Tacoma’s $1,000,000 Water Swindle
Citizens demand a grand jury investigation into the alleged theft of public water funds and the shady release of indemnity bonds.
The story, cleaned up
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There is every prospect that a grand jury will be summoned by the superior court to investigate the acts of alleged derelict officials in connection with the $1,000,000 water steal, and also to examine the accounts of officials, especially in the department of the city treasurer. As matters are at present, it is useless to invite capital to this community. A little investigation will allay apprehension, and will at any rate settle the question of the advisability of investments here. The Trades Council, representing the labor organizations of the city, has passed resolutions stating that after considering the city council's action in approving C. B. Wright's so-called indemnity bond, releasing $1,000,000 of water bonds from escrow, it decides that the council could best serve the city by resigning.
“If nothing is rotten in Denmark, they ask, why the reluctance about a plain statement of facts?”
Public suspicion of utility mismanagement and the revolving door between private interests and city government remains a central theme in Puget Sound politics. Just as Tacomans demanded a 'showdown' in 1893, today’s taxpayers continue to clash with city councils over the transparency of major capital projects.
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