The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-07
25OTH ANNIVERSARY
Early History and Incidents in New
Amste rdum

Z0U n ANNIVERSARY
/ Early History and Incidents in New
Amste rdam.
In connection with the celebration of the
! 25Oth anniversary of New Yorks munich
I pal life. 1t is interesting TO recall the
/ crisis in her own affairs through which
/ Amsterdam. the parent city, passed be-
tween the request for municipal privl-
I leges by New Ans +erdam in l649 and the
granting Of them three years later. This
crisis brought about great changes in the
details of the Constitution of the old
Dutch city, just before it served as a
model to the West India Company for
their new town across the sea.
The young stakeholder of Holland died
in 1850. His last act in lift was an arbi-
trary and unwarrantable interference IN
the municipal elections of Amsterdam in
order to assure a party majority in the
town council.
The point at issue between prince and
people was the continued maintenance of
troops. a burden which the commercial
cities of Holland had hoped to cast off
after eighty years war. William IL,
Captain-General of all forces of the Unit
wish to lose the prestige of having an
army at his back. He finally carried his
point, in spite of opposition, while bring
ing down bitter hatred on his head, and
when he suddenly succumbed 10 small
pox in the very flower of his arrogant
and ambitious youth. his death was I'M
mourned in Amsterdam. y few days
later his wife. the Princess Of Orange.
daughter of the English Charles l., gave
birth to the infant who was afterwaTd
William Ill, of England. The office OF
stakeholder then fell into allegiance. II
was not hereditary. and the little prince
had no claim to future honors except
the gratitude owed to his ancestors for
their voluntary part in the rise Of the
Dutch Republic
Thus were the United Netherlands
launched on headless career. with no
responsible pilot but the dra-headed
States General. with its budget of restrict
ed powers deputed by the individual SOW
ereign provinces in their turn ruled by
the sovereign cities.
Amsterdam gave a sigh of relief at the
death of her eppressor. resolved that new
ermore should there be single state
head to be tempted to military despotism.
and then proceeded to rearrange her own
Constitution.
During the time Of the counts whose
long line was closed by Phillip II. Of
Spain the municipal officers. schout
burgomasters. and schepen had been ap-
pointed by joint action OF the incumbent
and outgoing officers and the count. the
latter or his stakeholder making appoint
rnents from a list OF double the number
Of candidates presented By the town
council And in like manner later (after
the revolt OF the Netherlands) were the
names OF fourteen persons given In
sealed cover TO his Princely Highuess as
stakeholder Of Holland and Zealand.
who in his anomalous position Of stadt-
holder. representing no sovereign, select
cd the names Of seven schepens which
were sent in sealed letter TO the schout
about February every year The new Of
fcers began their terms on Lady DaE
This practice had been confined b. the
sons OF William the Silent
Like most Holland towns. Amsterdam
was governed by thirty-six councillors.
one schout. four burgomasters, and nine
schepens. The council OF raad was orig
inalIy a citizen body OF notable burghers
designed to aid the officials without be-
ing actually part Of the corporation Very
Gradually did this become q permanent
seIf-perpetuating body OF thirty-six-
The burgomasters could take no action
without the consent Of the committee The
derivation OF schout is a little obscure.
but il probably comes from an old Ger
man word and means Debt judge IN
Latin documents IL appears e 5 praetoF
No naturallzed buTgher was eligible 70
the schoutship. In case OF his death IN
office the oldest bUrgomsster took his
place until a new election His function
vas judicial. He vas . hold high court
and low within the city and her terri
tory. and 10 pass judgement in joint SIS
sion with burgomasters and schepens on
the making OF laws. statutes. and ord4n-
snces
The burgo-uasters are masters Of the
burghers welfare. says Dr- Draper
Originally. as Profess1r Fruin has shown.
thers TOO were a citizens committee q
SUPERVISION and criticism on the action
Of schout and schepeus. only gradually
crystaIizinz into a part OF TIE govern
ulent In Amsterdam there were twelve
out % whom three
we're selected hy The joint vote q oGTso-
masters ana ex-sche7eus- aid these three
added TO their number ore more chosen
from the outgoing fUrgonassers q TIE
previous year This Ia; sSore IL th@
others and acted as president FatheTs
and sons. tye brothers Or brotHers-ia- (
law could lot serve together on the buy E,
gn1nzsters' bench
out Of the remaining burgualas;ers- |
elect the four rev ones sgPoined Al o;her !
city c1riciaIS-1rphsn masters aePuises |
for The pr0yinr-A e0s-nGi- deputies 70. !