Pièce JM-AIY/OttomanRegisters/Vol12/p9a/item53 - This is the marginal note written upon the decision taken by the Sanjak Administrative Council regarding watchmen’s salaries, 16 February 1907 (Gregorian calendar) - 3 Shubât 1322 (Ottoman fiscal calendar (Rumi)

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This is the marginal note written upon the decision, dated 2 February 1907 and numbered 1362, taken by the Sanjak Administrative Council regarding watchmen’s salaries
The said proviso on watchmen has been wholly waived by the municipality as of last year upon the decision taken by the Sanjak Administrative Council; since then, no tax has been taken by the municipality from the townsfolk for protection expenses and the number of watchmen on active duty is not known by our council. As stated in the above-written marginal note, there is no statement, neither in the Municipal Councils Regulation nor in the decree regarding the sum to be allotted for cleaning costs, indicating that expenses for protection at nights shall pertain to the municipal councils. Hence, apportioning and collection of watchmen’s salaries shall be beyond the Municipal Office’s authority and the Municipal Fund would suffer if this matter were to be relegated to the municipality. It is obvious that the fund allotted for important services like the reparation, arrangement, cleaning and lighting of the town’s alleys and streets would thus be expended for the watchmen. As understood from this demand, it was apportioned by the Police Department in exchange for the town’s protection expenses; and it has been understood that the assigned taxes are paid by Ottoman subjects without hesitation and that their non-payment by foreign state subjects stems from the lack of notification of this situation to their consulates. Even though it has been considered by our council that determination of the number of watchmen necessary for 32 neighborhoods in total, seven within and twenty-seven outside the town; and distribution of their salaries are tasks pertaining to the police officials, taking due actions in respect thereof is left to your discretion. The 3rd of Shubât (1)322 (16th of February 1907).

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