Samsun
Town council
Author: TAN HAKAN
In Ottoman city, there weren’t any municipal organizations and city council that were similar to organizations that were present in the West. Municipal services in the cities were carried out by Kadıs. Besides the power of judging, the Ottoman Kadı was responsible for ensuring the safety of city with the other officers that undertook the military and civil order, controlling the foundation in the city and carrying out the municipal services.[1] However, such duties of Kadı ended up with the foundation of the office of İhtisap Nezareti in the main city and İhtisap Müdürlükleri in the province.[2]
The number of foreign merchants, businessman, diplomats and travelers increased due to the growth of the international trade of the Ottoman Empire with the West in the 19.centrury. Especially, coastal towns became the important centers enabling contact to outside world, something that brought an increase of their population. The new situation brought new needs and put to question the traditional Ottoman’s city government.[3]
The first municipal organization was declared to the public with the announcement in the official gazette “Takvim-i Vekayi” in 1854.[4] The most important incident that caused this change and brought the foundation of Şehremaneti in Istanbul was the Crimean War. The population in İstanbul increased rapidly during this Ottoman-Russian War because English, French and Italian armies came to help the Ottoman Empire. Increase in population in İstanbul brought out many problems such as cleaning, health and transportation.[5]
Modern municipal organization in the province begun with “Vilayet Nizamnamesi (1864)”. Municipal organizations were founded at the urban centers of vilayets, sanjaks and kazas with “İdare-i Umumiye-i Vilayet Nizamnamesi” in 1870. Mayors took office with appointment and city councils were elected.[6]
Members who would be elected had to be intelligent, virtuous and outstanding people and they also had to be familiar with state affairs and the situation of country. Those who had these characteristics needed to apply to the court to be candidate in the election.[7]
Members needed to swear in front of Kadı and Müftü to safeguard state interests and good administration without victimizing or making favoritism in the raising and collecting taxes. Non-Muslims were supposed to swear as required by their own religion according to talimatname.[8] Members who were elected in the council were put on salaries just like other officers so they weren’t seen only honorary members. However, this was repealed because it was very hard to determine characteristics of members that would be put on salaries.[9]
During the council meetings, it was forbidden to interrupt. Council decided by majority of the votes. Decisions which were taken were read by the clerk at the end of the meeting.[10] Sometimes, meeting was interrupted because of pressure of public officers and conflict between members and public officers. However, according to Ceza Kanunnamesi public officers might have been punished and relegated if they had taken side or provoked the public.[11]
Members of the Council took on some duties. These duties were as follow: 1) Regulation of main streets, streets and squares, 2) Building, maintenance and repair works for pavement, waterway and sewage systems, 3) Cleaning services, 5) Relief of the poor (health, job). 5) Lightening with lantern in main streets and streets, 6) Organizing bazaars and markets, 7) Organizing and controlling urban transportation, 8) Founding fire department, 9) Registration of contracts, 10) Supervision and audit.[12]
As mentioned above, municipal organization and town council was founded and carried out works in Canik Sanjak. Members who were elected according to talimatname and chiefs and members who were put in service are listed below chronologically.
Officers of Canik Municipal Council
|
Years |
Title |
Name |
||
|
1869[13] |
Chief |
Emrullah Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Tahir Efendi Hacı Ömer Ağa Hasan Efendi Makarios Ağa Mihail Ağa Agop Ağa Sarkiz Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Ali Efendi |
|||
|
1870[14] |
Chief |
Emrullah Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Tahir Efendi Hacı Ömer Ağa Hasan Efendi Makarios Ağa Mihail Ağa Agop Ağa Sarkiz Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Ali Efendi |
|||
|
1871[15] |
Chief |
Abdullah Ziya Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Mustafa Zihni Efendi İbrahim Efendi Mehmet Efendi Makaryos efendi Zekyan Sarkis Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Ali Efendi |
|||
|
1872[16] |
Chief |
Hacı İsmail Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Mustafa Zihni Efendi Mehmet Efendi İbrahim Efendi Grekyan Sarkis Ağa Makaryos Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Süleyman Efendi |
|||
|
1879[17] |
Chief |
Hasan Tahsin Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Zihni Efendi Hacı İsmail Efendi Mehmet Refet Efendi Mehmet Emin Ağa Agop Ağa Karabet Efendi Gazar Ağa Süleyman Efendi |
|||
|
Clerk |
Asım Efendi |
|||
|
1881[18] |
Chief |
Mahmut Bey |
||
|
Members |
Yusuf Ziya Efendi İsmail Efendi Todor Efendi Ohannes Efendi |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Efendi |
|||
|
1888[19] |
Chief |
Azmi Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Hüseyinzade Hacı Seyyit Ağa Cinikzade Dimitraki Ağa Osman Ağazade Hacı Hafız Ali Efendi Hacı Hafızzade Hacı Hafız Raşit efendi Bogosyan Gazaz Ağa Buluroğlu Karilos Ağa İstebanyan Bedros Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
İlyaszade Hasan Efendi |
|||
|
1892[20] |
Chief |
Hilmi Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Hüseyinzade Hacı Seyit Ağa Osman Ağazade Hacı Hafız İlmi Efendi Hacı Hafızzade Hacı Hafız Raşit Efendi Cinikzade Dimitraki Ağa Burluoğlu Karilos Ağa Bogosyan Gazaz Ağa İstebanyan Bedros Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Efendi |
|||
|
1894[21] |
Chief |
Mustafa Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Raşitzade Naim Efendi Piyaloğlu Apostolaki Efendi Kuşniyan Ohannes Efendi İstepanyan Bedros Efendi Canikzade Dimitraki Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Efendi |
|||
|
1896[22] |
Chief |
Ahmet Ragıp Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Raşitzade Naim Efendi Piyaloğlu Apostolaki Efendi Dizadarzade Rasim Efendi Papasoğlu Yorgi Efendi İstepanyan Bedros Efendi Canikzade Dimitraki Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1898[23] |
Chief |
Ahmet Ragıp Efendi |
||
|
Permanent Member |
Muhabiroğlu Nikolaki Efendi Tokatlıyan Kirkor Efendi Estepanyan Efendi Cinikzade Dimitraki Ağa |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1900[24] |
Chief |
Hacı Hafız Raşit Efendi İkincizade Şükrü Efendi Burlioğlu Evbaniyas Efendi Arzuoğlu Todoraki Efendi Estepan Efendi Bünyatoğlu Bünyat Efendi |
||
|
Members |
||||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1901[25] |
Chief |
Hafız Raşit Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Hasanzade Şevki Efendi Arzuoğlu Todoraki Efendi Yorgi Evyanyos Efendi İstepan efendi Bünyatoğlu Bünyat |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1902[26] |
Chief |
Hacı Hafız Raşid Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hacı Tahir Efendi Hacı Hüseyinzade Şevki Efendi Arzuoğlu Todoraki Efendi Bodurluoğlu Evyanyos Efendi Bagdasaryan İstepan Efendi Talastiyos Todoraki Efendi Bünyatoğlu Bünyat Efendi |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1903[27] |
Chief |
Kabilizade Necib Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Hüseyin Ağazade Cemal Bey Boşnakzade Süleyman Efendi Hacı Savaoğlu Avram Efendi Papasoğlu Yorgaki Efendi Hıristaki Hursaforidis Efendi Gencyan Anuf Efendi |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
|
1904[28] |
Chief |
Necib Efendi |
||
|
Members |
Asım Efendi Süleyman Bey Avram Efendi Yorgaki efendi Hıristaki Efendi İstefanaki Efendi |
|||
|
Clerk |
Hasan Fahri Efendi |
|||
[1] Mehmet Seyitdanlıoğlu, Tanzimat Döneminde Modern Belediyeciliğin Doğuşu, Türkiye İş Bankası Yayınları, İstanbul 2010, p.1-2.
[2] Ahmet Saydam, “Tanzimat Devri Reformları”, Türkler, C. XII. , Ankara; Yeni Türkiye Yayınları, 2002,p.791.
[3] Saydam, p.792.
[4] Seyitdanlıoğlu, p.3-4.
[5] Seyitdanlıoğlu, p.3
[6] Feyzullah Ünal, “Tanzimat’tan Cumhuriyete Türkiye’de Yerel Yönetimlerin Yasal ve Yapısal Dönüşümü”, Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, S.30, Ağustos 2011, p.244.
[7] İlber Ortaylı, Tanzimat Devrinde Osmanlı Mahalli İdareleri (1840-1880), Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, Ankara 2011, p.36.
[8] Ortaylı, p.37.
[9] Ortaylı, p.38.
[10] Ortaylı, p.37.
[11] Ortaylı, p.37, 40, 41.
[12] Seyitdanlıoğlu, p.8.
[13] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1869.
[14] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1870.
[15] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1871.
[16] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1872.
[17] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1879.
[18] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1881.
[19] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1888.
[20] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1892.
[21] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1894.
[22] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1896.
[23] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1898.
[24] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1900.
[25] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1901.
[26] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1902.
[27] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1903.
[28] Trabzon Vilayeti Salnamesi, 1904.
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