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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 4 |
| 1877 | 5 |
| 1885 | 2 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1892 | 12 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1895 | 14 |
| 1899 | 3 |
| 1903 | 3 |
| 1904 | 2 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1910 | 3 |
| 1915 | 1 |
| 1916 | 2 |
| 1917 | 1 |
87 stories matching extravag
- A Sewer Scheme Built on Incompetence
Citizens and taxpayers are calling out the city's reckless mismanagement of sewer construction projects downtown.
- Voters Reject Park Board’s $750,000 Tax Hike
Tacoma citizens shut down a massive bond proposal, citing a lack of transparency and fears of bureaucratic extravagance.
- The Carriage Rebellion of Seattle’s Debutantes
Tired of the crushing social pressure and financial strain of modern courtship, the young ladies of Seattle’s elite have organized a strike against the expensive tradition of the horse-drawn carriage.
- A Judge Too Reversed: Senate Blocks Allyn's Regent Seat
The state Senate refuses to confirm Judge Frank Allyn of Tacoma as university regent, citing incompetence, extravagance and a remarkable reversal record.
- The 'Million Dollar' Legislature
A scathing critique of Washington's early state legislative sessions highlights the 'million-dollar' waste and the reputation for incompetence plaguing the new state government.
- The Call for Frugality in 1889 Seattle
Following the Great Seattle Fire, the local press urged residents to abandon luxury and 'live within easy limits' to rebuild the city's fortune.
- World's Fair Commission Cleared of Dishonesty, But Spending Called Extravagant
A joint legislative committee finds no evidence of dishonesty in the World's Fair Commission, but criticizes excessive expenditures and recommends $50,000 more to finish the work.
- A Street Fight Over Page Street’s Gulch
Contractor I. Liberman prepared to bill Olympia about $100 a day after the city suspended work on an Eastside street improvement.
- A Candid Letter Stalls Divorce
A husband’s bid for divorce hits a snag in Judge Shackleford’s court after his wife’s letter reveals marital incompatibility.
- A Victory for Press Freedom in Aberdeen
A jury vindicates a local editor who faced criminal charges for criticizing public spending.
- The Daytime Light Mystery
Citizens flood city hall with calls wondering why electric lights are burning in broad daylight.
- The Republican Machine Sweeps Seattle
Byron Phelps wins the mayoral race in a landslide as the city undergoes a political shift.
- Corruption Allegations Shake State Road Commission
Citizens demand the governor remove the state road board amid claims of fiscal irresponsibility and mismanagement.
- The State's Printing Troubles
New reports allege political corruption and financial mismanagement within state institutions.
- Jackson Uses City Records to Defend Tacoma's Growth
A city official defends rising administrative costs by pointing to the massive expansion of Tacoma's infrastructure.
- The 1891 Legislative Session: A Partisan Pitfall
A scathing editorial from the Yakima Herald decries the 'reckless' and 'prodigal' waste of public funds by the state legislature, warning of a looming political disaster for the Republican party.
- The Great Courthouse Location Battle
Prominent citizens join a protest against building the new county courthouse on a high hill that is inaccessible and inconvenient.
- The City Council’s Hammock Scandal
Seattle’s city fathers clash over the 'reckless extravagance' of buying thirty-four hammocks for the city jail.
- County Finances in Shambles
A scathing report reveals Chehalis County is $105,000 in debt while local officials draw high salaries.
- Tacoma’s Water Works Scandal
A grand jury struggles to uncover the truth behind allegations of bribery and corruption in Tacoma's municipal water system purchase.
- The Boom Era's Bitter Hangover
New tax assessments reveal that local property values have cratered to one-fourth of their peak as the Grays Harbor economy struggles to adjust to the end of a speculative bubble.
- Mayor Ronald Targets Health Board for Removal
A power struggle at City Hall pits the mayor against the Board of Sanitation over alleged incompetence, extravagance, and professional disrespect.
- After the Party: Will the Celilo Canal Bring Prosperity?
With the massive Celilo Canal project complete, Kennewick editors question whether river commerce will become a reality or remain a political mirage.
- The Legislature Tried to Starve the Militia. Seattle’s Officers Rebelled.
A cut to $8,400 — and the abolition of commissioned officers — convinced Washington militia leaders that the state was quietly trying to disband its citizen army.
- The Senatorial Bribery Scandal Rocking Olympia
A state judge admits to soliciting votes for the Senate through promises of state institution locations, casting a shadow over the political corruption of the 1891 legislative session.