Tacoma’s City Hall in Chaos
A standoff over missing treasury funds, salary cuts, and a power struggle at the Board of Public Works defines a week of municipal turmoil in Tacoma.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Tacoma, June 23 — Three important and sensational things occurred at the city hall this afternoon and evening: President Harris of the city council demanded the resignation of the board of public works; ex-City Treasurer Boggs was formally requested to turn over $136,000 of city funds reported on hand; and D. O. Smith, city detective, was confirmed as chief of police. The board, through President Kydstrom, refused to resign, claiming they are not compelled to accept a salary reduction after being chosen under a higher salary standard. Meanwhile, Boggs, who is caught in the wake of suspended banking institutions, has yet to produce the missing cash, leaving taxpayers and the council at an impasse.
“There are numerous citizens who have been displeased because the city council has not manifested more haste in closing up the affairs of the city treasurer's office.”
City government struggles over fiscal accountability and the status of unelected boards are a perennial feature of Washington politics. Just as 1894 taxpayers worried about the solvency of local banks holding city funds, modern citizens remain deeply invested in the transparency of municipal financial oversight.
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