The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-09
TACOMA MONEY RELEASED.
City Employees 90 He Paid I'm Cash,
Not In Time Checks.

TACOMA, Dec. s-Special.--Within the
next few days s1i5seoo now In the city
treasury Ia the general fund viii be dis
tributed among the merchants Of the city
and It's employees This large amount OF
money has been tied up In the city treas
ury under the Cove Injunction. whereby
the municipal authorities were restrained
from paying 1t out except 10 redeem the
oldest outstanding general fund warrants.
Under the decision rendered by Judge Stali-
cup last Saturday. the $500 600 or general
fund warrants outstanding are held 10 be
illegal and void, consequently the money
in the general fund being freed by the de-
cision from this large claim against II.
II applicable TO the payment OF the sal
aries and bills for supplies incurred by the
city since the first OF the year
For more than year the city govern
ment has found 1t hard matter TO pay
salaries regularly. Only recently the sal
aries earned in the latter part of 1895 were
paid off. and the city employees have been
forced TO accept time certificates for seven
months past. which they@have In many
eases solid TO brokers If discount OF from
80 20 g per cent. number OF the en-
ployes have managed 70 hold on TO their
certificates, and they viii now receive 100
cents on the dollar for their wages.
There has been considerable uncertainty
at the city hai regarding the course 10
oe pursued by City Treasurer Sternoerg.
The latter has declined 70 anticipate his
course under the decision of Judge Stall
cup until u became q matter OF record.
Further than this. Mr.. Sfernberg has said
but very little that would throw any light
on the situation. His course has been be-
set with difficulties from the beginning OF
the long litigation over the warrants
The warrant holders have let II be under
stood that II be used the money in his
hands for the payment Of current ex-
penses. as the Fawcett administration at
tempted 20 do. they would Immediately
bring such pressure 70 bear on hts bonds
men that would place him In predica-
ment ON the other hand the city employees
and other creditors OF the municipality
have blamed the treasurer for not paving
current bills With the money received
from the present tax levy. Through this
ordeal Mr.. Sternhere has tried 10 do his
duty and has followed the best legal adj
vice procurabse As long IS the out
standing warrants were recognized by the
courts as legal claims upon the general
fund Mr. Steruberg has refused 70 dis
turb The money IN that fund until some
method was provided Tor taking care OF
them The warrant funding ordinance
was drawn with this aim IN view Since
Judge Sta,icup pronounced The warrants
Illegal and decided that the city cannot De
made 20 pay. Treasurer Sternberg has
been ready and willing TO release the
money IN the treasury and apply u 10 the
payment Of the city's current debEs.
Cdsy Attorney Shaek.efard las approved
the distribution Of the money as outlined
above and the inance committee o. the
city council has authorized Treasurer
SternberE 20 notify the he,ders az tinee
certincste ana biIts for supplies to ore.
sent their claims fer payment
Only one tAiRg can stop the treasurer
from paving out the money IA the general
find This is az Injunction. which e has
been gently rumored would BE- secured nv
thc warrant holders, Inquiry among she
representatives 81 the owners OF the war
rants leads 20 the belief thai 10 injunction
wifl ae asked for by them. and that they
Vii allow the decision OF Judge StaHcup
% take rs course unul tho case Is fnal-
~ setJled ~ the supreme court