Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1162

 ■S08 NETHERLANDS

6. 'fhe Minister of Afarine. — J. C. Jansen ; appointed July 26, 1897.

7. The Minister of JVar. — K, Eland; appointed July 31, 1897.

8. The Minister of Public Works and Commerce (Waterstaat). — C. Lely ; appointed July 26, 1897.

Each of the above Ministers has an annual salary of 12,000 guilders, or 1,000Z.

There is a State Council — ' Raad van State ' — of 1 4 members, appointed by the Sovereign, of which the Sovereign is president, and which is consulted on all legislative and a great number of executive matters.

II. Local Government.

The territory of the Netherlands is divided into 11 provinces and 1,123 communes.

Each province has its own representative body, ' the Provincial States. ' The members are elected for 6 years, directly from among the male Dutch inhabitants of the province who are 25 years of age, one-half of the number being subject to re-election or renewal every 3 j^ears Except that they must be inhabitants of the province, the electors, as well as the mode of voting, are the same as for the Second Chamber. The number of members varies according to the population of the province, from 80 for Holland (South) to 35 for Drentlie. The Provincial States are entitled to make ordinances concerning the welfare of the province, and to raise taxes according to legal precepts. All provincial ordinances must be approved by the King. The Provincial States exercise a right of control over the munici- palities. They also elect the members of the First Chamber of the States- General. They meet twice a year, as a rule in public. A permanent com- mission composed of 6 of their members, called the 'Deputed States,' is charged with the executive power in the province and the daily administra- tion of its affairs. This coniinittee has also to see the common law executed in the province. Both the Deputed as well as the Provincial States are i)rc- sided over by a Commissioner of the Sovereign, who in the former assembly has a deciding vote, but in the latter named only a deliberative vote. He is the chief magistrate in the ])rovince. Only the members of the Deputed States receive an allowance.

The communes form each a Corporation with its own interests and rights, subject to the general law. In each commune is a Council, elected for six years directly, by the same voters as for the Provincial States, provided they inhabit the commune ; one-third of the Council retiring every two years. All the male Dutch inhabitants 23 years of age are eligible, the number of members varying from 7 to 41, according to the population. The Council has a right of making and enfoKing l)y-laws concerning the communal welfare. The Council may raise taxes a<T'or(ling to rules preserilied l)y common law ; besides, each commune receives JVoin the State Treasury an allowance pro- portioned to the total number of its inhabitants and to the share which its non-contributing inhabitants liave failed to pay towards local taxes. All by-laws may be vetoed by the Sovereign. The Municipal Budget and the resolutions to alienate municipal jiroperty require the approbation of the Deputed States of the province. The Council meets in public as often as may be necessary, and is ])resided over by a Mayor, appointed by the Sovereign for G years. I'he executive power is vested in a college formed by the Mayor and 2, 3, or 4 Aldermen (wethouder.s), elected by and from the Council ; this college is also charged with the execution of the common law. The Municipal Police is under the authority of the Mayor ; as a State functionary the Mayor supervises the actions of the Council ; lie may susjiend their resolutions for 30 days, but is bound to ijiform the Deputed States of the province.