Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/53

 CHAPTER II.

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PLEBEIANS, 494-462 B.C.

I. The System of Occupation, the Law of Debt, and the First Secession.

Economic Measures. — The young republic had to wage war against the Tuscan league under Lars Porsena, against the Sabines, and others. These wars were burdensome; they naturally involved the destruction of Roman property, and tended to impoverish the people. Certain economic measures had been passed in the early days of the republic: large quantities of grain were bought on public account, and the trade in salt was made a public monopoly, in order to furnish the citizens with grain and salt at lower prices. These regulations were, however, of but small importance, and the general financial policy of the patrician government was unfavorable to the plebeians, who formed the middle and lower classes.

System of Farming out the Revenues. — The system of farming out the public revenues to private individuals, who paid a round sum to the state and collected practically what they could, possibly originated during the royal period. It became far more important in republican times, because it was gradually applied to most of the public revenues and involved large amounts of money. A great variety of other public transactions also was performed by private individuals, those who offered to do a piece of work for the lowest sum receiving the contract. In general only large landowners