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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 40 |
| 1891 | 42 |
| 1892 | 27 |
| 1893 | 104 |
| 1894 | 17 |
| 1895 | 113 |
349 stories
- The Veto That Put Outside Capital Ahead of Debt Relief
Governor McGraw kills a deficiency-judgment bill, warning it would drive investors away and leave desperate borrowers to “greedy money-seekers.”
- The Great Hotel Fight: Olympia’s Race for a First-Class Inn
As the state capital swells with new residents, locals realize private developers won't build what they need. So they take matters into their own hands, raising $10,000 in days to force the construction of a grand hotel before the constitutional convention arrives.
- Olympia Committee Proposes a Railroad Commission
As Washington Territory moves toward statehood, local reformers push for a powerful Railroad Commission to curb the unchecked influence of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
- The 'Parliamentary Picnic' at Washington’s Constitutional Convention
When the delegates gathering in Olympia in 1889 grew bored, they turned the formal proceedings of the state's founding into a chaotic, hilarious session of mock motions and procedural pranks.
- The Price of Early Statehood
Fresh from statehood, Washington’s auditor warns of a looming floating debt and a chaotic tax system that left farmers and county officials struggling.
- The State's Tax Grab
A landmark Supreme Court ruling forces Washington cities to share their liquor license revenue with the state, hitting Seattle for thousands.
- Railroad Regulation Bill Defeated in State House
High-stakes legislative battle ends in a narrow loss as supporters fail to secure the required two-thirds majority.
- The Price of Justice in Olympia
A legal fight over venue costs in 1892 sparks anxiety among Thurston County taxpayers, revealing the administrative strain of high-profile litigation.
- The Judicial Terror of Chehalis
A judge known for opening court at daybreak wanders into the wrong building, scaring the daylights out of the local bailiffs.
- A Close Encounter with a Cougar
Two young boys on a hunting trip in the Deschutes River valley survive an unnerving standoff with a massive mountain lion.
- King County Democrats Begged for Mercy on the Lake Washington Canal
At the 1892 state Democratic convention, Seattle's delegates surrendered their instructions and let Pierce County humiliate them over the canal project—a defeat the Post-Intelligencer vowed voters would remember in November.
- The Tragic End of an Eccentric Artist
A talented musician and former pupil of Liszt takes his own life at his ranch near Olympia.
- The Inaugural Ball Power Play
A mayor's boast of political reconciliation backfires when the Governor refuses to share the spotlight.
- The Senate Deadlock and the 'Powder Boat' of Political Defamation
As the legislative stalemate over the U.S. Senate seat continues, candidates trade accusations of corporate puppetry and corrupt influence.
- The House Outraged by Labor Delegation's Insult
A legislative body faces a standoff after an inflammatory address from a labor delegation over proposed anti-strike legislation.
- The Great Senatorial Deadlock
Legislators in Olympia remain trapped in a paralyzed vote, while business leaders demand an end to the factional infighting.
- The Fight Over School Funding
A Seattle legislator warns that a proposed state school levy would strip over $150,000 from the coffers of Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane.
- The Senatorial Deadlock in Olympia
Partisan maneuvering and 'dark horse' schemes stall the election of Senator John B. Allen.
- New Law Empowers Workers to Claim Liens
A significant legislative act passes, allowing laborers and material providers to secure their pay through property liens.
- The Governor’s Veto and the State’s Looming Deficit
Governor McGraw slashes funding for two new normal schools, citing a constitutional mandate to keep the state's spending within its revenue.
- The Attorney General’s Power Grab
A critique of Attorney General Jones’s refusal to approve the bonds of the state land commissioners, arguing he has overstepped his constitutional authority.
- The Mayor's Expensive Advice
Seattle taxpayers are up in arms after the City Council approved a $500 payout to Mayor Robinson for 'legal services.'
- A Steamer Sinks in Olympia Harbor
High tides, thick fog, and unmarked obstructions lead to the disaster of the steamer Multnomah.
- The Cascades of Disparity
Federal engineers reveal that Washington state's infrastructure projects receive only a fraction of the funding allocated to Oregon.
- Olympia Cut Salaries and School Terms to Survive the Panic of 1893
Facing depression, Washington’s capital city slashed official pay, shortened the school year to six months, and bet on harbor work and a new capitol to pull itself out.