City Hall's Nepotism Scandal
A growing city payroll sparks outrage as citizens allege councilmen are staffing city jobs with friends and relatives.
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.
City employees walked off with $157,206.10 today for the April payroll. The payroll is climbing steadily and promises to be 50 percent higher than a year ago. There is little satisfaction in City Hall regarding the trend. City Controller Meads' request for a pay increase for his staff was turned down, but City Treasurer Freeland is now asking for similar raises, noting that Seattle and Spokane pay their treasury clerks significantly more. However, much comment has been caused in City Hall by the council's action in denying requests for better pay for established staff while creating new positions or raising salaries for their own relatives. Councilman Lynn's brother is listed as an 'office man' at $100 a month at the Nisqually power plant; Councilman Turnbull has a son at the station; Councilman Wilkson's uncle recently received a raise; and Councilman Hawley has a boy in the light department. It is widely whispered that it takes a 'pull' to get the plums at the hands of the council.
“It is hinted about the city hall that it takes a 'pull' to get the plums at the hands of the council.”
Public skepticism toward municipal hiring practices and the influence of 'who you know' remains a perennial tension in Tacoma politics. This 1909 account reflects the long-standing civic struggle for transparency in local government operations.
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