The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-07
he provincial estates. etc.


masters who did not possess the great
/ burgher right The general duty of the
| burgomasters was TO exercise a paternal
supervision over the welfare of the citi-
zen and to call to account annually the
inn. church, and orphan masters and
these officers could introduce no novel
ty'' without the approval of their wor-
ships.
Though the people had no direct vote
they enjoyed the right of hearing the
burgomasters give the treasurer full ac-
count of all expenditures in open court
In her first flush OF new independence,
Amsterdam introduced new distinctions
OF citizenship in 1852. as already men
toned in connection with the burgomas-
tiers. Seven years residence and a fee of
500 guilders enabled a stranger 10 be
great burgher, and eligible for all offices
except that of schout For the small
citizenship the fee was fifty guilders.
which secured all commercial privileges
and eligibility to the guilds. but not 10
any judicial or executive office. This
distinction proved announcement. and was
finally abolished in 1865. but was in vogue
during the Dutch period of the town on
Manhattan Island.
New Amsterdam was completely under
the supervision OF the Amsterdam Cham
Der of the West India Company. and when
the worshipful directors finally acceded
to the petitions Of the citizens TO be al
lowed a voice in civic affairs so as to
free them from the arbitrary rule Of
Peter StUyvesant. they naturally took as
a model the civic institutions wherein
they had all been officials The burgher
government of New Amsterdam was to
consist Of schout, whose duties were
To be the same as those exercised by
like officials in Amsterdam, but the ap-
pOintment Of all was vested in the hands
OF the governor without even double
nomination. Ihe appointment were made
on February >, according to the old usage
OF Amsterdam. but the officials entered
on their duties Immediately. In her de-
pendence on Stuyvesant. the conditions OF
the new city suggests medieval state
OF affairs in Holland. when an inter
mediate officer called a burggrsve had
stood between count and town. In Ley
der the burggrave had openly sold the
civic offices TO the highest bidder. When
the citizens seized a temporary advant-
age and wrung a pledge from that such
sales should no longer take place. he
made his appointments to be sure. and
their oaths asked them Tor personal loans.
Those who declined to obige him were
promptly exchanged for new candidates
with more open purses. Also kan de
haas ana zijn boedeT'-.Thus the boss
came into his Doodle Cor property" writes
Lsyden historian-with words that sug-
gest methods not unknown TO New Am
sterdams daughter. yenaiity however.
was not laid to the charge Of Peter
Stuyvesant. He is not accused Of sell
ing the Offices in his sole gift. only 81
keeping everything in his own hands
There was far less defence OF citizens
interests than in Amsterdam. There was
even no limit Of consanguinity IN the
officials. and the two brothers Tienhoven
played into escnother's hands 20 the die
advantage Of their fellows. Appeals to
the Amsterdam Chamber OF the West
India Company continued 10 be the only
resource open 10 the citizens.
The very first methods Of municipal
government were fun Of disappointment
70 the jewellers on Manhattan. who had
hoped much from their charter. Stuyve-
SAINT ignored burgOnasters and schepcn
and calmly pursued his own way. Finally.
weary OF their own fruitIess efforts %
touch the soulless corporation. a group
of burghers took a new step and appealed
70 the burgomasters Of old Amsts rdam.
begging them 10 intercede IN their behalf
with the -'WorshiPfBl directors Of the
company Their respectful and forcIble
letter still lies IN IL original cover in
the municipal archives AZ Amsterds n.
The endorsement simply referring THE
matter. alas. ~ the West India Company
Is signed r. Bsnnick Coco. Ap. a ig4
Coco was serving then a. burEounzster.
but he also had militia duties. ard his
fellow toEnsnan. Rembrandt has i'm
mortalized him as a captain 81 the night
watch
The distinctions between the great ard
small burghers xere introduced here -
an early stag and this was one 4 TIE
features that blocked the participation
o. The citizens in the government q NsE
Amsterdam. as only vsry fe~ vers able
- buy the great hurEher night. and thus
become eligible % Office Il took fFs
years hard fighting azS the Expenditure
OF much paper and izk before fne eE-
tension % privileges vas obtained. ard
very limited vas such eEfs1sion. hardly 4
showing a glezm az popular rights After .
lsss the b1TEozzs-srs ard EcEepens were .
empowered % present = double list q
candidates 20 Stgyssauf- and al z5t.zsns .
becar1e eifgibie % otnce- s;uyrssant +
hal ben vsry char in his n&fgrsllza-
ton briefs Asszr Levy wss refssesi - +
80 because b wzs ~ - spite =
Ire fact that n Ezs a hu-EEsr q Ans
terysan ard the Scotch traders were i
he3ges u alta restnctio1s- an1 cezz-
nsrrial Vr@Tsleges wsr& guarded Eifh 4
jealousy that made fhs7 ssI-7tE1 ~
possible q zsfzlzze1: - f0retEos-E
This vsry slixht oEtiine gay s<Tys %