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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 3 |
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1876 | 2 |
| 1877 | 1 |
| 1878 | 1 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 1 |
| 1884 | 1 |
| 1885 | 4 |
| 1887 | 3 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1889 | 3 |
| 1890 | 2 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 7 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1894 | 3 |
| 1895 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1904 | 4 |
| 1909 | 3 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1916 | 4 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1925 | 1 |
72 stories matching oversight
- A Constitutional Oversight Stalls the Penitentiary’s Jute Plant
Lawmakers intended to renew an old appropriation for prison-made jute, but a procedural misstep holds up $10,000 and suspends work until the attorney general rules.
- The Mayoral Candidate Who Wanted to Open the City’s Books
Running on a platform of transparency, Frank S. Dement challenged the city's plan to purchase the Thomas ranch for $25,000, calling for a 'business administration' that prioritized public oversight.
- Streetcar Tracks Left Hanging in Mid-Air
A construction oversight by the Milwaukee Road leaves Tacoma streetcars stranded on a jagged, three-foot cliff at East D Street.
- The Fight Over Who Controls the Apple Market
W. H. Paulhamus lashes out at fruit distributors in a heated debate over federal oversight of the Northwest apple industry.
- A Politician Predicts the Railroad Commission
Prominent attorney and local political leader Lester S. Wilson advocates for state oversight of the railway monopolies.
- Federal Officials Move to Ban Private Indigenous Land Claims
Federal Indian agents warn that private acquisition of land from Indigenous people without government oversight is strictly prohibited.
- The Struggle to Draft Washington’s Constitution
Delegates at the 1889 convention in Olympia face intense debate over corporate regulation and public warehouse oversight.
- The Shadow of Whitewash at the County Hospital
Prosecuting Attorney Miller demands independent oversight to clear accusations of corruption in a high-stakes county contract inquiry.
- The Struggle for Clean Milk in Washington Cities
Federal authorities push for stricter sanitary oversight of the dairy industry, exposing the lack of regulation in regional urban milk supplies.
- Territorial Turf Wars: Defending Governor Stevens
A heated dispute between the Pioneer and The Oregonian over legislative representation and political representation in early Washington Territory.
- The Steamer Fanny Gets Stuck on a Wharf
A routine docking in Seattle goes wrong when the tide turns, leaving a steamer mangled and its captain scrambling for repairs.
- The Fight for an Appointive Fire Board
A shifting of political power in the revision of Seattle's city charter toward centralized control of the fire department.
- The Crumbling Sidewalk Scandal
Taxpayers are fuming as newly laid city cement walks crack and crumble, revealing a lack of oversight on public works contracts.
- A Dance Hall Rescue
A young immigrant woman, alone and desperate, finds an unexpected protector in the unlikely setting of a Seattle dance house.
- The Argument for a Railroad Commission
Advocating for constitutional oversight of rail monopolies to curb corporate influence in Washington politics.
- Hanford Irrigation Defense Fund Stalled
Lawyer forced to front legal fees as landowners fail to back their own water rights challenge.
- The Library Trustees and the Question of Control
A new library for Seattle comes with strict conditions: no religious control, no religious dogma in book selection, and strict financial oversight.
- Social Club’s Liquor License Gambit Fails
A club for 'colored gentlemen' finds their strategy to circumvent licensing laws derailed by a bureaucratic oversight in their incorporation paperwork.
- Mayor Ronald Fires Board of Public Works Member
In a detailed legal takedown, Mayor J.T. Ronald removes George H. Heilbron from office, citing conflicts of interest and chronic absenteeism.
- Showcasing the Valley's Bounty for St. Louis
Horticultural Commissioner Van Holderbeke tours the region to gather prize-winning produce for the World's Fair, remapping agricultural districts in the process.
- Aberdeen Establishes Its First Board of Health
A newly passed city ordinance formalizes local medical oversight and mandates reporting of contagious diseases to combat epidemics.
- Strawberry Growers Demand Outside Leadership
Kennewick berry farmers reject local management, insisting on professional oversight from outside the region to stabilize the market.
- The Jailer and the Sheriff’s Keys
A power struggle inside the King County jail ends in a public firing after a suspicious security lapse involving lost keys and unauthorized visitors.
- New Factory Laws Target Child Labor
Seattle mills face new regulations on the employment of children as state authorities begin oversight.
- Seattle's Mayor Vetoes Boiler Safety Bill Over a Clerical Error
Mayor J. T. Ronald sends a steam-boiler inspection ordinance back to the House of Delegates because a duplicated section would not survive court—and warns that a $3 inspection fee has already stirred opposition.