Tacoma Says It's Broke—But Its Ex-Treasurer Reported $100,000 on Hand
A creditor moves to collect a $1,700 judgment, threatening to expose where Tacoma's money went.
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, July 31.—[Special.]—Sam C. Milligan promises to force payment tomorrow of a judgment for $1,700 against the city. This may ventilate the whereabouts of the city money. The city refuses to pay judgments, claiming that there are no available funds. Milligan will endeavor to find out why the city can't pay the judgment when ex-City Treasurer Boggs reported over $100,000 on hand.
“Milligan will endeavor to find out why the city can't pay the judgment when ex-City Treasurer Boggs reported over $100,000 on hand.”
The fight echoes every modern municipal budget controversy: a city pleads empty coffers while records show cash on hand. Then as now, the question is not just whether the money exists but who controls the ledger and who answers for it.
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