The War Over the State's Marketing Budget
Legislative jealousy between Seattle and Tacoma erupts on the floor of the House as King County representatives move to kill a bill meant to benefit 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.
Olympia, Feb. 3.—Seattle’s jealousy of Tacoma and fear that the latter city will be able to profit by the proposed booster bill was shown in the house of representatives yesterday when Ole Hanson succeeded in having the bill which was passed the day before, reconsidered and sent back to the committee. It will probably now be killed. A sharp tilt between Bell of Pierce and Hanson of King, compelled the speaker to quiet both gentlemen. It became apparent that King county would oppose anything in the shape of legislation that will permit Pierce county and Tacoma to advertise.
“It became apparent that King county would oppose anything in the shape of legislation that will permit Pierce county and Tacoma to advertise.”
This early 20th-century rivalry over public funding for municipal advertising echoes current tensions between regional cities over who gets the lion's share of state infrastructure and development support. Even a century ago, the 'boosterism' of the city was a core function of local government, turning state law into a site of local economic warfare.
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