The Curia, 48 BCE

[Pontifex Maximus]

Magistrates:

Consules:Decimus Pontius Artillius (for the third time) et Quintus Antonius Lucro

Censor: Severus Vipsanius Magnus

Praetores: Aulus Terentius Fiber et Numerius Curio

Quaestores: Gnaeus Claudius Tranquillus et Aulus Ovidius Priscus

Tribunes: Lucius Titus Regulus et Lucius Ameilius Gracchus

Proconsules: Decimus Cornelius Corva, Sextus Tuccius Alexander, Gaius Scipio


Senate-People Relationship Meter: 0 (strained)

Random Roll: 13 (no event)

The session for the year 48 BCE has been called to order. Pressing matters of discussion include (and must be resolved before other measures):

• Ongoing war in Spain
• Balancing the budget, economic considerations
• Populist measure: Military reforms (2 points)

[molonthegreat]

Quintus enters the Curia in his new Consular garb, he begins to speak.

"The people have called for us to reward our soldiers better, so I have a proposal."

1. We shall raise the pay for our legionaries with ten percent
2. Veterans that retire shall have their final bonus also raised by ten percent.
3. Wives and children of soldiers who die on the battlefield shall receive yearly wage for a common soldier.

"This will both please the people and make our legions more attractive for citizens to join."

[Dark Storm]

Gnaeus also enters the Curia, and sits down, he spends time working out whether the republic would have enough to pay for this reform.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The censor arrives and takes his customary seat to the side of the senate house. Severus uses a staff to strike the marble to bring the Senate to order with the arrival of a consul.

I would disagree, Consul, that the only way to reform our military is through bribery. The legions require little reformation, and their employment and payment is supplemented by a fair distribution of the booty. I would only support reformation in terms of abolishing land ownership requirements in order to register for legionary service.

[ulti]

Consul Decimus, who is already sitting in his seat, watches the new Consul arrive and begin talking to the half empty Curia. Most of the Senators had not yet arrived. He gives a sarcastic clap then stands.

"Congratulations Quintus, upon your appointment, though we usually find it prudent to wait for the Senators to arrive before we start..."

To the small ripple of laughter that arose from his allies, Decimus sits, and waves for Quintus to carry on.

[Dark Storm]

"What is the current bonus for Veterans who retire?"

Looking at the third point.

"In the short term this is fine, however if we were to implement this in the long run, i can see a serious problem if we were to continue fighting. Not only after every soldier that died would we have to pay their families, but the new recruits would also have to be paid. Bluntly consul, we would run out of money, fast."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Severus whispered to Tranquilus

A ten percent increase would mean 3,000 denarii per legion...effectively tripling our upkeep costs. This measure is financial irresponsibility at its worst...

[Dark Storm]

"And senator, not to seem pessimistic, but your first point is not very well thought out either, raising more legions could lead to us losing money. Then stopping this after running out of money would cause our legionaries to desert us, legions are only loyal to us as long as we pay them."

[ulti]

Decimus, after hearing the words of the Censor and Quaestor, stands again.

"I must say, I do agree. Is it your belief that our legionaries are so fickle of mind that they require bribing? Surely the honor of fighting for Rome is enough? Nay, as the Censor says, the legions do not need such reform."

[molonthegreat]

"Censor that could also be done and would probably be beneficial for our armed forces as well, however I think our legionaries would appreciate more money in their pockets."

Quintus then frowned at the Consul.

"Those gentlemen will just have to catch up from their associates and be in time during the next session, since I intend to get things done this term."

[Dark Storm]

I would suggest this:

1. After every battle fought by a soldier, that soldier should have an added increase of 5% to his pay, for one year after the battle, not cumulative
2.On retiring Legionnaries should be given their wages for the next 5 years ensuring they have money
3. Upon the death of a Legionary, in service of Rome, the family should recieve that soldiers pay for the year he died, and support from the state should they need any, only by permission of the Quaestor or Praetor, to ensure no one is cheating the law.

[ulti]

"Yes, and in the process showing the financial responsibility of a Greek!"

I would suggest this:

1. After every battle fought by a soldier, that soldier should have an added increase of 5% to his pay
2.On retiring Legionnaries should be given their wages for the next 5 years ensuring they have money
3. Upon the death of a Legionary, in service of Rome, the family should recieve that soldiers pay for the year he died, and support from the state should they need any, only by permission of the Quaestor or Praetor, to ensure no one is cheating the law.

"Surely Quaestor, this would also drain the reserves quickly as well? I stand by my earlier point, the legions do not need such bribery."

[Dark Storm]

ooc- was that to me or the consul?

[ulti]

OOC: The first bit was to the Consul, the second to you.

[molonthegreat]

Quintus shook his head

"I thought we stood above petty insults in this holy chamber but I guess I was wrong. As for your suggestion Quaestor I think that my proposal would be cheaper especially if the soldiers fight several battles during a year."

[Dark Storm]

"Maybe you are right Consul, however i believe that a soldier after a battle might feel more, cared for, by his senate if he were to earn a small reward, not a bribe just a gesture of appreciation."

[ulti]

"But surely good Consul, you would realise I was only pointing out the flaw in your bill, merely in an abstract way. I myself am insulted that you would think that I would stoop so low as to insult your person. And if what you say is true, if yours is cheaper, then both should be consigned to the scrap heap, for as the Censor has said, they would drain the treasury within months."

"Maybe you are right Consul, however i believe that a soldier after a battle might feel more, cared for, by his senate if he were to earn a small reward, not a bribe just a gesture of appreciation."

"They already do! The spoils of war are divided by the men, each soldier receives a share."

[molonthegreat]

Quintus shrugged

"That is an absurd motion, we currently have four legions which costs 5000 Denarii a year. With my bill that mainly concerns wages and not all the other things the upkeep goes to would maybe increase it at a maximum to 20 % which would mean 1000 Denarii more year to our well deserving legionaries. So please explain how 1000 extra denarii a year would ruin us Decimus?"

[ulti]

Quintus shrugged

"That is an absurd motion, we currently have four legions which costs 5000 Denarii a year. With my bill that mainly concerns wages and not all the other things the upkeep goes to would maybe increase it at a maximum to 20 % which would mean 1000 Denarii more year to our well deserving legionaries. So please explain how 1000 extra denarii a year would ruin us Decimus?"

"You think not of the future, Quintus, only of the present. As for financial matters, this is the Quaestors job, I merely raise a point which could be valid."

"How about after a defeat consul, a man who has lost all hope needs help, our current system does not support this. We need to find a way to turn a defeat of a soldiers into victory with the people."

Decimus snorts at this.

"A legion which loses a battle deserves more training, not a bonus, good Quaestor."

[molonthegreat]

"How about after a defeat consul, a man who has lost all hope needs help, our current system does not support this. We need to find a way to turn a defeat of a soldiers into victory with the people."

"A decimation would be more in order for cowards."

"You think not of the future, Quintus, only of the present. As for financial matters, this is the Quaestors job, I merely raise a point which could be valid."

"How do I not think of the future when I put forward a proposal that would give more of an incentive for citizens to join our legions which would only increase costs slightly? Furthermore we need to keep our soldiers well paid have the best soldiers in the world, Patriotism doesn't feed ones family."