The Curia, Consulate of Sulpicianus and Metellus (88 BCE)

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Curia, Rome
The Consulate of Gaius Furius Sulpicianus and ​Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius

The Curia of 88 BCE is now in session.

Magistrates in Rome

Consul

Gaius Furius Sulpicianus and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius

Censor

Aulus Postumius Albinus "the Elder"

Praetor

Gaius Marius Aquila and Sextus Annius Milo

Aedile

Sextus Julius Iulus

Quaestor

Marcus Fabius Ambustus and Sextus Erucia Mergus

Tribune of the Plebs

NPC

Magistrates in the Provinces

Pro-Consul of Asia

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus

Pro-Praetor of Sicilia

NPC

Pro-Consul of Corsica et Sardinia

NPC

Hispania Citerior

NPC

Pro-Consul of Hispania Ulterior

Publius Cornelius Sulla

Pro-Consul of Macedonia

NPC

Pro-Consul of Africa

Quintus Annius Milo

Pro-Consul of Gallia Narbonensis

Lucius Atilius Regulus

Events

1. The new Taxation system is being implemented, but the quaestors have work to do

2. A fiery new tribune of the plebs, Marcus Frentus has called for a redistribution of the ancient ager publicus. This will diminish income for the agricultural branch by 25% for 2 years unless another creative solution can be found.

3. The People of Rome have demanded a bread dole for the equivalent of one month at a cost of 8,000 denarii

4. The harbor masters of Ostia are demanding an increased port tax of 15% (or another creative solution) in order to expand their own profits. Many of them being equites or else plebs who have risen up economically.

5. The Tenants in Rome demand better housing (Roman housing in this era was truly appalling), or at least that precautions be taken in order to prevent or defend from fires. The cost for better housing is 10,000 denarii/family engaged in tenancy, or another creative solution.

6. Gerus' trial is still pending four years later.

[Pontifex Maximus]

ooc: I tried moving the last few posts from the Old Curia but it has messed up. Please just reports them hereif possible and in order, though I know that may be difficult.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Gaius Furius Sulpicianus entered the Curia wearing and accompanied by all the traditional implements. He took his seat on one of the two Curule chairs set up in front of the assembly. "We have much to discuss this term, senators. To begin with, I must ask the quaestors to collect the provincial taxes immediately by sending messages to the provinces and see to paying the legions immediately. I will not tolerate any more slowness in the payment of the legions as has been done in the past."

[The Mad Skylord]

Iulus simply smiled and ignored Scipio as he retook the floor. What was the point in giving lies foundation by replying? "As I have stated earlier, there was no mismanagement in Macedonia - indeed it was the opposite. I was delayed in my return to Rome by reports of Quaesteral corruption. These men planned to fiddle taxes. From the investigation, we have concluded that Macedonia has 20'000 denarii in potential tax, not 17'000 denarii."

Iulis took a breath and continued surveying the Senate. "I move that my nomination for Pro-Consul be allowed, on the grounds my return to Rome was delayed by matters of government."

[Rhapture]

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius takes his set on the other curule chair after the open prayers are said and the auspices are taken.
"Yes, Sulpicianus is correct, let us get the perfunctory affairs out of the way instead of waiting until the end of the year to deal with them."

[General Brewster]

A messenger delivers a letter to Sulpicianus.

Salve, Consul Sulpicianus.

The Queastors in Asia report that 7.500 Denarii is the maximum amount of tax to be levied in Asia Minor.

Signed,
Pro-Consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Iulus, there is no doubt that some serious questions remain regarding your management of Macedonia, but this is not a matter for the Senate. I recommend that if charges should be brought, they be do so immediately, but in the proper place. Go through the praetors in order to accomplish this task if you please, Scipio." Gaius Sulpicianus said. "Depending on the results, perhaps we can reassess your taking over the province again. For now, another has been elected in your place Iulus."

[General Brewster]

delete this please

[Xion]

"Patres, the current amount of denarii in the Aerarium is 1,300 denarii remaining from last year." Mergus pauses for a moment. "I shall send messengers to the provinces at once, consul."

[Rhapture]

"Patres, the current amount of denarii in the Aerarium is 1,300 denarii remaining from last year." Mergus pauses for a moment. "I shall send messengers to the provinces at once, consul."

Quintus nods towards the Senator.
"Thank you, Sextus."

[The Mad Skylord]

Sextus Julius Iulus arrived to the Curia. "Fellow Senators! The previous holders of my office spent their terms hosting incredible games and festivals.

While entertainment is important, it has caused neglect among our public buildings - one of the most important duties of the Aedile.

Therefore, my first act as Aedile will be to clean, repair and expand the Cloaca Maxima. Despite our magnificent sewer system, there are still blocks of houses in the city where sewage is freely thrown into the street to lie there - I intend to remedy this by sloping the streets and running a gutter down the middle.

In addition, I propose that it be made law that all new streets built in Rome must be made in this fashion - to keep the city healthy and clean.

I believe these measures will also go a long way to improve the quality of housing in the city."

Sent from my KIW-L21 using Tapatalk

[Rhapture]

Sextus Julius Iulus arrived to the Curia. "Fellow Senators! The previous holders of my office spent their terms hosting incredible games and festivals.

While entertainment is important, it has caused neglect among our public buildings - one of the most important duties of the Aedile.

Therefore, my first act as Aedile will be to clean, repair and expand the Cloaca Maxima. Despite our magnificent sewer system, there are still blocks of houses in the city where sewage is freely thrown into the street to lie there - I intend to remedy this by sloping the streets and running a gutter down the middle.

In addition, I propose that it be made law that all new streets built in Rome must be made in this fashion - to keep the city healthy and clean.

I believe these measures will also go a long way to improve the quality of housing in the city."

Sent from my KIW-L21 using Tapatalk

Quintus responds to the aedile.

"You want to run a gutter down the middle of the street, Sextus Julius? Do you know how illogical that is?" He asked the young new Senator.
"If you want to organize the money and supplies to help this cause, that is good. But leave the design to the engineers and architects , we don't need a river of filth running down the middle of the street where people, carts and animals need to walk. "
"And if you want to propose new regulations for the disposal of waste, besides just having a discussion in the Senate, among those who do not have to deal with this, perhaps go down to Suburbia and ask the people directly" Quintus finished.

[removeduser_456328]

"The legions have now been paid, Consul."

Ambustus announces the news with some pride; it had been rare in past years for the Quaestors to be quite so prompt.

[Xion]

"The present treasury in the Aerarium following the payment of the legions is 2,075 denarii. We have collected the salt tax and received the tax from Asia Minor and Gallia Narbonesis, and are awaiting the tax from Africa, Macedonia, Hispania Ulterior, Corsica et Sardinia, and Hispania Citerior."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I commend the quaestors on the swift administration." Gaius replied. "I think the Aedile has the right of things as well with regards to trying to increase sanitation in the city, though an open sewer in the middle of every road is obviously not a solution. Unless you mean a channel by which rain and other liquids may pass off the road...not a channel for the express purpose of in. The people this year have laid several demands before us. They are burdensome demands, and obviously not all of them can be met. I fear the tribunes are back hard at work to appeal to a sense of outrage among the plebs." Gaius' own plebeian family had arisen over the last few decades from almost nothing, an obscure family. He felt very little sympathy for these rabble rousers making their outrageous demands. "Nobody is starving and yet they demand free bread?"

-----------------

"What a disgraceful thing for the Consul to say." Sextus Sulla interjected. "We must try to meet the needs of the People in their entirety when we can. They ask only for sanitation, safety, and sustenance. If we lacked any of these things would we not agitate as well? Let us introduce laws which will remedy these problems."

[Rhapture]

"What a disgraceful thing for the Consul to say." Sextus Sulla interjected. "We must try to meet the needs of the People in their entirety when we can. They ask only for sanitation, safety, and sustenance. If we lacked any of these things would we not agitate as well? Let us introduce laws which will remedy these problems."

Quintus responded to the other young Senator.
"Sextus, I think you are quite right. And you set a fine example for all of us other Senators." Quintus began.

"You can donate half of your lands food to the poor this year, or if you have apartments in the city, you can cut the rent in half so poorer families have a chance to get quality accommodations."
"What is that? You do not own land or apartments? Should you do this for your father's land and apartments instead?" Quintus questioned.
"I don't believe he would approve of that, young Sulla."

"But this brings up an important point, I think we need to have requirements for Senators. There must be a minimum amount of land or holdings of some other sort, if you are to remain in the Senate. And if you do not meet the requirements, the Censor will take you off the rolls. To get back in, you will have to be re-elected meeting the requirements." Quintus finished.

[The Mad Skylord]

Sextus Julius Iulus was totally shocked. "There are already requirements for the Senate, Consul. You must be an elected magistrate. Long gone are the days where wealth was the be all and end all for Senatorial entry. By reintroducing such requirements you would cause half the city to riot!"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Quintus responded to the other young Senator.
"Sextus, I think you are quite right. And you set a fine example for all of us other Senators." Quintus began.

"You can donate half of your lands food to the poor this year, or if you have apartments in the city, you can cut the rent in half so poorer families have a chance to get quality accommodations."
"What is that? You do not own land or apartments? Should you do this for your father's land and apartments instead?" Quintus questioned.
"I don't believe he would approve of that, young Sulla."

"But this brings up an important point, I think we need to have requirements for Senators. There must be a minimum amount of land or holdings of some other sort, if you are to remain in the Senate. And if you do not meet the requirements, the Censor will take you off the rolls. To get back in, you will have to be re-elected meeting the requirements." Quintus finished.

"Minimum requirements are just that, minimums." Sextus countered. "The excess should be taxed."

Sextus Julius Iulus was totally shocked. "There are already requirements for the Senate, Consul. You must be an elected magistrate. Long gone are the days where wealth was the be all and end all for Senatorial entry. By reintroducing such requirements you would cause half the city to riot!"

ooc: It's already a requirement. Senators had to be worth a certain amount of money to remain in the class.

[Rhapture]

"Half the city? 99% of the city is not in the Senate. Most of the commoners care little about what we do, unless there are no games and food gets too expensive." Quintus countered.
"But I see you seem shocked because this might affect you, Sextus. The Senate is an august and noble body, we can not let just anyone be in. They must have something at stake, and landless people always feel free to spend other people's money if they have nothing to lose."

[Oznerol]

"Riots?"

Said Scipio.

"I don't think so. Only those who can afford being senators should be members of this revered assembly. And I don't think the commonfolk is willing or prepared to rule the Res Publica. Your reasoning is flawed, Sextus"

He pointed.

"I agree with Metellus, we should add some requirements before we can barely find an empty seat in the Senate. With our esteemed Albinus in the censorship this could be a fine year to implement those requirements. Certainly, only the landowners and those with a sufficient amount of properties should be senators"