad corporations
for the recovery OF back taxes, and par
ticularly for his failure to prevent August
Belmont from building the Steinway tunnel
under the East River, that Mr.. Hearst could
not stultify himself by agreeing to the
nomination Of Mr.. Dalany.
In resigning his Office Mr.. Delany gave
no explanations. All he said in bis letter
10 the Mayor was:
Il have the honor to tender you my
resignation as Corporation Counsel OF
the city Of New York In reply the Mayor
wrote:
DEAR SIR II Is with the grsatest reluctance
that l accept your resignation. I'm certain
that you have not taken this step without
careful consideration. and ] therefore do not
fee that ! have any right TO urge upon you
the continuance of a service which perhaps
in~terferes with your private plans.
II IL a matter Of the greatest regret to
me that YOU feel impelled TO leave my ad-
mlnistration. but ! can readily understand
why you may have thought II your proper
course. IL Is hardly necessary for me to
express my appreciation of your services. |
No one knows as well as / how much of such
success as my Administrations have achieved
Ia due TO you.
Again expressing my profound regret at
your determination. l am with the greatest
respect and regard. very truly yours.
GEoK6E B. MCCLELLAN.
Mayor Mcclellan refused to say ANYTHING
further than that Mr.. Delany's resignation
had been expected by him for the reason
that Mr.. Delany had informed him a few
Gays ago Of his intention to retire. This
was accountable. the Mayor SAID, Tor the
TACT that Mr.. Della ny had not stated in his
letter the reasons which had induced him
to resign. The Mayor insistsd that there
had been no misunderstanding between
himself and Mr.. Delany.
Il would not have written the letter /
did, he said, If 1 had not the kindeSt feel
ing for Mr.. Delsny. We have long been
good friends. and l trust we are so now"
Mr.. Delany refused to answer any in
quiries bearing upon the question as to
whether his resignation was due to the fact
that he expected to be nominated for the
Supreme Court bench. except to say that
his resignation had had nothing whatever
10 do with politics and that he expected TO
return to private practice.
Within an hour OF accepting Mr.. Delany's
resignation Mayor Mcclellan appointed
Mr.. Ellison to be the new Corporation
CoUnse! and shortly afterward announced
that he had transferred John H. O'Brien
from the Fire Department to take charge
Of the Department Of Water Supply, Gas
and Electricity. Mr.. Mcclellan would say
nothing in reference to these appointments
other than that he made them because he
thought they would work to the best in
Mr. Ellison a%e and Mr.. o'Brien we're sworn
In vest erday afternoon by the Mayor.
William Clark, secretary to Mr.. Delany,
resigned yesterday, and to TAX his place
Mr.. Ellison appointed David Ryan. who
was secretary TO Mr.. Ellison in the Water
Department. When James ]. Martin re-
signed the Tammany leadership Of the
lwenty-seventh district because he refused
to work for the election of William r. Hearst
Clark was appointed acting leader Of the
district by Mr.. Murphy.
Until lately Mr.. Delany was one OF Mr.. /
McClellan'= most intimate friends and
closest advisers. Three years ago when
Mr.. Mcclellan was nominated as the Tam
many candidate for Mayor Mr.. Delany
managed Mr.. McClellan's campaign. Last
year, when the Mayor was reelected, n
n the first announcements he made was
that Mr.. Delany would be reappointed.
Until Just before the Buffalo convention
Mr.. Delany never failed to call daily on
the Mayor at the City Hail..
William B. Ellison is a lawyer OF II Broad
way. He was appointed the head Of the
Department Of Water Supply, Gas and
Electricity on the recommendation Of the
Sullivans. He wa born in Canada in 1857
q American parents, was educated in this
city and was also admitted to the bar in
New York. He had never held public
Office before his appointment at the be-
ginning Of the year by the Mayor to sue
slOner.