The evening times., 1897-09-29

Lester W Clark was subsequently az
mitted t. partnership.
The firm has had the patronage ant
! srpport of the Republican leader Of tn
State ever sincs his son, young am
iDc xperien ed lawyer. was taken into
the firm 1t has done large politica
and loi.by work.
william. N WINS, former member ol
the firm. left It in 1891, partly becaus'
Mr.. Iyins had incurred the enmity OF the
political !Osses, both OF the city and
State
Young Platu attracted new business to
ilIe firm becaaSe il was known Ia ie the
fayoriic ~in OF his father, who coniruilcc
ile Republican votein the legislature
Even when the Republican >arty was
IA "a minority at Albany, there were al
ways bargains aud deals 10 be made by
and for corporations. whose interests
were ins.ITed in legislation. And they
found one Of tie easiest ways TO make
ternl~ was through the law firm of Tracy,
Boardinan X Piait.
Th- clients whom they represented in
leqisla'i, at Albany have Increased in
nuuliser ansi 49, I hoiuas G.. Piatts power
has sprend a. The Republican boss from
Albany TO New York city. 1l,e firm has
~ many retaining fces froni corpor a.ions
that during tise last Two terms of the
legislature there has hardly been day ;
wlFp some representative of Tracy, BOARD
man \ Plat has not had an agent hover
lng around tie capitol 10 look after spe-
cial interests.
Lake all political lobby work, IL was
secret and confidential often done be-
hind the scenes. In only a small pro
portion or the cases when the firm has
been r.; aimed H. there record OF their
HaBes in court proceedings or toy public
hearings lH.fore . legislative committee.
The four greatest figtts for public rights
against private n.onopolies which have
ia,n mad, before the legislature In the
past three years have bsea
Fms: Tie contest OF the gigantic tele
pisone ns,nopoly L. maintain its eXtor-
tionate rates of charges in New York
and Brooklyn and I" stifle competition
Second The fights for new franchises
for street railways in Br,oklyn and New
NorE which have been worth millions OF
dollars to insiders of hoti. parties.
Third The fight TO reduce the price OF
gas in Greater New York TO the fair ana
reasonable rates prevailing In other cities.
and
Fouu h Condemnation proceedings re-
CURED for th,- purchase of sites for small
parks in New York.
These contests have Teen full of scanda,
for the Legislature and fun of profit or the
lobbyists.
In the great telephone fight Tracy,
Roarduan a Plat were the thief ad-
visers Of the New York Telephone and
Telegraph Company. They We're known
as the monopoly's paid agents, and went
repeatedly to Albany To lobby against
tire pfoposed reduction in the rates for
telephones. The cnarnbeT of commerce
un animousy demanded the passage Of
the bill. and thoroughly exposed the ex
torIohate charges and colossal profit ~
the company nionopolizing in New York
this iranciti>e. wn:ch H. of univers al use.
when mixer Iras in supreme command
or Tajruaanv the teiy phone company dealt
with him. Tue Tanmany members of the
legiSlei ure. were '-ordered'' not 10 pass the
3iH Charles stewart smith, former presi-
dent o. The Cis4ril,cr of commerce. and Alex
auder T. Orr were idenIiried with this
fight for public rights. Assoon as Tammsny
fell from power lie traffic between the
telephone company and the political boss
" tire day was transferred from Croker TO
Plstt. aud the firm ~ Tracy, BoardTnan *
'laif was i'nnesiiateiy retained to save the
Ben ian.H +. Tracy personally Conducted
nls figlt Ia De'l III al the monopoly. 50 enor-
nsas were the interests Involved. The mo-
iupoIy won. The biIl reducing the telephone
-atcS Was killed hy tlie legislature
In the other great struggle, that be-
weeu tne Legislature and the street car
the firm divided the lobbyist
msiaess with HosdIy, Laaterbach and |
Johnson, Ec@ard Lauerbach having be- |
ume IN the meantime Mr. Platt's right |
land man IN New York. But Mr.. Lau- |
erDach's sirna did not monopolize the |
'rofitsbEe patronage Of the street railway |
Tracy, Boardman & Plat |
we're the paid agents OF the Atlantic /
ivehue Rairesa of Brooklyn, frorn which /
large ang9unt az business was derived
{ was also. II Is said. still to be the /
ouns,I II the Kings County Elevated /
cad. Just az MI. Laute rbach, Mr.. Platt's |
4 her agent, rs the chief counsel and d. /
ectof az the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad.
A gain, ia the fight of the great gas
luBopo.r &c New York i'm the legislature
1st winter TRACY, Boardman 4 Plat were
n the side OF the gas Company and against
he people, although their names did not
ppcar AMONG the attorneys of record
'he vast MAJORITY OF clients which they
epresent At Albany keep in the back
rOgnd. Their employment is not pub
civ avowed
Is soon as Frank Platt was taken into |
le firm the legal affairs of the United
tates Express Company. OF which Thomas
. latt is prsident, naturally fell in
art 10 tie firm of lawyers Of which the
son was a partner, and in
~ condemnation proceedings connected
fth the widening OF Elm street, In
cw York, legislative act involving
sndreds or thousands of dollars, the firm |
Tracy, 8Cardman & Platt represented
le private interests against the city's.
Taus the firm has grown in prestige
"a IN clients in proportion as the power Of |
Dss Flatt has Increased. An those who
ave schemes TO carry through the Iegis-
ture or who were opposed To biIs that
ere up Tor passage naturally sought the
rm % lawyers WHO were regarded as
C personal representative OF the supreme
epublic5n boss.
TIE head OF the firm, Gen Tracy, has
sne the heavy portion OF the business.
at rs. he has attended openly to such IN
ri ant cases ~ required his personal In
Ienoc aEd reputation. Tie case OF the
lcllioile monopoly was one Of these.
The finn b AS ircn by special appointment l.,
toroess for the Republican boss and | .
cciai agents for private monopoIies hay-