The evening times., 1899-04-22
[BLAG WILL JOIN
Hands WITH CROKER
The Former Governor Willing
to Move Against Platt.
Tamnany to Have His Aid in a
Coming Investigation.
Proceedings Against the Republican
the Maaet Investigation.

New York. April 22.-Frank S. Bla,k. to
whom a denomination for the governor
ship was refused. and who was turned
aside last fall with a perfunctory endorse
ment of his administration, sees not far
ahead an opportunity that will give him
complete revenge ON Thomas C. Platt.
It was said last night on excellent authori-
ty that Mr.. Black was preparing to de liver
not one blow. but a hundred. and that he
counts on destroying the Platt machine
SO that its parts can never be put together
again.
Tammany Hall has practically determin-
ed to have an investigation coon after ths
Mazet committee has finished its work.
Lawyers who are members of the organi
zation are busy gathering evidence. and
considerable has now been amassed. But
the knowledge that has come to the Tam
many leaders that Black and his law firm
are willing to help them throws into in
Significance the matter on which it was
first proposed to work.
1t is the intention now to make the firm
Of Tracy, Boardman Platt and the P-att
bonding company bear almost the entire
brunt of the investigation. The work OF
Tracy, Boardman & Platt in connection
with the making of laws has been done
almost entirely in Albany. 1t was thought
at first that for this reason no Tammany
committee would have power to examine
into the doings of the firm. Several CT the
best lawyers OF the city have been consult
ed. and It is upon their advice. 1t is as
serted. that the decision was reached to
go ahead with an investigation which shall
be retaliatory.
7 10 hn infantinn n annOiut a commit.
tee of the municipal assembly, consisting
of three Democrats and two Republicans.
Two of the Democrats will be chosen from
the Borough Of Manhattan. the other from
Brooklyn. Manhattan and Brooklyn will
each provide Republican. Tracy, Board
man & Platt will be the committees target
frcm the beginning. The examination of
their affairs will be based on the assump-
tion that their legislative work in Albany
was in connection with matters of vital
interest to the city of New York, and that
the city in consequence has right to know
what they did and why. and what they re-
ceived for 1t, if anything
1t is asserted positively that one of Mr..
Blacks closest friends has been in consul
tation with Tammany leaders. and in al
most so many words it was stated by this
friend that the former governor would be
willing to do all in his power TO help the
municipal assembly investigators. Mr..
Black. this friend explained, was thorough
ly familiar with everything that has been
done in Albany in the way of influencing
legislation. Such knowledge as he had.
it was said, would be entirely at the serv-
ice of the committee BY bringing out
such Information Black hopes to over
throw the men who put him out OF public
life. and is fully aware that. although he
would help Tammany in the city. he would.
by destroying Plat as leader. make him.
self the head of the reorganized machine.
Black has many reasons for seeking re-
venge on Platt, and he has many ways Of
seeking it. Half a dozen times since the
beginning OF the year the handiwork Of
himself and his friends mas been disclosed
in various parts of the State. to which the
Senator looked for help in pushing through
his pet schemes. 1t is needless to mention
them all, but it is sufficient to recall the
latest, when George W. Aldridge. one Of
the strongest members of the Black party.
made it impossible to put through the
State constabulary bill. about which Platt
has been dreaming for years. .
If it should be decided finally to have
this investigation. Mr. Plat will be the
star witness. just as Mr.. Croker has been
before the Mazet Committee. But II is the
expectation Of the Tainmany men that the
Senator will not be able. as has Mr.. Crok-
er. to talk SO much of personal matters.
because OF his known intimate association
with many of the measures on which the
investigation would De based