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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 2 |
| 1889 | 7 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1892 | 10 |
| 1893 | 15 |
| 1894 | 17 |
| 1895 | 21 |
79 stories matching compens
- The Right to Offset Benefits in Land Seizures
A landmark Washington Supreme Court decision settles a heated dispute over whether the city can lower compensation for seized land by claiming the public improvement adds value to the owner's remaining property.
- The Power to Seize: A New Law reshapes Seattle
A sweeping new state law gives cities unprecedented authority to condemn private property for public projects, fundamentally changing the relationship between the city and its citizens.
- The Waterfront War: How Seattle's Property Owners Stopped the State from Stealing Their Land
A landmark court ruling in January 1901 declares that the state cannot redraw harbor lines and seize waterfront property without paying fair compensation, marking a major victory for private ownership against government overreach.
- The City Takes Back the Waterfront
After the great fire, the city granted a lease for a slip at the foot of Jackson Street. Now, it wants its land back—and the courts have agreed.
- At 82, Peter Stewart Seeks Payment for Confiscated Lighthouse Land
After the government seized his land and improvements for a lighthouse in 1853, an 82-year-old pioneer finally seeks compensation from Congress.
- The Bureaucratic Fight Over Death and Birth
A standoff between Washington state health officials and local physicians over whether doctors should be required to report vital statistics without pay.
- Is the Road Law Unconstitutional?
A Seattle man challenges the legality of a new road near Houghton, claiming private property rights are being trampled for the benefit of a few.
- 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.'
- The Salmon Bay Land Dispute
A court ruling strips a soldier's homestead claim, favoring university land selection.
- Gambling in the Shadows of the Butler Hotel
Police seize a worn-out craps table, but the high-stakes games continue unabated.
- The Final Piece of the Great Northern Depot
After paying $24,000 for a key parcel, the Great Northern Railway clears the path for its major downtown Seattle depot.
- The Fight Over Public Printing in Snohomish
A judge rules that the county treasurer has the discretion to choose which newspaper receives taxpayer money for publishing delinquent tax lists.
- The Price of a Pleasant View
Seattle's Park Commissioners argue that building green spaces isn't just for health, but a guaranteed economic engine.
- Crushed on the Dry Dock
A pioneer ship carpenter sues the Union Transit Company after a workplace accident leaves him permanently injured while building the steamer Utopia.
- King County Auditor Accused of Padding His Salary with Extra Jobs
A letter to the editor details how Auditor Frank Twichell drew extra pay as purchasing agent, building-fund agent, and legislative lobbyist—all while collecting his regular salary.
- A Quarryman’s Fight for Justice
A stone quarry worker sues his employer for over $11,000 after a rockfall left him permanently crippled, citing negligence and ignored warnings.
- The Price of Progress on Lake Washington
A century before Seattle’s modern infrastructure battles, property owners in 1891 fought a railroad’s attempt to claim waterfront for a 'Belt Line' at a discount.
- Great Northern Moves to Seize Downtown Blocks
The expanding railway network files suit to condemn an entire city block, displacing residents and businesses in the Whitechapel district.
- The Working People of Seattle Protest Wage Cuts
Thousands pack the Armory to demand relief and protest corporate wage suppression across the city.
- The City Trims Its School Budget
Facing economic pressure, the school board cuts teacher salaries and shortens the school year, sparking a detailed accounting of educator compensation.
- The Engineer Who Had the City by the Throat
In a bitter 1909 standoff over Seattle’s waterworks, engineer Benezet Williams accused city officials of squeezing him into submission after they canceled his contract. The advisory board’s final offer left him with little choice but to walk away.
- A Clash of Courts Over the Right to Strike
Federal judges in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest issue conflicting rulings on whether railroad workers can organize and strike against receivership.
- The Battle Over City Austerity
The Municipal Reform League pressures the Seattle City Council to cut wages and spending, sparking a debate on the government's duty to the struggling working class.
- A Woman Takes Port Townsend Police to Court
Elizabeth Scott is suing the city for $5,000, alleging that a police officer broke her wrist for the 'crime' of smiling at the Chief of Police during a parade.
- The Great Tide Land Tug-of-War
Delegates at the Washington Constitutional Convention debate whether to reserve the state's waterfronts for the public or sell them to private interests.